By Jozette KARAGUOZIAN

On Sunday, the Assistance League of Glendale hosted its 40th annual

Festival of Trees at the Glendale Hilton. Originally called the Christmas Tree Brunch, the event is the ALG’s main fundraiser. It featured an assortment of personally decorated and donated Christmas trees available for purchase, a silent auction and luncheon.

The 2015 event was attended by more than 400 people and was dedicated to the memory Diane Thisdell, chairman of the first Festival of Trees, who passed away last December, said Pearl Wells, ALG’s “official historian.” Every year, Thisdell and her husband Roger donated a miniature tree and a handcrafted child’s rocking horse created by Roger.

This type of member participation is something that ALG members take

pride in, with many bringing decorated trees to show at the event

followed by a drawing to raise funds for the organization’s

philanthropies. These focus on the needs of youth and seniors and

include Operation School Bell and hosting Authors and Illustrators Day and SAT seminars.

The Festival of Trees event takes months of planning that include the participation of ALG President Mary Lo Follett, Festival of Trees Chairman Alma Tycer and Public Relations Chairman Karen Millman. Wells is responsible for sending out the invitations and documenting the event through photography.

“The Festival of Trees is a celebration of love, caring and support within our greater Glendale community,” said Wells.

To learn more, visit www.alglendale.org.

  Jozette KARAGUOZIAN