Orcas Animal Protection Society wins first prize in Rosario’s “Festival of Trees”
Rosario Resort & Spa’s Festival of Trees raised funding for ten local non-profit organizations. Through the purchase of voting tickets the public donated a total of $1,474, with each organization receiving the funds collected at their tree.
The tree receiving the most votes was by the Orcas Animal Protection Society, which will receive an additional $300 prize donated by Rosario Resort.
The second place tree was by the Farm to Cafeteria Program, which will receive an additional $250 from Rosario, and the third place tree was by Orcas Center, receiving an additional $200 from Rosario.
Friends of Moran State Park, Kaleidoscope Day Care, Funhouse Commons, Orcas Island Choral Society, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue, Children’s House, and Orcas Montessori also participated and will receive an additional $100 each from the resort, bringing the resort’s contribution to the organizations at an almost matching $1,450.
“It was nice to have more participants this year, which really lit up the mansion and lifted everyone’s spirits, visitors and locals alike” said Jenole Peacock, the event organizer. “The winning tree displayed island pets, many trees featured island kids, and others featured island art, nature, safety, and theatrics!”
Raffle prizes were also awarded, with former Orcas Islander Shane Barfoot winning two round-trip tickets from Seattle on Kenmore Air with a two-night stay at Rosario. Orcas Island’s Antoinette Botsford won dinner for two at The Mansion Restaurant and Laurie Liebmann won a two-month spa pass.
“Rosario thanks everyone who participated and contributed to this year’s event” said Peacock. “The participating organizations delighted visitors with their beautifully decorated trees, the festivity of the decorations, and the spirit of the fundraiser, while the voters supported some very deserving organizations.”
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The more than 200 ornaments on our tree were made by our Farm to Classroom kids. When they learned they won, it made their day! The wonderful and generous prize money of will be used to buy supplies for the classroom, garden tools and a scale for their cooking projects! Thanks so much to all of you who were able to go by the Rosario Mansion and vote for our tree and thank you Rosario Resort for this opportunity. You have made 200+ kids and one teacher really, really happy!!