It’s December, and a holiday tradition in Polson is the Festival of Trees. This year marked the 23rd annual event, held Dec. 2 at the KwaTaqNuk  Resort and Casino’s ballroom. 

Ten trees, glowing with tiny lights and glittering ornaments, interspersed with lavishly decorated wreaths and gifts such as a Custom Decor Christmas package or a Play and Stay-cation Package, were the only decorations needed.

“It’s a formalish event. People like to dress up and put money to a good cause,” said Jamie Buhr, a board member for the Mission Valley Youth Foundation, which benefits from the event.

A very-involved board member, Brittany Cathey, said 220 tickets were sold for this year’s Festival of Trees. That’s many people supporting Mission Valley kids and activities while enjoying a glittery kick-off to the Christmas season.

According to Buhr, the Festival of Trees was former Chief Probation Officer Barbara Monaco’s “baby” and originally raised money to support the Lake County Youth Home. Tom Slack recruited him for a board position and Buhr said he and Monaco “have been friends ever since.”

The youth home was “a family-based model,” Buhr explained. But as organizations changed to more therapeutic models, hiring people with master’s degrees as house parents, the Lake County Youth Home had smaller kid counts and tighter funding. Eventually LCYH sold the house and gifted its van to the Boys and Girls Club.

With the backing of board members Linda Fisher, Trudy Pedersen, Monaco and Brooke Ingram, Buhr wasn’t ready to let the concept of helping Mission Valley kids vanish. Picking up board members Laura Burland and Brittney Cathey strengthened the team.

“I said we’ve got this money. Why don’t we create a youth foundation, . . . continue the Festival of Trees, and make money easier for youth organizations to get?” Buhr said, and the Mission Valley Youth Foundation was born.

It’s successful, too. Burland, a Festival of Trees committee member for all 23 years and board member most of that time, said the MVYF disbursed $41,000 this year. 

The 2023 youth-group recipients were: CASA of Lake and Sanders Counties, Mission Valley Elks Lodge on behalf of Polson Elementary Schools, Families First Learning Lab, Friends Forever Mentoring, Lake County 4-H Shooting Sports, Mission Valley Cutthroat Volleyball Club, Mission Valley Mariners, Polson Booster Club, Polson Cheerleading, Polson Little Dribblers, Polson Wrestling Club, Polson Youth Soccer Club, Ronan High School Baseball, Ronan Middle School Robotics, Valley View Elementary School and Youth Pheasants Forever. 

    A sugar plum tree was one of the creations decorated and donated to Festival of the Trees by area businesses and groups to benefit local youth organizations. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
  

    Held on Saturday evening, the Festival of the Trees had 10 beautifully decorated trees to be auctioned off as well as lovely seasonal wreaths. (Berl Tiskus /Leader)