Festival of Trees 2019
Thank you for all of your support during 2020/2021!
With limited fundraising, REF was able to support new Grants across the district.
Please stay tuned for more information on forthcoming new and exciting fundraising events.
Mrs. Friberg using the pen tablet during remote online learning
Pen Tablet used by Reading math middle school teachers
Thank you all for a very successful Festival of Trees in 2019! Over 2,400 people attended and REF raised over $30,000 in profits which will go directly toward 2020 Teacher Grants. Without the support from local businesses, school and community groups, individuals and volunteers, our festival would not be possible. Together we have made this entertaining and rewarding holiday tradition a key fundraiser benefiting Reading’s students! A special thank you to: our event sponsor the Reading Rotary Club; our community sponsors: Pamplemousse, Columbo’s Pizza & Cafe, and Geno Grande and his food truck; and our individual sponsor Karen Janowski.
In addition, much appreciation for: the Reading Rotary Club for donating candy and cotton candy, and staffing the food booth; Columbo’s for the pizza; Woburn Showcase Cinema and Reading IMAX for donating popcorn; Michelle Greenwalt, the Sweet Treat Baker for the delicious cookies; Reading Stop & Shop for donating cookie frosting; Jackie and Mario Antimone for paper products; Creative Arts for card making station; Lauren Bennett for our festive posters and logos; Eric Rzepka for IT support; Reading Facilities Department, Parker Middle School and the Custodial crew for the space, electrical technology and support; the Reading Public Library for helping to promote our event.
Thank you to our fabulous FOT committee, the super volunteers who make this whole event possible: Kathy Kinney, Ann Cruickshank, Alyssa Gallegos, Heather Stepler, Jeanne Cappuccio, Julia Cahill-O’Shea, Karen Richardson, Sheila Baxter, Lindsey McCarthy, Laura LaFrancesca, and Annemarie Ring. In addition, special thanks to our wonderful students volunteers including our student volunteer organizers Rachel Grimes and Caroline Hugo. And of course, deep appreciation and thanks to our beloved Tree donors (see a complete listing at the end of this post).
We focused on local entertainment again this year, and had a fabulous array of adult and youth musicians, singers and story-tellers. A heartfelt thanks to our adult performers: Reading Community Concert Band and singer Taylor Hilliard; and for the wonderful performances from our inspiring youth: RMHS Color Guard, RMHS Select Chorus, RMHS Jazz Band, RMHS Small Ensembles, Coolidge Middle School Wind Chimes & Small Ensembles, Parker Middle School Performers, Ben Mini and Julia Mullen, CBTween, Caleb Cascio and Claire Benjamin. Last but not least, thank you to our favorite storyteller, Eileen Litterio and Shanna Fusco for the sing-a-long. We could not have done it without you and all the support from this community!
Winning Trees
Favorite Tree: “Lego Tree” by the Yatsuhashi Family
Most Spectacular Tree: “This Tree has Strong Roots” by Reading Education Foundation
Most Creative Tree: “Upcycled Tree” by Tin Bucket
Best Tree Topper: “Summer Fun” by Barbara & Joe Casarano
Best Under Tree Display: “Land of Misfit Toys” by 6th Grade Girls Basketball
More Trees!
2019 Tree Donors
| 6th Grade Girls Basketball Team |
| Aine’s |
| Alice M. Barrows Elementary School Tree |
| Alive & Well Chiropractic |
| Allardi, McGurn, Williams, Fialli and Kinney families |
| Antea Amoroso Design |
| Barbara & Joe Casarano |
| Barrows Girl Scout Troop (save tickets) |
| Birch Meadow Student Council & PTO |
| Bonazoli Family |
| Bourque and Dumas Families |
| Casarano, Connolly, Dean, Mullin & Vitarrisi Families |
| Cataldo Family |
| Connect The Tots |
| Coolidge Middle School |
| Creative Arts |
| Cross Country Mortgage |
| Curate Partners (new 2019) |
| Department of Children and Families |
| Douglas Funeral Home |
| Elite Free Style Karate |
| Evergreen Florist |
| Everything But The Dog |
| Flower Bar |
| Friends of Reading Recreation |
| Fusco & Zessis Families (new 2019) |
| Gallegos Family |
| Girl Scout Troop 76150 (new 2019) |
| Gould Family |
| Grace Chapel – Reading Life Community Group |
| Innovative Autism Connections, LLC. (new 2019) |
| Joshua Eaton Elementary School |
| KayLash |
| Killiam PTO |
| KR Staging & ReDesign (new) |
| Lee Kimball |
| McCarthy Enterprises (new) |
| Meadow Brook |
| Miss Cristi’s Homeroom |
| MOMS Club of Reading |
| Nichols and Wolter Families |
| Northeast Youth Ballet |
| O’Brien Family (new 2019) |
| O’Neill Family |
| Onset School of Music (new) |
| Parker Art Department – Room 200 |
| Parker Middle School PTO |
| Parker Music Department |
| Parker Special Ed Department |
| PDA Dental Group |
| Peirce Family |
| Pine Ridge Neighborhood |
| Pleasant Street Center (new) |
| Reading 375 |
| Reading Co-Operative Bank |
| Reading Education Foundation |
| Reading Education Foundation |
| Reading Embraces Diversity (RED) |
| Reading Fire Department |
| Reading Police Department |
| Reading Public Library |
| Reading Rotary Club |
| Reading School Committee & Central Office |
| Reading Youth Hockey |
| Reading-North Reading Chamber of Commerce |
| REMAX Ladner Realty Group (new 2019) |
| Ring Family |
| RISE PTN |
| RMHS Choral Department |
| RMHS Drama Department |
| RMHS Girls Rising Club |
| RMHS Marching Band |
| RMHS PTO |
| RMHS Robockets |
| Rocket Independent Video CLub |
| Roman Music Therapy Services |
| Rzepka Family |
| Samantha’s Harvest |
| Sartell Electric |
| SEPAC |
| Sinclair Family (new 2019) |
| Social Good |
| Stepler & La Francesca Families |
| The Flower Shoppe of Eric’s |
| The Reading Color Street Team |
| The Residence at Pearl Street |
| Timothy J Kelley Atty |
| Tin Bucket |
| Tompkins Family |
| Troop 728 |
| True North Realty |
| Understanding Disabilities |
| Women’s League of Reading |
| WoodEnd Elementary PTO |
| WoodEnd Elementary Staff |
| Yatsuhashi Family |
| YMCA |
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