Pre-event silent auction combined with live auction at event
Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County, Inc. (GSN), a local nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, announces its eighth annual Hamilton County Festival of Trees. The return of this holiday tradition marks a significant impact for local families because it helps provide direct funding for Holiday Assistance to the unserved, at-risk, and underserved.
The Festival of Trees will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 20 with an onsite live event and auction, as well as an onsite silent Auction. The event will take place at a new location this year, the beautiful Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel, 11925 N. Meridian St., Carmel. The evening includes a dinner, a keynote speaker, and an auction including custom-designed themed Christmas trees, wreaths, and table centerpieces – all hand decorated by local designers specifically as fundraising pieces. The cost is $75 per person.
Reservations are now available and are required due to limited seating. To RSVP, please visit gsnlive.org/festival-of-trees, or call Good Samaritan Network (317) 842-2603 ext. 200 for more details.
Purchased trees will be professionally delivered free to the purchaser’s residence or address of choice by the following Monday or Tuesday after the live auction and event.
The Festival of Trees will include mobile and online bidding. You will simply register which allows you to bid by phone and/or online at any time during the bidding timeline for both the Pre-Event Silent Auction and the Live Event date. No app download required.
The last onsite Festival of Trees was in 2019 and 45 items were auctioned, raising $43,360 for Holiday Assistance. The event was widely supported with near-capacity attendance. One comment received said, “It was such a fun and festive atmosphere … truly benefits those in need in Hamilton County. I’m so glad to see this extend the work of GSN!”
Sponsors are critical to advance the fundraising goal for this essential holiday program that services Hamilton County families. Sponsors represent an investment in the community signaling a huge commitment and concern for its neighbors at the holidays.
Again this year, the County Commissioners are allowing GSN the opportunity to provide a Festival of Trees pre-event silent auction featuring custom decorated Christmas Trees before the actual live auction/event.
The silent auction will be held at the Hamilton County Government and Judicial Building in downtown Noblesville from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Public viewing and online or mobile bidding for four custom-designed Christmas Trees will be held Nov. 1-20. The public will simply view the information signs available at each item for complete details and follow directions on how to bid. Winning bids will be determined at the close of bidding on Nov. 20. The winning pre-event trees will be delivered free on Nov. 29.
This county-wide holiday assistance program is made possible because of in-kind donations received and processed all year long to Good Samaritan Network. GSN is dependent upon the neighbors and residents of Hamilton County for their donation of gently used or new toys (especially for 8- to 13-year-olds) and that are repurposed without cost to county residents. Gently used bicycles are also welcomed and repurposed to families through GSN’s Recycled Cycles program.
Sponsorships are available in multiple categories, including: Event Sponsor for $8,000, Pinnacle Sponsor for $4,000, Pillar Sponsor for $2,000, Platform Sponsor for $1,000, and Partner for $500. Sponsors can easily register online at gsnlive.org/festival-of-trees.
Interested designers should contact Event Coordinator Kim Harden, or the GSN office, or sign-up online.
For more Festival of Trees information and details, visit gsnlive.org/festival-of-trees or contact Event Coordinator Kim Harden at (317) 379-0470 or at iloveitdesigns@att.net; or GSN Founder and Executive Director Nancy Chance at (317) 842-2603 ext. 202, or at nchance@gsnlive.org.