DES MOINES, Iowa- Organizers of the annual "Festival of Trees" benefit for Blank Children's Hospital say the event raised a record $10 million this year. .
Proceeds benefit Child Life, Music & Art Therapy and the Des Moines hospital's Advocacy and Outreach programs.
More than 20-thousand visitors attended the 35th annual event over the Thanksgiving weekend at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center downtown Des Moines. Seven hundred volunteers helped run the event
Organizers say the 85-decorated Christmas trees have been delivered to local businesses, charities, private homes, patient families, and hospitals.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment,” says David Stark, president and CEO, of UnityPoint Health - Des Moines. “A record-breaking year of fundraising will allow our team at Blank Children’s Hospital to provide the care that makes our hospital one of the best in the country.”