The year was 1963. On a quiet evening, a group of people from a local church met in a conference room to discuss creating a Christmas tradition in the city of Portland. Singing Christmas Trees were beginning to sprout up in various cities and together these people agreed to take a giant step of faith, and thus was born Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree.
The first budget was created, and in order to construct the TREE structure, purchase music, advertise, and rent a venue, the grand total came to $525. At the performance, the plate was passed and the budget was met. And, as they say, “the rest is history”!
So much has changed in the past 50 years, but the TREE still remains a Portland Christmas tradition. I always like to refer to it as the “Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree Miracle”. Each year, through ticket sales and the generosity of people who believe in the message and mission of the TREE, this tradition has stayed alive!
Oh, how I wish the budget was still only $525! It would be incredible if we could open the doors of the Keller Auditorium and anyone could come to one of our performances! If only just passing the plate would be sufficient in paying all of the bills.
This year’s budget is over $850,000. We anticipate ticket revenue to cover about 60% of that cost; the remainder needs to be raised through sponsorships and donations. The Board of Directors has always believed that tickets need to remain at an affordable price, but that means that fundraising is imperative.
The 2012 TREE budget has a “must have” fundraising goal of $350,000 and a MIRACLE Goal for this 50th year of raising $500,000! This MIRACLE Goal would meet the 2012 budget and bring the TREE current on all of its outstanding debts, which would allow the TREE to enter into year 51 with a clean slate and the ability to dream about the next 50 years.
While this is an aggressive goal, it is attainable. If everyone who purchased a ticket last year would just buy another ticket, every performance would be sold out. The same is true for those who donated: if everyone who gave a dollar in 2011 would give two dollars in 2012, we would be able to celebrate the MIRACLE together.
Could I ask you to be a part of this MIRACLE, a part of our team in 2012? On this 50th anniversary, I invite you to join me in
Praying for a MIRACLE
Believing in a MIRACLE and
Expecting a MIRACLE!
Together, let’s do our part to keep the light shining for another 50 years!
Jim Boehner
CEO and Music & Ministry Director
Portland's Singing Christmas Tree is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Your Help Keep the Light Shining donations are 100% tax-deductible. You may make a one-time donation or set up a monthly contribution by clicking “Donate” below.
