State Farm Festival of Trees raises a forest of cash

Over $75,000 will benefit Southlake Regional Health Centre

Aurora, Ontario.  January 10, 2012.  – The State Farm Festival of Trees for Southlake was a resounding success raising $75,300 for Southlake Regional Health Centre’s most urgent priorities and representing a $20,000 increase from last year’s event.

“It is gratifying to see the overwhelming support of our community’s hospital from the people it serves,” said Barbara Bellissimo, State Farm Senior Vice President and Chief Agent. “From the families, to the mayors and local businesses, to the employees of State Farm, every one of us has been touched in some way by Southlake. That’s why State Farm is proud to lend its name as the inaugural title sponsor of the Festival. We hope the Festival of Trees will become a holiday tradition in our community.”

The Festival of Trees ran from November 14, 2011, to January 2, 2012, at Newmarket’s Upper Canada Mall. Festivities kicked off with seven trees being decorated by the seven Mayors of Newmarket, Aurora, King, East Gwillimbury, Bradford, Georgina and Whitchurch-Stouffville. In early December, the beautifully decorated trees were each auctioned off to the highest bidder, just in time to make it into their new homes for the holidays.

In addition to the Mayor’s trees, 23 trees were ‘sponsored’ by local businesses. Representatives from the sponsoring businesses decorated their own trees to showcase their creative talents. When the decorating was done, the trees were arranged in a delightful little ‘forest’ through which mall visitors could walk.

State Farm wishes to thank all of our community partners and those who contributed to the success of the Festival of Trees. Your generosity will help many families and individuals that utilize the lifesaving services of Southlake Regional Health Centre.

About State Farm®

State Farm has been serving Canadians since 1938. State Farm and its affiliates are the fourth largest auto insurance provider, and the seventh largest property and casualty insurer in Canada. In addition to providing affordable car insurance rates, State Farm has more than 540 Canadian agents and 1300 employees providing insurance and financial services including mutual funds, life insurance, vehicle loans, critical illness, disability, home and auto insurance to our customers in Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick. For more information, please visit statefarm.ca, join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or see us on YouTube.