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TriState Health Foundation announced that this year’s Festival of Trees raised an unprecedented $1,077,089 to support local healthcare, making it one of the most successful fundraising events in the organization’s history.

The evening featured a significantly memorable moment when one of the auctioned trees sold for $420,000, setting the record for the largest tree purchase in Festival of Trees since the event’s establishment. The tree was purchased by longtime community supporters Jutta and Gary Hughes, whose generosity continues to advance access to care. Their donation will go towards the TriState Health Foundation’s Surgery & Clinic Campaign. The bidding started at $1,000 and soon a bidding war ensued; it would not have been possible without Cristina Wright bidding against the Hughes’ for this incredible tree titled “Christmas in the Canyon” designed by the Hughes’ daughter Karrie Hughes Kay with the Hughes Foundation, Debbie Zenner with DZ Design, Kaitlyn Loseth with Stonebraker McQuary, and Randi Kilcup with Inland Cellular, the tree sponsor.

In addition to the record-setting auction, the event’s Raise the Paddle directly benefited the Foundation’s Surgery & Clinic Campaign, generating approximately $380,000 to expand TriState Health’s surgical capacity and outpatient care. The momentum was driven by a transformative $250,000 gift from Chris Schmidt, bequeathed by the late Rick Wasem, honoring his legacy of community support.

“This year’s Festival of Trees showcased what makes this community extraordinary,” said D’Lynn Ottmar, Chief Development Officer of TriState Health Foundation. “Every gift, large and small, reflects a commitment to ensuring everyone in the Lewis-Clark Valley has access to exceptional healthcare for generations to come. We are deeply grateful to our donors, volunteers, sponsors, and partners for making history with us.”

TriState Health Foundation’s Surgery & Clinic Campaign supports the expansion of surgical services and outpatient clinic spaces, helping meet growing regional needs and reducing patient travel out of the area for specialty care. The Foundation’s investments ensure TriState Health continues to deliver on its mission as a community-owned, non-profit, critical access hospital serving the Lewis-Clark Valley since 1955.