Here's how much each tree earned at the 2023 Trim-a-Tree

James Bennett, Kokomo Tribune, Ind.
·5 min read

Nov. 20—There were 68 trees and wreaths in the 2023 Trim-a-Tree Festival. Between the auction and other donations, the fundraiser brought in a total of $91,260.50.

The highest-selling item was a wreath titled "Grandma's Christmas Countdown." Decorated in memory of Gertrud "Trudy" Rice, it was surrounded by a desk that doubled as an advent calendar and sold for $10,000.

The highest-selling full-sized tree, "Snappy Claus," sold for $5,500. The highest-selling tabletop tree, "Proud to be a Tiger" was made and repurchased by Northwestern Elementary's second grade students and staff for $1,081.73.

Northwestern also donated an additional $149.91.

The People's Choice Award went to "Rockin' around ALC" from Abundant Life Church, which raised $391.58 in monetary votes.

Here's a full list of who decorated trees, who bought them and how much each tree sold for:

1. Key Minds Home Care, "The Key to Christmas," Hadley Shedron, $425.

2. Suicide Prevention Coalition, "Hope for the Holidays," Donna and Howard Duncan, $650.

3. Hoosier Family Cosmetics & Healing, "Healing can be Merry," Tricia Rybolt $150.

4. Northwestern Elementary Second Grade, "Proud to be a Tiger," Northwestern Elementary Second Grade, $1,081.

5. Brady Insurance Group, "Merry Swiftmas!," 2nd Shift Sewer & Plumbing, $600.

6. Kristie Wright School of Dance, "Whimsical Wonderland," Warren Sims, $550.

7. The Salvation Army Kokomo, "Love Beyond," Hadley Shedron, $250.

8. Kokomo MS Support Group, "We are all in this together," Janette Kauffman, $625.

9. Paw of Doody, "Merry Pawmas," Hadley Shedron, $325.

10. Maple Crest Kroger, "Feeding the Human Spirit," Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union, $750.

11. Wellbrooke of Kokomo, "Pretty in Pink," Matt Samuels and Tina Samuels, $1,200.

12. Sweet Peas Play Café, "Peas on Earth," Hadley Shedron, $525.

13. Kokomo Area Special Education Cooperative, "Community is our Foundation," The Silvers Family, $400.

14. Miller Family Dental Care, "Dreaming of a White Christmas," Ben and Judy Yard, $500.

15. Department of Child Services, "Continuing Family Traditions," Steven Ables, $650.

16. Creative Financial Centre, "Legend of the Christmas Stocking," Taylored PCs, $475.

17. Taylor Elementary Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten, "Candy Cane Wishes," Taylor Elementary Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten, $960.

18. TNT Auto Sales & Services, "In Memory of Trent Davis," TNT Auto Sales & Services, $1,000.

19. Kokomo Piecemakers Quilt Guild, "Quilted with Love," Galveston American Legion Post #415, $1,500.

20. Abundant Life Church, "Rockin' around ALC," Eric and Kristine Chapman, $2,800.

21. The Havrick Family, "The Night Before Christmas," Grace Tree Service, $750.

22. All Ways Plumbing, "A Gingerbread Christmas," Melissa Trine — Choo Choo McGoo's, $300.

23. Little Rugrats Early Learning Center, "Christmas in Bethlehem," In Memory of Dave White and Moe Rocheford, $775.

24. Relay for Life of Howard County, "Pieces of the Puzzle," Eric and Kristine Chapman, $475.

25. Community First Bank of Indiana, "Do You Hear What I Hear?," Custom Moves Real Estate, $400.

26. Lokol Supply, "Dropping in for the Holidays," Shue's MX School, $1,000.

27. Snap-On, "Snappy Claus," Martin Wrecker Service, $5,500.

28. First City Recovery Center, "Way down in Kokomo," Dennis White, $1,000.

29. Legacy of Love, "Barbie Dream Tree," Grace Tree Service, $1,650.

30. Huston Electric, "Furrr Baby — It's Cold Outside," Brayden Auth, $700.

31. Be Kind Sisters, "Winter Fun!," Janette Kauffman, $325.

32. The Church of God of the Union Assembly, "It's Harvest Time," Galveston American Legion Post #415, $1,000.

33. Texas Roadhouse, "Peace, Love & Texas Roadhouse," Warren Sims, $475.

34. BMO Bank, "Home for Christmas," Billie Frazier, $1,300.

35. Boulevard Liquor, "An Ol' Tyme Christmas," Hadley Shedron, $350.

36. The Lawson Family, "A Retro Christmas," Kim Graves, $600.

37. Functional Devices, "Peace of Mind," In Memory of Dave Barnes, $450.

38. Anew Hospice, "Under the Tree," McGonigals, $1,500.

39. Country Lawn & Garden, "Merry Yeti Christmas," Erin Clemons, $1,200.

40. Kirby Risk, "The First Noel," Galveston American Legion Post #415, $3,250.

41. In Loving Memory of Gertrud "Trudy" Rice, "Grandma's Christmas Countdown," Family of Granda Trudy Rice, $10,000.

42. Edward Jones, "Deck the Halls," Shirley Lawson, $3,000.

43. The Jackson Family, "An Ole Fashion Christmas," Danille Hammond, $500.

44. Howard County Republican Party, "The Giving Grinch," Tyler and Shelly Vincent, $3,700.

45. Green Acres Homeowners Association, "Home Sweet Home," Grace Tree Service, $2,000.

46. Ellers Mortuary & Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home, "Always in Our Hearts," Kyle Chesshir, $1,500.

47. CRM Properties, "Shine Bright like a Diamond," Riley and Allie Tomlinson, $2,900.

48. Markland Mall, "The One with the Bidding War...," Steve Peir Engineered Conveyor, $1,450.

49. Pack Rat Storage, "Santa's Christmas Morning," All Seasons General Contracting, $800.

50. King's Cleaning Solutions, "Botanical Heaven," Sciler Jarrett, $600.

51. Ortman Drilling & Water Services, "In Memory of Vinnie Horn," Gage Lidy and Brittany Lidy, $650.

52. Advanced Medical Imaging, "We Care for our Patients," Lisa Russell and Rybolt Family, $1,250.

53. Waterford Place Health Campus, "KEVIN!," Snap-On Tools, $1,400.

54. Solidarity Community Federal Credit Union, "A Cozy Little Christmas," Tori Heady and Braxxon Heady, $900.

55. Guardian Angel Hospice, "Stitched together by Community," Warren Sims, $850.

56. Ax Kingz Inc., "Frosty Winter Magic," Matt and Courtney Westfall, $500.

57. Liberty Financial Group Inc., "We Care is Out of this World" Micha'el Tharp-Hughes — Advantix, $300.

58. Kokomo Area Career Center for Cosmetology, "Barbie Beauty Wonderland," James M. Horner, $650.

59. Eye Physicians Inc., "Eye Spy," Kelsey Lowe, $400.

60. UAW Local 1166, "Casting a Hot Wheel Christmas," Tonya Tanner, $1,700.

61. The Slabaugh Family, "Gingerbread Bliss," Custom Moves Real Estate, $950.

62. STAR Financial Bank, "Father Christmas," Eric and Kristine Chapman, $1,050.

63. Xfinity, "The Magic of Hogwarts," Jennifer Nies, $1,800.

64. Taylored PCs, "Happy Birthday, Randy!," Dave and Angie Harbaugh, $2,000.

65. Kokomo Symphony, "50 and Still Fantastic," Kelly and Avery Silvers, $750.

66. Cross America, "Silver & Gold," Daphnie Harmeson and Family, $600.

67. Bona Vista Programs, "Barbie Girl in a BV World!," Anthony Grandstaff, $700.

68. Meijer, "A Century of Disney," Janette Kauffman, $2,900.

James Bennett III can be reached at 765-454-8580 or james.bennett@kokomotribune.com.