Dear Friends of Summit Charter School and the Cashiers-Highlands Plateau,

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We are pleased to unveil the 2024 Benefactor Packages for Toast to the Trees (July 29) and the Cashiers Festival of Trees (Nov. 29-30). In our fourth year of this joyful event, we are humbled by the support of our families and community, which provide essential funding for our school’s operations and participating nonprofits. From beautifully decorated tree, wreath, and gift basket donations to Benefactor Support, in-kind contributions, and volunteers, we've raised over $1 million since 2021. This year, we are once again relying on our amazing community to continue our purposeful festive fun. Please join us!

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Information on our 2024 Benefactor Packages and the myriad ways you can support the Festival are here. At the Garland level and above, you're invited to our enchanting Toast to the Trees gala, returning this summer to The Club at High Hampton on Monday, July 29th, with a vintage Mistletoe & Martinis theme. The evening is chaired by our veteran hosts, Carol and Rob Hunter, along with their friends Kristin and Jim Robinson. At Toast, we look forward to celebrating your generosity with nostalgic culinary creations and retro merrymaking.

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Next, we countdown to Thanksgiving weekend for the Festival of Trees. This two-day, family-friendly event features fantastically festive auction items, a pop-up Teddy Bear Workshop, children’s crafts, a Dolly Parton Imagination Library station celebrating literacy, and holiday shopping in the Gift Zone. The Festival also features memorable visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, raffle prizes, scavenger hunts, and football viewings in the Gameday Lounge. Be sure to attend Friday night’s Festival: After Dark–a gathering of jubilant lights, music, food, and libations. Not in town over the holiday? Don’t worry! As a seasonal community, an online offering of the Festival makes it easy to participate, regardless of location or holiday travel.

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Proceeds benefit educational programs at Summit Charter School–our tuition-free K-12 public charter school. Summit receives significantly less funding than a traditional public school and relies heavily on annual Festival donations to fully fund critical school needs. Additionally, each nonprofit featured in the Festival receives 80% of their auction item proceeds, fostering a collaborative impact on numerous worthy causes. While significant revenues will be derived through Festival auction submissions, Benefactor Support is vital to our cause. Funds raised in our community stay within it, building a better place for us all to live, work, play, and raise our families.

Thanks in advance for making our spirits merry and bright!

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Denice Dunn      Celeste Pratt     Carrie Snoey

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