FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
November 19, 2019
Growing ‘The Spirit Tree’ in 2019
Local fundraiser overwhelmed by the generosity of the community
Event to benefit local families in it’s 3rd year
Grande Prairie, Alberta – The Spirit Tree, a local fundraising campaign started by philanthropic local businessman Mike Edgar of Decca Industries is hitting the ground running for it’s 3nd year. The Spirit Tree is raising funds to support Grande Prairie families who desperately need it.
Kicking off this year’s campaign is The Spirit Tree Lighting event being held at Mr Mikes on November 25th, including a dinner, silent auction, and the unveiling of this years Spirit Tree. “We’ve never hosted an event like the Spirit Tree Lighting before, tickets are expected to sell out in a matter of hours, the support of the community is unbelievable!” says Lance of Mr Mikes. The campaign runs right to the end of the year, giving people and companies in and around Grande Prairie a chance to purchase an ornament to be hung on the breathtaking 20 foot tall, rotating Christmas Tree, with 100% of their purchase being used to support local families.
“I’ll never forget the look in one young boy’s eyes as he clung to his Mother’s leg, watching this strange man carry a big box up the stairs of their apartment building. When we reached their door and opened the box to reveal several smaller boxes wrapped up in shiny Christmas paper, his concern turned in to a wide eyed smile” recalls the bearded Mike Edgar, the owner of Decca Industries, on one of their Secret Angel deliveries last year. “I’m sure that little boy will grow up wondering if it was Santa that came to his home that evening”
In it’s first year as a fundraiser, the Spirit Tree raised over $30,000 in support of the Grande Prairie Secret Angels. With the amazing support of the community we provided a holiday dinner, and presents to put under the tree for 50 Grande Prairie families who were in need. The remaining funds helped to provide support to hundreds more in the community after the holiday season, by continuing to allow the Secret Angels to provide food, toiletries and other essentials to those in need throughout the year.
“We were completely overwhelmed by the generosity of the community in our first year, raising over $30,000 exceeded all of our expectations!” remarks Andrew Adams
We’re so fortunate to be a part of a community like Grande Prairie that believes in helping one another. Proudly, all costs associated with the Spirit Tree are borne by the companies involved in the campaign; the creation of the massive 20 foot tall rotating metal Spirit Tree, cutting and powder coating all of the ornaments, marketing, design and operational costs were all donated by BSH Westgate, Decca Industries and partnering local companies. This, combined with the huge support of our Shooting Star Sponsors and donors alike has allowed us to create this amazing opportunity to support local charities in our city.
With the success of last year, we have realized that this isn’t a small campaign to help a handful of people in our community, we can help hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people in our city.
This year the Spirit Tree has a new Shooting Star Sponsor. These companies have really stepped up to the plate and offered their support, we can’t thank them enough for their generous donations and involvement in our campaign.Our 2019 Shooting Star Sponsor is The Side Group. The Side Group of Companies – Northern Metallic, Baron Oilfield, Devco Developments, Side Rail.
The Spirit Tree believes that ‘Charity Begins at Home’ – Grande Prairie is our home, and we are committed to supporting charities who directly help those within our community.
