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PALM CITY, Fla. December 6, 2021 – Thousands of festival-goers kicked off the holiday season during this year’s Festival of Trees & Lights in downtown Stuart from November 14 – 20, 2021, raising over $200,000 for children’s mental health.    The annual tradition included a number of free community festivities, as well as numerous special events throughout the week to raise vital funds for the high quality mental health care services that Tykes & Teens provides for children and families across the Treasure Coast, regardless of their ability to pay.    It was a record-setting year for the Festival of Trees & Lights on multiple fronts:   Over 100 volunteers and committee members gave more than 1,000 hours of their time.   Local businesses, organizations and individuals donated and decorated more than 75 trees, wreaths, décor items that generated 8,500 raffle ticket sales totaling $30,000.   Nearly 800 pancakes were served up to over 350 children and families during breakfast and photos with Santa.   Nearly 30 sponsors contributed tens of thousands of dollars.   “The support that this incredible community of ours displayed throughout the Festival of Trees & Lights is unbelievable!” says Tykes & Teens Development Officer and Festival of Trees & Lights Chair Courtney Nientimp. “I am grateful for the amazing Festival committee, our Dames and Deer ambassadors, and the hundreds of volunteers that poured their heart and soul into this event. I cannot thank you enough for the countless hours and effort you gave. To our sponsors, donors and community, thank you one million times over. Because of you, we are prioritizing children’s mental health and you are making it possible for kiddos across the Treasure Coast to receive care, no matter their ability to pay. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of thousands of children.”
2021 Festival of Trees & Lights Committee   Carol Ball, Valerie Barcik, Evey Bassion, Reina Bianchi, Cory Carter, Jeannie Dieffenbaugher, Lorett Fribourg, Jennifer Hearn, Paula Hundt, Lynn Lloyd, Anne McCormick, Cathleen Owen, Kate Roberts, Roseann Ryba, Amy Thornton, Sue Whittington, Dianne Young   2021 Dames & Deer Ambassadors   Grande Dame & Head Reindeer: Amy Elizabeth Thornton & Bob Thornton of O’Donnell Impact Windows & Storm Protection. Dames: Jessica Bohner of Premier Realty Group, Sara Borlaug of Capstone IT, Amanda Foster of Rude Bwoy Spirits, Christina Franco of Hampton Inn & Suites Stuart North, Robin Hall of Out2News.com, Evie Klaassen of Colorado Pawn & Jewelry, Meghan Shirey of Ocean Republic Brewing, and Lisa Teetor of CSI: Palm Beach. Reindeer: Sam Bruning of Southern Magnolia Investment Management, Lamar Moore of Ecostrike, Gary Owen of OWEN Insurance Group, Matthew Right of F45 Training South Stuart, Dale Rockefeller of Culver’s, Chet Tart of Vistage Florida, and Jason Young of CPR Investments   2021 Festival of Trees & Lights Sponsors    Signature Sponsor – Jim Mondello & Jayne St. Marie   Platinum Sponsors – Bank of America, Bessemer Trust   Silver Star Sponsors – Bart’s Blue Star Foundation; Carr, Riggs & Ingram CPAs and Advisors; Crary Buchanan Attorneys at Law; Culver’s of Stuart & Jensen Beach; FPL; Macy’s; Paula & Wayne Hundt; Rehmann; Rick Carroll Insurance; Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, PA; Two Men and A Truck   Blue Star Sponsors – Espinal, Stern & Whittington at Morgan Stanley; Level 4 Telecom; Sandhill Cove   Special Thank You – UBU Brands; Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney; Premier Realty Group; ABA Cares Florida; Colorado Pawn & Jewelry; Elliot Paul & Company Auctions; Gumbo Limbo Coastal Kids; Stuart Main Street; Madison’s Miracles; Rude Bwoy Spirits   Joy to the Girls Tasting Sponsors – 3Natives, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Cafe Boonma Thai Cuisine, Chef Phil Muchow, Crabby’s Oyster Bar, Duffy’s Sports Grill, Elegant Events & Custom Catering, Fresh Rosemary, Kilwins, Olympic Taverna, Red Lobster, Signature Sweets, Sneaki Tiki and Spritz City Bistro   To learn more about Tykes & Teens programs and services, visit www.tykesandteens.org.   To learn more about how you can make a difference in children’s mental health in our community, visit www.tykesandteens.org/give-help/.   About Tykes & Teens   Tykes & Teens has been a leading mental health provider for children and adolescent evidence-based programs and services for 25 years. Our mission is prioritizing children’s mental health in our families, schools and communities through a wide range of prevention, education, and treatment programs and services. Our passion and commitment are to empowering children and strengthening families by ensuring that all children have access to high quality counseling and mental health services, regardless of financial status. We also advocate for increased awareness of mental health to remove the stigma and shame often associated with seeking mental health treatment. We provide affordable quality mental health services for children in need across the Treasure Coast from more than 50 service locations, including outpatient offices in Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach, on-site services in all Martin County schools, and in schools in Okeechobee and Indian River counties, as well as collaboration with numerous community partners, in addition to virtual telehealth services. We have continued to offer our services and programs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including virtual telehealth care. We accept most insurance, private payments, and we are a Medicaid-approved provider. We have successfully administered a sliding fee scale for those in need when necessary for more than 20 years. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, we also provide $750,000 in unreimbursed services to the communities we serve each year. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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