The 2006 Providence Festival of Trees Gala Dinner reached new heights on Thursday, November 30. More than 850 guests came for a sold-out dinner. Together, they took the Providence mission of caring for our community to heart and raised in excess of $700,000 - the largest amount raised at the Gala Dinner. The Jingle Bell Jam raised more than $50,000.

Under the leadership of Festival of Trees co-chairs Paul and Pamela DeBoni, this year's "Making Spirits Bright" theme was a success. In addition to those invited to kick off the season at the Gala Dinner or Jingle Bell Jam, some 14,000 Portland-area residents made the Festival's two-day public viewing part of their holiday tradition. While the Festival's exquisitely decorated trees offered a visual feast thanks to ornaments in every color, size and shape imaginable, each tree's accompanying gifts called out to countless passerby.

The generosity of everyone who was a part of Festival of Trees will assist five programs that touch thousands of lives every year. The dollars raised will support Providence Cancer Center, Providence Center for Advanced Heart Disease, the Center for Medically Fragile Children at Providence Child Center, Providence Medical Assistance Program and Providence Gately Academy.

Thank you to our sponsors who helped make this event possible: Metro West Ambulance, U.S. Bank, Directors Mortgage, Eco Car Washes Express, K-HITS 106.7, Oregon Convention Center, ARAMARK / Giacometti Partners Ltd, Target, American Medical Response, Lamar Advertising, Comcast, KATU Family Matters - Rodda Paint and 24-Hour Fitness, Clear Channel Outdoor, Sprint, Andersen Construction Company, Inc., and Fred Meyer.