Our Story
FRIENDS OF HOSPICE
Our History
The Christmas Festival of Trees is 39! The history of the Festival of Trees is rich with love and commitment to Talbot Hospice, a caring organization offering end of life care to our area’s residents. One of the early patients in hospice care was Mrs. Robert Fuller. Leslie Ware, her neighbor and friend and Midge Fuller, her daughter-in-law were instrumental in reaching out to hospice. Leslie had seen an article in “Southern Living” magazine about a Festival of Trees in Wilmington, NC.
After the loss of Virginia Fuller in 1984, Leslie and Midge attended the Wilmington Festival of Trees. Together they founded Friends of Hospice and presented the idea of creating a Festival of Trees fundraiser for Talbot Hospice. The idea was welcomed with open arms and Leslie and Midge spent the next twelve months organizing committees, ordering supplies, speaking to local groups about hospice and recruiting local businesses and friends to support and participate. The result… in Nov. 1986 a beautiful new tradition began in our community – The Festival of Trees.
FRIENDS OF HOSPICE
ABOUT US
The Friends of Hospice has donated over 3.7 million dollars to the Talbot Hospice Foundation all generated from the Annual Festival of Trees event.
FRIENDS OF HOSPICE
OUR MISSION
Friends of Hospice was formed in 1984 to raise monies to benefit hospice patients and their families in Talbot County by hosting an annual fundraising event and to bring awareness to community members about Hospice Care.
WE REMEMBER & HONOR
HOSPICE MEMORIAL TREE
OUR AMAZING TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brenda Forbes-Butler
Dana McGrath
Carol Harrison
Catherine Carouge
Dori Gowe-Lambert
Midge Menzies
Joanne Newmier
Casey Rauch
Alisha Saulsbury
Leslie Ware
Patty Fox
Karla Wieland-Cherry
Sarah Harris
Katie Williams
2024 FESTIVAL OF TREES CHAIRS
Karla Wieland-Cherry
Midge Menzies
Brenda Forbes-Butler
Susan Clifford
Susan Wendt
Holly Anderson
Chloe Milligan
Dale Jafari
Gale Shorter
Kari Diefenderfer
Bob Garrett
Paul Garrett
Brenda Andrew
Allison Satchell
Sandy Chambers
Jonathan Moore
Summer Moore
Avonda Rounds
Catherine Carouge
Jessica Abbonizio