ACT for MS held its 13th annual Christmas Tree Lane Gala on November 30th at the Renaissance Esmeralda Hotel Spa. The event held Christmas trees and wreaths at a silent auction during the cocktail hour. The silent auction trees were smaller and everyone had a chance to bid on them. There were 18 large designer decorated Christmas trees that went into the live auction. Patrick Evans took over duties as auctioneer and sold the trees for a high price as the proceeds all went to ACT Each tree has a dollar price and a few were sold before the auction began.
Jack Jones was the guest host and also was honored with a tree. Carol Channing was the special Celebrity guest of honor and she also was honored with a tree,named Our Favorite Hello Dolly. A few Christmas Trees were done in loving memory of Annette Funicello, Andy Williams, a Fireman that lost his life in the line of duty and Fred, The Hammer, Williamson honored our military heroes and Wounded Warriors with his Camouflage Christmas tree.
Other trees honored celebrities like Bella da Ball with a Pretty in Pink tree, Barry Manilow, Jerry Vale with a Buone Feste Da Rita & Jerry Vale tree, Andrew Niederman with the Christmas in Paris tree. Bruce Fessier with the Old School Christmas tree and a tree in honor of MS patient Norma Greer. ACT for MS was started by Gloria Greer when her daughter Norma was diagnosed with MS. Trees had names like “Happy Days” TV show,”Desert Symphony’s Silver Anniversary” and many more.
Each tree was made by a local designer with designers doing more than one tree and each had a dollar amount that was mentioned before it was auctioned off. Trees had teddy bears, cd’s, feathers and many lights, autographed photos and books and even an old typewriter and a large Frosty the snowman. Each tree is unique in design, something that would not be found anywhere else and some included tickets to shows or dinner with a celebrity to raise the price of the tree.
