Seattle Festival of Trees: A Holiday Tradition Supporting the Seattle Children’s Autism Center and Uncompensated Care

What is Seattle Festival of Trees and how does it help Seattle Children’s Autism Center?

First, know that there are other “Festival of Trees” organizations around the country and several in our state and Puget Sound area. So, what is “Seattle Festival of Trees”?

1. Seattle Festival of Trees Guild is one of 230+ guilds of Seattle Children’s and the only one that raises funds specifically for Seattle Children’s Autism Center.
2. Seattle Festival of Trees is an annual event that started in 1978 that includes:
   • A gala dinner and auction at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel every year the Saturday before Thanksgiving, kicking off the holiday season, with funds from the auction divided between Seattle Children’s Uncompensated Care and the Autism Center.
   • 20 to 25 Christmas trees, designed and crafted by guild members, displayed throughout the Fairmont Olympic Hotel from before Thanksgiving until about December 1 and sold and delivered to community individuals and companies. Each tree has a sponsor and storyboard featuring a brave Seattle Children’s patient. Proceeds from tree sales and donations are divided between Seattle Children’s Uncompensated Care and the Autism Center.
3. The Fairmont Olympic Hotel creates a Teddy Bear Suite each year and visitors can walk through and experience a delightful hotel suite filled with teddy bears. One hundred percent of donations are given to Seattle Festival of Trees Guild to support Uncompensated Care and the Autism Center.

How and when did Seattle Festival of Trees start?

The guild has been around since 1978 in some form. It changed names, venues and even used real Christmas trees decorated in members’ garages in the beginning!

The original guild supported Seattle Children’s Uncompensated Care. In 1989, they started holding the event at the Olympic Four Seasons Hotel, now the Fairmont Olympic. This began the tradition of placing the guild’s unique themed Christmas trees throughout the hotel during the holiday season, along with the gala auction at the hotel.

Meanwhile, in 2009, a group of parents, doctors and staff started a new guild to fundraise for the Autism Center. It was a small group, but grew to about 20 members in a few years. They began presenting “Colors of Autism” gala auctions and other fundraisers, while helping the Autism Center staff in other tangible ways.

In 2013, the Autism Center guild was approached by the Dr. Forrest L. Flashman Guild to join forces in presenting their Festival of Trees gala, splitting the proceeds between Uncompensated Care and the Autism Center. The Autism Center guild took the opportunity to add to their efforts, gaining an established event and volunteer force, while contributing new sponsors and donors from the autism community, some of whom are still involved today. The two guilds worked together for the next few years, finally merging and changing the name to Seattle Festival of Trees Guild in 2018.

The Festival of Trees Gala has grown in popularity, elegance and excitement, and has continued to split proceeds between Uncompensated Care and the Autism Center. The 2024 activities raised more than $885,000.

What difference has Seattle Festival of Trees made for the Autism Center?

Since the guild started supporting the Autism Center, guild members have learned about autism spectrum disorders through interaction with autism center staff. The staff have worked with guild members to help promote and attend the gala each year. Patients and staff have been featured speakers at many of the events, and the staff, led by Dr. Mindy Menjarez, was chosen as the 2023 honoree. Several children served at the autism center have been featured on the Christmas tree storyboards.

Funds raised have supported the family resource staff, toys and supplies for the Early Intervention (EI) program and other essential areas that strengthen the Autism Center’s operations, ensuring families continue to receive the highest quality care and support.

How can I help Seattle Festival of Trees support the Autism Center?

• Attend the gala and treat yourself to a beautiful evening out where you’ll learn more and bid on special auction items and experiences, while admiring the Christmas tree display.
• Take your family and friends to the free Christmas Tree display and the Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Read the patient stories on the trees and make a donation or purchase a tree. (Please check www.seattlefestivaloftrees.com for exact dates)
• Purchase a tree for your home, business or to give away by going to www.seattlefestivaloftrees.com/.
• Join the guild to get involved with a dedicated community to make an impact on the autism center families. Help with jobs like tree decorating and design, auction item procurement and creation, cleanup, data/financial management, marketing, social media and event and auction planning. Email [email protected].
• Make a donation of any amount.

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