Annual Festival of Trees a sold-out event

By: Bennie Scarton Jr. | Inside NoVA
Published: November 14, 2008

The 10th annual Festival of Trees Gala was another sold-out event with more than 450 people attending.

The theme of the event, conducted last Saturday at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, was “With You … Dreams Can Come True.”

Employment Enterprises Inc was the title sponsor of the fundraising and celebration event for Transitional Housing BARN Inc.

Lovey Hammel, president of Enterprises, who is a also a board member of BARN, said “I strongly believe in BARN and support the cause to help homeless women and their children reach self-sufficiency. We are proud to have helped BARN surpass their fundraising goals.”

This year’s event offered 150 donated items for the silent auction. Items varied from trips to Paris, his-and-hers matching vintage Rolex watches, Super Bowl XLIII tickets, handmade jewelry and themed gourmet gift baskets of wine, chocolate and coffee.

Several local companies, clubs and organizations donated 14 decorated Christmas trees, varying in theme and size, along with wreaths and centerpieces.

The theme for the Employment Enterprises’ tree was “Faith, Hope and Charity,” for which the donations were donated, in their entirety, by the employees. All proceeds from the event benefited the women and children of BARN and the Transitional Housing BARN program.

The evening included dining, dancing, entertainment and a poker tournament.

“I would like to thank everyone involved for their support and generosity towards this wonderful cause,” Hammel said.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.