Community Focus

Providence Health Plan award-winning tree raises $16K at Festival of Trees

31 December 2024

The Providence Festival of Trees, a beloved Portland holiday tradition, marked its 42nd and final year with success. In support of Providence Children's Health, Providence Health Plan caregivers Ronni Nichuals, Stacy Ryback, Tiah Kershaw, Liz Nash, Tara Marshall, and Velma Rodriguez created a beautiful tree, raising $16,000 for women's and children's programs at Providence and receiving a ribbon for Best Children's Theme.

These caregivers spend months planning and preparing for their tree design and decorating. "This is an event that most would say starts their holiday," shares Ronni Nichuals, who has been designing trees for this event for 20 years. "Once the trees are completed, there is just magic; they are so elegant, and the designs are over the top. There's also a feeling about how you are helping your community by bringing everyone together to learn more about the charities you are supporting."

The process of creating these holiday displays begins almost a year in advance. The team typically discusses themes for the next year while decorating the current tree, and after the new year, each member brings ideas to a meeting where they vote on the best concept. What follows are months of planning, collecting decorations, finding deals on ornaments and garlands, and sometimes even hand-crafting special pieces.

According to decorator Tara Marshall, the actual tree decoration is an intensive process, taking a two full 8–12-hour days to complete. Each tree typically features between 500-800 ornaments and numerous strings of lights. This year, the team created what they call a "Toy" tree, surrounded by toys that the tree purchaser usually donates to a children's hospital.

While this year marked the end of an era, the impact of the Festival of Trees will continue to resonate through the communities it has served. The team's dedication, though tinged with the bittersweet knowledge of it being their final year, remained consistent. "We are a tight team," Nichuals adds. "Some have been part for only a few years, but even in that short time, they love it and cannot wait to do it again."

The Providence Festival of Trees has not only been a celebration of holiday spirit but also a testament to the power of community service and creativity, leaving behind a legacy of joy, generosity, and magical holiday memories that will be cherished for years to come.