Dr. Ogo Olele, Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Norma Desjardins, Clinic Founder
St. Apollonia Dental Clinic 122 Academy St., Presque Isle, ME 04769
Dr. Norma Desjardins and Dr. Ogo Olele
St. Apollonia Dental Clinic 122 Academy St., Presque Isle, ME 04769
Festival of Trees
St Apollonia Dental Clinic’s one major annual fundraiser is the Festival of Trees event held each December since 2014. The event is a highlight of the holiday season for many in Aroostook County. It has been held on the same weekend as the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce Holiday Light Parade which occurs on the first Saturday of December.
Typically, individuals, groups and businesses have sponsored trees and gift items. They often choose a theme for the tree as can be seen in the attached photos and on Facebook. Over the 10 years of the event, the number of trees displayed has steadily grown, with 70 trees in 2019. Thousands of folks visited the winter wonderland of beautifully decorated trees set up at the NMCC Gymnasium.
Visitors can purchase tickets ($5 for 10 tickets). They place as many tickets as they want in the bucket(s) placed in front of each tree. At the end of the weekend, every tree is raffled off. The winner picks up the tree, all decorations and gifts associated with that tree. It’s been an exciting time for many members of our communities. Tree sponsors are incredibly generous.
FOR NEW TREE SPONSORS
or if you have not been receiving the group emails: Please use this form to stay in touch with our Project Chair. You will be added to our email list and receive information and updates provided to our sponsors.
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Understandably, Festival of Trees 2020 could not happen due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. Instead, the Clinic staff quickly pivoted and created an Annual Fund Campaign. This included a letter-writing effort to area businesses and individuals who had typically supported our work, as well as a “12 Days of Smiles” campaign. On each of the “12 Days”, all clinic patients who had been seen at least once in 2020 were eligible for a raffle of a $100 Visa gift card. The final day winner also took home an iPad mini and a decorated tree.
This effort, the “12 Days of Smiles” was newly created due to the generosity of a Clinic supporter, Patty Boutot, who died in June 2020. Patty had asked that financial gifts made in her memory would support St Apollonia Dental Clinic. Over $7000 was donated in her memory.
The annual fund campaign overall effort raised over $35,000 to help cover operating expenses.
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