Annual tree festival highlights Travis' spirit of giving

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shaun Emery
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  As Team Travis gears up for the holidays, the Seventh Annual Travis Fisher House Holiday Tree Festival and Auction, Dec. 3, proves that the spirit of giving is alive and well.
The event was a silent auction with all proceeds benefiting the Travis Fisher House. 

Thirty Christmas trees and several gift baskets were auctioned off at the event. Members of the Travis community purchased the trees and gift baskets and donated them to the event. 

Each donated tree was decorated with its own theme, from "babies first Christmas," to flying squadrons hanging aircraft from branches. 

"The variety and creativity of this year's themes were amazing," said Charlene Hall, Travis Fisher House manager. "People really took a lot of pride in decorating their trees, it's great." 

During the event, visitors were treated to refreshments as they walked around looking and bidding on trees. Even Santa made a special appearance and children had the opportunity to have their picture taken with him. 

"It's a really special night," said Maj. Ann Alexander, Travis Fisher House associate director. "The support from the units is overwhelming." 

This is the first year the major had been a part of the festival, and she said the generosity from the Travis community was incredible. 

"Words can't describe how wonderful this event is," she said. "It's brilliant." 

Master Sgt. James Barber, 349th Maintenance Operations Flight, who has been a part of the festival committee since its inception, said this year's turn out was exceptional. Due to fire safety regulations, only 30 trees are able to be put on display, and this year all 30 slots were taken. 

"So many squadrons took the time to give back this year," he said. "The generosity was unexpected, but it really shows how much the people of this community care for each other." 

Last year, the festival raised more than $4,000 for the Travis Fisher House. Ms. Hall said, while she hopes this year's numbers are higher, she is thankful for every dollar that gets donated. 

"Our lifeline is donations and this is one of our biggest fundraisers," she said, fighting back tears. "The generosity of this community means that more of our guests can stay at the Fisher House at no charge while their family member receives treatment at the hospital. The idea that every year we hold this for the Fisher House is very touching." 

It's through that generosity that members of Team Travis are giving back this holiday season and ensuring fellow Airmen and their families are taken care of. 

The Travis Fisher House provides quarters for family members of patients receiving care at David Grant USAF Medical Center. The house can accommodate up to seven families or 16 individuals.