BRIGHAM CITY – The Box Elder School District Foundation held their third annual Christmas Tree Jubilee at the Utah State University Brigham City Campus on Thursday, November 21, and Friday, November 22.
The Foundation invited local businesses to a gala and dinner then they offered them a decorated tree.
The Box Elder School District Foundation had eight decorated Christmas Trees displayed at the Utah State University Box Elder Campus on Friday Nov. 22, 2024.
This is the third year of the Jubilee to benefit students who need a boost.
Marcy Hatch, the Administrative Assistant to the Box Elder County School District and Secretary to the Box Elder School District Foundation, said the event is a fundraiser to help students who are struggling financially.
“We had a gala earlier this year for businesses and others to purchase a table and one of the Christmas trees,” she said “We have two trees left that are online people can bid on.”
The foundation uses the funds to support the school food pantries, the backpack program, coats, clothes and to fund teen centers. The foundation is in the process of trying to find a place for a teen center where unhoused students can wash their clothes and shower before coming to class.
The Box Elder School District Foundation was trying to raise money for a teen center by holding a Christmas Tree Jubilee.
“We had a Licensed Clinical Social Worker tell us that there are quite a few homeless students going to our schools,” Hatch said. “We also have a number of students living in lesser social-economic conditions that need help.”
They want a teen center in the high schools with running water for showers and laundry facilities that would benefit some of the students.
“We tried to get a bond passed to help fund to help these students, put it was not successful, so this is our next option,” she said. “This is not a cheap thing; it takes quite a bit of money to get this going.”
The foundation wants to do the same thing next year in Tremonton, Hatch said. Bear River High School has the same challenges.
Bobbiesue Christensen and her children Martin Ruthann took her parents Naomi and Bob Johnson of Brigham City inspecting a Christmas Tree at the Box Elder School District Foundation’s third annual Christmas Tree Jubilee on Friday Nov. 22, 2024.
While they were setting up the Christmas trees, Hatch said one of the people helping said he was homeless while he went to high school in Box Elder County. He told her he lived on the banks of the Bear River. She said today he is working at a financial institution.
Last year the foundation made $20,000 on their Jubilee and they are hoping to do better this year.
Hatch said they took a page out of the Weber School District Foundation’s book.
“The Weber School District’s Foundation has a lot more trees and a lot more businesses to draw from,” she said. “We hope ours will continue to grow.”
For more information, call Joan Hammer at (435) 734-3315 or go to https://www.boxeldercountyut.gov/tourism/page/box-elder-county-celebration-trees-open-house