IALR-Sponsored Holiday Tree Program Raises $16,585 for Charities

Event featured 44 decorated trees, has raised more than $117,000 since 2010

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is pleased to announce that its 10th annual Decorating the Trees for a Cause program raised $16,585 for nonprofit organizations over the holiday season. Forty-four organizations participated in the program, and each selected a charity for which to collect votes in the form of donations.

“Our community has once again stepped up to support another banner year for charitable fundraising through this program we are honored to host,” said Ellen Bass, Sales & Marketing Manager for the Institute Conference Center. “Thanks to the generosity and giving of guests and sponsors as well as the creativity and dedication of our exhibit participants, we raised the second largest amount since the beginning of the program in 2010.”

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company’s tree received the most votes and donations and, therefore, won the first-place bonus of $1,000. The company’s charity of choice, the United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County, received donations of more than $4,000. Foster Insurance’s tree received the second most votes, and their donations, which totaled more than $1,400, were selected to go to God’s Pit Crew. As the second-place winner, they received a $700 bonus for their charity. Make a Wish of Greater Virginia was selected as the random drawing winner and received a bonus of $500. The bonus awards were made possible through an anonymous donation as well as sponsorships by Sodexo Inc. and HomeTrust Bank.

The three-week voting and display period for the Decorating the Trees for a Cause program ended Dec. 20, and all participants received 100 percent of the donations contributed for their trees. Since the program’s beginning in 2010, $117,183 has been raised for charitable causes.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, advanced manufacturing, conference center services and economic development efforts. The Institute’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville. Visit www.ialr.org for more information.

For other photos, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmJN8eDt

 

Participating Organizations	Supported Cause
Academy for Engineering & Technology	Dan River FFA Project
Aker’s Heating & Air	Camp Selah Ministries
Alpha Phi Alpha	Big Brother Big Sister
Alzheimer’s Association Central & Western Virginia	Alzheimer’s Association Walk
American Cancer Society	Relay for Life/Praise God Champions
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention VA Chapter	Suicide Prevention & Awareness
American Legion 1097 Auxiliary	American Legion 1097 Auxiliary
American National Bank	Danville Area Humane Society
AmeriCorps	Haven of the Dan River Region
Angel Wings Home Care	Cross Roads Reconciliation Services
Averett University Flight Center	Averett University Flying Cougars
Chatham Middle School	Out of Darkness Walk
City of Danville Utilities	Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Commonwealth Hospice	Hospice Promise Foundation
Community Health Workers	Community Health Workers
Daly 7	Wounded Warriors
Dan River High School DECA	Claire Parker Foundation
Dan River Non-Profit	Dan River Non-Profit
Danville Church Based Tutorial	Danville Church Based Tutorial
Danville Humane Society	The Danville Humane Society
Danville Public Schools	STEAM Night
Danville Redevelopment and Housing	Cedar Terrace Recreation Center
Danville Speech and Hearing Center	Danville Speech and Hearing Center
DCC’s TEACH Club	Delta Kappa Gamma “Books for Babies”
Dry Fork Christian School	Dry Fork Christian School
Foster Insurance	God’s Pit Crew
God’s Store House	God’s Store House
Goodyear	United Way of Danville
Historic North Theatre Inc.	Historic North Theatre Inc.
Home Trust Bank	House of Hope
IALR/Sodexo	United Way of Danville
KickBack Jack’s #36	Cops and Kids
Make a Wish of Greater Virginia	Make A Wish of Greater Virginia
National Society of Black Engineers	National Society of Black Engineers
Piedmont Governor’s School	Parent of Student (Jan Yoder) Health Issues
Pittsylvania County Parks & Rec	Youth Commission
Riverside Cleaners	Stop Child Abuse Now
Sacred Heart Catholic School	Sacred Heart Catholic School
SPCA	SPCA of Pittsylvania County
ST. Luke’s United Methodist Church	Backpack Food Ministry for GLH Johnson School
Stonewall Therapeutic Recreation Center	Stonewall Therapeutic Recreation Center
URW Federal Credit Union	Children’s Miracle Network
Whitmell FTD’s Relay Team	American Cancer Society
Women United Inc	Mentoring Programs