By Christine Price
Columnist
Amidst all the stress, anxiety, craziness and bad news, my goal is to spotlight and share the good news in our community.
Christmas trees framed the doorway of the Cleveland Marriott East ballroom and set the stage for an enchanting evening.
As I stepped into the softly-lit room, the glow of beautifully-decorated trees filled my view. It nearly took my breath away. It was Saturday, Nov. 15, and the 24th annual Torchlight Youth Mentoring Festival of Trees gala was in full swing.
The event buzzed with excitement, offering guests countless ways to support the organization. Phones lit up as attendees bid on more than 100 fabulous auction items. Raffle tickets were selling quickly for a chance to win a five-night trip to Europe or $4,000 in cash.
Colorful, light-up necklaces flashed around the room as guests bought them to play the popular game Heads or Tails. Tickets for the wine tree raffle – where one lucky winner could take home up to 60 bottles – were selling like hotcakes.
A successful evening
“We couldn’t be more pleased with how successful this evening has been,” said Executive Director Tia Lawrence. “We have over 280 guests here tonight. The funds raised will be used to expand Torchlight Youth Mentoring, which serves Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties through four impactful programs that support at-risk youth. So far this year, we have served over 120 kids.”
“The mission of Torchlight Youth Mentoring Alliance is to foster the development of youth so they can reach their highest potential as responsible, adaptable, caring adults,” she continued. “I want to thank everyone in attendance – our board of directors, staff, volunteers and over 36 sponsors – for helping us make this happen.”
Torchlight’s roots stretch back to 1993, when it began as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio. For 26 years, the organization served Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties, primarily through one-on-one, community-based matches. As mentoring needs grew – especially in schools, foster-care homes and parks – the organization evolved. In January 2019, it became Torchlight Youth Mentoring Alliance, allowing for more innovative programming tailored to the community’s changing needs.
Dessert Dash
After dinner, the energy ramped up for the always-popular Dessert Dash. Guests at each table stuffed cash into envelopes, hoping to earn the top spot and sprint to the dessert table first. When the call came, “runners” raced forward in a joyful blur of movement and laughter. This year’s Dessert Dash set a record—an astonishing $27,233 raised.
The decorated trees were true works of art. The Nutcracker Tree celebrated Clara’s magical Christmas Eve journey with her Nutcracker Prince. The Follow the Star Tree, created by Urania Chapter #284 of the Order of the Eastern Star, displayed simple elegance with a serene Nativity beneath its branches – a gentle reminder of the true meaning of the season.
The Cowboy Christmas Tree, the Oz-mas Tree dressed in Emerald City glam and the cozy Home Sweet Home Tree were just a few of the many imaginative creations.
Then came the highlight of the evening – the live auction of 17 themed Christmas trees. Emcee and auctioneer Bob Hale encouraged spirited bidding, and the crowd responded with enthusiasm. Paddles shot up across the room as every tree found a new home.
The Girl Power Tree
The crowd roared with excitement during the bidding for the Girl Power Tree, decorated by Carmeuse Lime Inc. Designed as a tribute to the remarkable women in our lives and to honor those who have fought or are fighting cancer, the tree overflowed with gift cards for massages, beauty care, and shopping.
Beneath it were luxurious bath items, drink coolers, Kobalt toolboxes and designer treasures from Coach, Michael Kors and Kate Spade. Bidding was swift until Commissioner Morris Beverage III swooped in at the last moment with a $3,000 bid – securing the Girl Power Tree in dramatic fashion.
Another showstopper was the 80 Years of Mattel Magic Tree, created by Sunny Karthikeyan, Beth Archacki, Julie Pavelecky and Dr. Andrew and Nicole Vassil. This nostalgic masterpiece showcased eight decades of childhood favorites – from Barbie to Hot Wheels to Fisher-Price, along with mountains of toys for today’s kids.
It quickly became a crowd favorite and, once again, Commissioner Beverage wrote a check for $3,000. He plans to donate the tree to Forbes House, with the toys going to children in the Lake County foster program.
Carrie Hollings, a mentor with Torchlight for over 20 years and newly-appointed board member, shared her experiences with Torchlight’s mentoring program. Her commitment echoed the passion felt throughout the evening.
“The holiday season is my favorite time of year. The Festival of Trees is a big job, but it is the most rewarding,” said Ruth Ringenbach, director of strategic initiatives and events. “Events account for one-third of our yearly budget, and most of it comes from the Festival of Trees.”
There are 60 kids who are right now waiting for a mentor, 40 of whom are boys. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, would like to donate or get involved, visit www.torchlightyouthmentoring.org.
When you see good news, and you will, please let me know. I would love to share it. Please include your name, phone number and city you live in and email cpriceconcord@aol.com.
