Banwart’s To Announce Tree of Lights Goal

The 23rd Annual Tree of Lights Campaign Kick-Off will be Thursday night, November 12th inside Northwoods Mall.

Sid & Flo Banwart, the 2009 Honorary Tree of Lights Co-Chairs, will announce this year’s goal for The Salvation Army’s Tree of Lights Campaign.

“We remain so grateful to the tri-county community for helping The Salvation Army raise the funds it needs to keep meeting the needs of the less fortunate,” said Major Charles Smith, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army.

The kick-off at Northwoods Mall will include the lighting of the big indoor tree at Northwoods Mall on the lower level near JC Penney and some holiday music from a Salvation Army brass group.

The event marks the formal kick-off of the 23rd Tree of Lights Campaign and the Army’s Christmas activities. At the kick-off, the funds raised to date for the campaign will also be announced and there will an advance lead gift check presentation from The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary. Funds raised through the Tree of Lights Campaign support not only The Salvation Army’s Christmas activities, but programs year-round.

Local dignitaries are expected to be on hand to lend words of support and the three local weathermen will also weigh in with their “forecast predictions” for the campaign.

A new event this year will be held on Tuesday, November 17 at the Culver’s on North University from 4-8 pm. Salvation Army officers and staff will serve food and clean tables and in exchange, Culvers will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Tree of Lights Campaign.

The familiar red kettles will be out throughout Central Illinois beginning this Friday and donations can be made to the Tree of Lights Campaign by mailing to The Salvation Army, PO Box 1468, Peoria, IL 61655, by calling (309) 655-7220 to charge on American Express, MasterCard, Visa or Discover, or at our website at www.usc.salvationarmy.org/heartland.