Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2022

The Kootenai Health Foundation’s second virtual Festival of Trees was bigger and better than the first. “We’ve learned to be creative,” Foundation Development Supervisor Kali Singleton said. From the Evening Rotary Club of Coeur d’Alene’s tree themed “All Aboard the Polar Express!” to the playful and plentiful offerings of Grand Benefactor Super 1 Foods’ “Backyard BBQ,” 16 trees created a festive forest in the Hagadone Event Center the weekend after Thanksgiving. The trees were displayed online for all to see and in person for sponsors and those who purchased Festival Gala tickets. The 33rd annual Festival of Trees, which was held virtually because of COVID-19, netted nearly $403,000—about $60,000 more than the amount raised during the first virtual celebration in 2020. The 2021 amount comes close to the $409,923 raised when the event was last held live in 2019, giving everyone something to celebrate. Gala guests received 180 unique logins as they enjoyed the event from their homes or cozy Coeur d’Alene Resort suites. They participated from all over the country, as close as Spokane and as far away as Florida. Thegift of enhancedcare Festival organizers distributed 120 charcuterie meals with wine, champagne or cider. The paddle raise was jump-started with a generous $100,000 matching gift from Super 1’s Ron and Joanne McIntire, while masters of ceremonies Rose Backs and Kootenai Health hospitality director Charlie Linder kept the momentum going. The beneficiary of the 33rd annual Festival is Kootenai Health’s neurosurgery program. Proceeds support the Foundation’s $1.1 million campaign to buy a StealthStation S8 Surgical Navigation System and a KINEVO microscope. This equipment will expand capabilities and operating options to allow patients who need neurosurgery to receive the optimal care they need while staying close to their family and support systems at home. Kootenai Health neurosurgeon William Ganz, M.D., was among a select group of Angel sponsors. His family bought the Horizon Credit Union “Happy Camper” tree. “Giving is about being able to provide these services to Coeur d’Alene and northern Idaho as well as western Montana and eastern Washington,” Dr. Ganz said. “The equipment we use is aging. We had to update that. I Bigger, Better, Brighter Festival of Trees shines in second year of virtual event “Christmas Under the Big Top” tree By Devin Weeks “Giving is about being able to provide these services to Coeur d’Alene and northern Idaho as well as western Montana and eastern Washington.” —William Ganz, M.D. 20