Bon Secours is proud to announce the return of the annual St. Francis Festival of Trees. This year marks the 37th annual event, which official began on Friday, Nov. 18.
“The Festival of Trees is a holiday tradition in Greenville that has made a lasting impact on our community, and it continues to bring warm feeling to all who see this winter wonderland at the downtown hotels. Children who first viewed these trees 37 years ago are now bringing their children to kick off their Christmas season,” said Erik Whaley, president of the St. Francis Foundation.
More than 70 spectacularly decorated trees will line the entranceway of three hotels in downtown Greenville this year, giving visitors and community members the chance to experience the magic of the holidays. View the trees at the Courtyard Marriott Downtown, the Embassy Suites by Hilton – Riverplace and the Hyatt Regency Greenville.
Each year, companies, schools and other organizations across the Upstate each sponsor a tree that then is decorated by volunteers. Throughout the years, these sponsorships have raised $2 million that have directly benefitted the health system’s various programs and departments. Project SEARCH, the Level II Special Care Nursery at St. Francis Eastside Hospital and Open Arms Hospice are just a few of the programs that have previously received funding from this annual holiday event.
“Through the years, this event has brought families together, but it has also supported a variety of health care needs that help make Bon Secours St. Francis stronger for all we serve. This year is no different, with funds being raised to create a second mobile mammography coach that will take the caring arm of the hospital out into the communities we are so blessed to serve,” Whaley said. “Individuals that are marginalized or do not have access to screenings will be able to do so because of the wonderful support of the 37th annual Festival of Trees.”
The mobile unit offers screening mammograms throughout the community, increasing access to care by removing transportation barriers for women in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens and Oconee counties. The current mobile is on the road five to six days a week, offering the latest 3D tomosynthesis technology.
“We are so excited to be part of this wonderful event, which will help fund the addition of a second mammography coach. This will allow us to travel further and to more destinations to spread awareness that early detection is key in the fight against breast cancer – a fight that 1 in 8 women will face in their lifetime,” said Amanda Yanchus, lead mammography technologist at the Pearlie Harris Center for Breast Health. “Making screenings more accessible has proven to increase mammography utilizations rates with the result being more lives saved. Our mission is to make these services as accessible as possible and with the funds raised through this year’s event, we will do just that when we place our second mobile on the road!”
The 2022 Bon Secours St. Francis Festival of Trees will run through Monday, Dec. 26.
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