Wesley Tree Festival raises an estimated $100,000 to support local youth
by Will Tuell
Thousands of Downeasters braved pouring rain, near-tropical storm force winds, and brisk temperatures this past weekend in hopes of winning one of 45 themed Christmas trees donated by local businesses and community leaders in what is fast becoming a local Christmas tradition: Wesley’s Tree Festival. The event, hosted by the Wesley [Keeton] Foundation, was projected to have raised approximately $100,000 according to organizers during a Facebook Live drawing viewed by nearly 1,000 people simultaneously late Sunday afternoon, provides key funding to area schools and youth activities in memory of Wesley Keaton, a young East Machias boy who tragically lost his life in an ATV accident several years ago.
“We have 45 trees here from businesses and families who have spent a tremendous amount of time, money, and effort to put together some amazing trees, and we really want to thank them for their effort and their contributions here today and this weekend,” local businessman Dean McGuire, who emceed the live drawing, said. “The $100,000 question we always get is how much money we raise at this event. I don’t have an exact figure for you, but I’m going to tell you it’s right around the $100,000 mark, which is about $10,000 more than last year. We really appreciate that [because] the Wesley Foundation gives a lot back to the children in our community.”
Trees ranged in size, theme, and décor from those featuring toys for small children, those bedecked with gift cards from area businesses to large screen TVs, grills, mystery gifts, and one tree draped in $2,000 cash while Christmas music from all generations boomed in the background. Participants could also purchase tickets on a 50/50 raffle which generated $2,400 for the lucky winner in its own right.
While atmosphere, stats, and pictures tell much of the story, McGuire took care to highlight some of the charitable efforts the Wesley Foundation helps support during the live drawing.
“A few of those things that we have donated to in the last year [include] pee-wee basketball in the area, Machias Area Little League, Down East Teen Leadership Camp, Moosabec Little League, Downeast Youth Soccer Association, the Machias [Bay Area] Chamber [of Commerce] summer movie sponsorships, duck boat tour field trips….state championship sweatshirts for tennis, the [Machias] Little League scoreboard, and the list goes on. It’s a long list,” McGuire said, adding. “We also give scholarships to high school seniors graduating from Washington Academy and Narraguagus High Schools.”
The Wesley Foundation is also “moving forward” with a plan to build “an outdoor recreation area for area youth” which would be accessible after school and on weekends.
When asked how the event was going Saturday afternoon, ticket-taker Tammy Wood of Machiasport said, “It’s [been] awesome so far!” a sentiment evinced both by the number of folks purchasing tickets as well as the level of social media engagement Wesley Foundation posts had generated during the Friday to Sunday event held at the Lee Pellon Center in Machias. The Wesley Foundation also organizes a 5k race in the spring as part of its outreach efforts.
Wesley Foundation volunteer Dean McGuire, left, called out the winning names for each tree via a Facebook live stream, assisted by Rachel Keeton, right, who read the winning ticket numbers aloud. Photo by Sarah Craighead Dedmon