2016 Festival of Trees, Nov. 21

Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 marks the start of this year’s annual Festival of Trees, a holiday-themed fundraiser sponsored by The Mill Casino • Hotel and the Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary Club. The annual event has become a great way to welcome the holiday season while raising money for local charities. This year’s goal is to raise $25,000 for such charities as Shots for Tots, The Women’s Safety and Resource Center, Bay Area Hospital Kid’s Hope Center and other Rotary Club efforts. It all gets started at 4 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 when sponsors bring their chosen decorations to The Mill Casino’s Salmon Room for the annual Festival of Trees Decorating Party, complete with complimentary refreshments and holiday tunes. Following the decorating party, a panel of judges will award the top choice in a variety of categories. The decorated trees and wreaths will be placed on display throughout the lobby of The Mill Hotel through Dec. 1, 2016. The highlight of the Festival of Trees is the annual public auction where anyone may bid on the decorated trees and wreaths. The auction begins promptly at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 in The Mill Casino’s Salmon Room. A VIP dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and doors open to the general public at 6:45 p.m. so that potential bidders can take one last look at the trees up for bid. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time for the dinner. The fully decorated trees will be delivered (up to 30 miles away) to the winning bidder’s home or office. Auction winners may request to have their tree donated to a needy family on Friday, December 2, 2016. The Mill Casino • Hotel contributes to the purchase of the trees and wreaths so that sponsorship and auction proceeds from the Festival of Trees can go directly to local charities. In addition, local vendors are used when purchasing trees and wreaths for this Bay Area Rotary fundraiser. Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in helping those in need are encouraged to participate in the auction. To learn more about how to get involved with this event or to reserve seating, contact Festival Coordinator, Heidi Proett at 541-269-7929 or Amy Bailey at 541-756-8800, ext. 1574. Among the largest employers in Coos County, The Mill Casino • Hotel & RV Park maintains an active program of community involvement that includes financial and in-kind support for area non-profit and service organizations. Owned by the Coquille Indian Tribe, The Mill furthers the Tribe’s tradition of sharing through its donations program as well as its financial support of the Coquille Tribal Community Fund.  To learn more about The Mill’s philanthropic programs, visit www.themillcasino.com.