Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/883365
cuddly, brown bear tree is done by special needs adults, who also make the decorations." Most of the themed trees are auctioned off during the black-tie gala on Friday, and four of the trees donated by area community service groups are given away to the public via opportunity tickets included with admission. Fundraising efforts are coordinated by the Torrance Memorial Foundation, and last year the festival raised $1.5 million. "All the funds go to the greatest need at the hospital," Snyder says. "is year the money goes for renovation of the North Patient Tower, which includes pediatrics, mother/baby, the neonatal intensive care unit and medical/surgical rooms." "e first year we raised $20,000," Snyder adds. "Every year we set our sights a little higher. I told myself once we reached $75,000, I would retire as a volunteer co-chair. en we saw we could raise $100,000 the next year, so I stayed on. It just keeps going." Giving is not limited to cash, either. More than 500 volunteers put in a total of 10,000 hours. And planning is year-round. Starting as the trees are taken down, work plans are outlined for the coming year. Snyder says she is so gratified by working with the volunteers over the years and to see the faces of all the visitors to the Festival. "ere's nothing like standing inside the tent, watching people walk in and seeing their faces just light up. It's like they are looking at the North Pole." like standing inside the tent, watching people walk in and seeing their faces just light up. It's like they are looking at the North Pole." T U E S D AY, N OV. 2 8 1:30 TO 3:30 P.M. FOLLOWING THE TICKETED FASHION SHOW AT 9:30 A.M. W E D N E S D AY - T H U R S D AY N OV. 2 9 , 3 0 10 A.M. TO 9 P.M. F R I D AY, D E C . 1 CLOSED TO PUBLIC FOR BLACK-TIE GALA S AT U R D AY, D E C . 2 10 A.M. TO 9 P.M. S U N D AY, D E C . 3 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. Admission to the festival is $5 for adults, free for children 5 and under. Free for seniors on Wednesday, Nov. 29 and ursday, Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $2 for Community Service Groups on ursday, Nov. 30 from 4 to 9 p.m. FESTIVAL PUBLIC HOURS For general recorded information about Holiday Festival, call 310-517-4606.