The giving trees
FOREST: Event has become model for others
| Wednesday, Nov 18 2009 04:24 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Nov 18 2009 04:24 PM
GO & DO
What: Enchanted Forest: A Holiday Fantasy-Twelve Days of Christmas
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Top floor of the Petroleum Club, 5060 California Ave.
Tickets: $100 per person in advance; $120 after November 16, plus one unwrapped toy
Information: Tom Xavier, 204-7799
Not to be confused with ....
The Enchanted Forest and The Magical Forest are both holiday events that benefit great causes and love the whole winter forest theme.
The Enchanted Forest is a one-day-only affair, but The Magical Forest, which benefits BARC, is an ongoing family affair that starts Dec. 4. Look for more information in the Dec. 3 edition of Eye Street.
The 12 days of Christmas, plus one
So if there are 12 days in the famous Christmas song, the decorating theme for this year's Enchanted Forest, why are there 13 trees at Saturday's event?
To go along with the partridge in a pear tree, turtle doves, maids a milkin' and so forth, there will be a Halloween tree. It might not make a lot of sense, but mixing the two holidays sure does work, says Tom Xavier, coordinator of the annual fundraiser.
In fact, he got a lot of grief last year when he left out the Halloween tree, so it's back by popular demand.
The 71/2-foot silk trees, donated by Lenox Homes, are decorated by professional designers. If you just can't stand the thought of living without one, you can buy a ticket and enter a drawing for each tree. Xavier said the trees are bundled in Saran wrap, decorations and all, so there's no reassembly required.
In addition to the tree drawings, there will be giveaways, a sit-down dinner prepared by the Petroleum Club's executive chef and dancing with music provided by Steve Woods and his orchestra.
Guests are asked to bring an unwrapped toy for children whose parents are undergoing substance abuse treatment at the Kennemer Center in Bakersfield.
It may be the world's smallest, but Bakersfield's Ronald McDonald House enjoys enormous community support.
Ronald McDonald House at Memorial Hospital is the latest beneficiary of the annual "Enchanted Forest -- A Holiday Fantasy, Twelve Days of Christmas" fundraiser on Saturday at the Petroleum Club.
The event, organized by Tom Xavier of Whirlwind Productions, gets its name from the 13 professionally decorated Christmas trees -- 12 of which follow the themes of the song -- offered through an "opportunity drawing" to ticket buyers.
"Years before (the event) had been at my house, but it got too big," Xavier said, adding this will be the second year the event will be held at the Petroleum Club.
Xavier said the event has also been earning more money for various nonprofit organizations, including the Boys' and Girls' Club, Spotlight Theater, the Alliance Against Family Violence and others, estimating proceeds from $4,000-5,000 in the early years to about $10,000 last year, when the SPCA benefited.
"We're hoping to exceed that this year," Xavier said.
Xavier said he is making a two-year commitment to Ronald McDonald House, which provides living quarters to families who have a hospitalized child.
"The money will go into the operating expenses for the house," said house manager Scarlett Sabin.
With only three bedrooms for overnight guests, Bakersfield's Ronald McDonald House qualifies as the world's smallest.
Overnight facilities normally go to family members who must travel more than 25 miles to stay with their loved ones in the hospital. But the house also provides a home-like environment for sometimes dozens of resident family members who must leave their child's room while a procedure is being performed, or who just need a break to nap, clean up or eat.
"You just see the comfort of the family," Sabin said.
Sabin said community support has made it possible for the house to accommodate so many people: individuals and clubs such as the East Bakersfield Rotary provide food for families; Chevron has provided grants to pay housing fees for cash-strapped families; Marriott takes overflow overnight guests until there is room at the house.
Sabin said the success of the Bakersfield house is becoming a model for Ronald McDonald Houses all over the country.
"(Managers) are really curious," Sabin said. "'How are you doing that?'"
Tickets for the Enchanted Forest event are $120 and include dinner, dancing and a silent auction. Xavier said the event is close to being sold out, but still wants to encourage people to attend.
"We have never turned anyone away," Xavier said. "We can always find a seat."
