The lobby of the Waterfront Inn glowed again this year as Special Olympics Florida hosted its annual Festival of Trees, a holiday tradition that has become one of the most meaningful fundraisers in The Villages.
Rows of decorated trees glittered, each one sponsored and designed by local businesses, organizations and individuals who return year after year to support the athletes. The evening also included a silent auction, donated gifts, and even a stuffed reindeer adoption table that drew steady attention from guests.
Sally Sherman, Special Olympics Florida director for Sumter County, says part of the magic is simply the way people react to Christmas trees.
“There’s something about trees with all these pretty lights and decorations,” she says. “They’re just magic. It takes us back to being little kids and the magic of the season.”
She also says that that the creativity grows every year. “You think it can’t get better, and every year, it does.”
While the trees bring the crowds in, Sally notes that the purpose behind the evening is what fuels the work. “Number one, it’s a money raiser,” she says. “Funds help cover competition fees, equipment, wellness exams, uniforms, transportation and food.”…