With its holiday music, crafts, and activities, all that was missing to complete the scene at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital’s 22nd Annual Community Tree lighting was snow. Instead, thousands of guests enjoyed the Santa Clarita Valley holiday tradition on a sunny California day.
Barbara Day, a registered nurse from Valencia, brought her daughter Katie Scarlett, 5, and friend Michelle Tsjuimoto, 5, to get a photo with Santa before heading off for face painting. “I’ve lived here for seven years and want to become more involved with my community,” said Day, who also participated in Henry Mayo’s 5K “Run for the Health of It” event in September. “This is a fun way to support the hospital.”
The Tree Lighting Ceremony provided the community with a special opportunity to participate in the “Gift of Life Program,” in which donors symbolically helped decorate the holiday tree with contributions from $15 to $1,000 toward multi-colored ornaments in honor of loved ones.
This year, the major sponsor of the event was Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital and the Health Foundation Boards of Directors, who elected to provide a message of appreciation to the California firefighters who so bravely and diligently protected their community during the recent Buckweed and Magic blazes.
“We want to say thank you to the firefighters who are here today from Station 126 in Santa Clarita. You do an unbelievable job for us here in the Santa Clarita Valley,” said City of Santa Clarita mayor pro-tem Bob Kellar, who emceed the event. Mayor Marsha McLean and Assemblyman Cameron Smyth were also in attendance.
“Anything that brings the community together is a good thing,” said Station 126 fire captain Dana Provost. “A lot of our firefighters live and work here, so we really have a special connection to this community. We’re like family.”
At 5 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus were brought to a special stage to commence the lighting of Henry Mayo’s spectacularly decorated 40-foot tree. The crowd counted down as Santa sprinkled magic dust into the air and the tree became awash in a golden glow from thousands of tiny lights. Decorations and lighting were generously provided by event sponsor Andy Gump, whose family and staff worked throughout the week with the company’s special equipment to create the tree’s signature look.
Bob Hudson, Henry Mayo’s chief financial officer, watched with pride as the tree was lit. “All of us at the hospital are pleased to be able to provide the community tree lighting ceremony to the great people of Santa Clarita. We look forward to many more years of doing this, hopefully with weather like tonight,” Hudson said.
To contribute to the Henry Mayo “Gift of Life” program, please contact the Foundation at 661-253-8082 or visit www.henrymayo.com .