Business & Tech

Vote For Your Favorite Tree And Raise Money For Charity

Vote for your favorite tree and win money for a deserving charity

There's an alphabet tree. One decorated with big purple and gold bows. And another with little lions.

The Festival of Trees hit Westfield Citrus Park this week adding a big dose of holiday cheer to the mall.

Local community partners decorated the 12 unique trees to put on display at the mall. In addition to providing nice scenery at the mall, the trees are also raising money for charities. Shoppers are asked to vote for their favorite tree. The charity's tree with the most votes will receive a $1,500 donation.

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This is the first year the mall has hosted the fundraiser, said Taylor Clifton, Westfield Citrus Park marketing manager.

"Shoppers can vote for their favorite tree by filling out a ballot at the mall," she said. "They’re available at each of the tree grouping locations – JCPenney and Dillard’s Courts."

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Ballots are also available at the concierge desk. Votes will be collected through Dec. 24.

To learn about the charities featured read below:

Big Cat Rescue

Big Cat Rescue provides the best home they can for animals in their care, aiming to reduce the number of cats that suffer the fate of abuse, abandonment or extinction by teaching people about the plight of the cats, both in the wild and in captivity, and how they can help through their behavior and support of better laws to protect the cats.

Champions for Children
Champions for Children builds stronger families in the Tampa Bay region through its child abuse prevention and family education programs.  Champions for Children envisions a world without child abuse.

Children’s Cancer Center
Helping children and families cope is the mission of the Children's Cancer Center, a local non-profit organization dedicated to serving Tampa Bay families of children with cancer or chronic blood disorders such as Sickle Cell Anemia. With more than 2 dozen  programs and services currently helping over 830 families, support is offered to all members of the family and is available throughout every step of their difficult journey – from diagnosis and treatment, to survivorship . . . and sadly, too often, bereavement. While other organizations are committed to finding a cure tomorrow, the Children’s Cancer Center is committed to helping families cope with their challenge today. One day at a time.

Dress for Success Tampa Bay
The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Judeo Christian Health Clinic
The Judeo Christian Health Clinic provides free, quality, timely and compassionate health care to medically indigent residents of the Tampa Bay area who have no other resources for their health care needs.

Humane Society of Tampa Bay
Humane Society of Tampa Bay is dedicated to ending animal homelessness and providing care and comfort for companion animals in need. The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is a limited admission shelter, only accepting animals they feel can be adopted.

Lowry Park Zoo
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is committed to providing exemplary programs in education, recreation, conservation and research to benefit the general public and to enhance the quality of life in Tampa Bay. The Zoo’s mission is “to connect people with the living earth.” Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is designed to engage and inspire visitors to treasure the natural world and act wisely on its behalf. The Zoo is dedicated to serving as an educational resource for the community and providing an exciting, nature-based entertainment destination for families, schools, organizations and visitors.

MacDonald Training Center
MacDonald Training Center empowers people with disabilities to lead the lives they choose, an organization dedicated to continuously improving the quality of the vocational, employment and residential services they have been providing to people with developmental disabilities in the Tampa Bay area for nearly 60 years.

Metropolitan Ministries
Metropolitan Ministries’ mission is to care for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in our community through services that alleviate suffering, promote dignity and instill self-sufficiency... as an expression of the ongoing ministry of Jesus Christ.

Paws for Friendship
Paws For Friendship Incorporated is a non-profit organization of volunteers sharing the unconditional love of their personal pets with people in need throughout the world.

Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

The Spring of Tampa Bay
The mission of The Spring of Tampa Bay, Inc. is to prevent domestic violence, protect victims and promote change in lives, families and communities. Since its founding in 1977, The Spring has provided sanctuary and services to more than 60,000 abused adults and their children.

Tampa Bay Rough Riders
The 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment "Rough Riders," Inc. was formed for the purpose of creating and perpetuating a living memorial to the unique accomplishment of President Theodore Roosevelt and the members of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment known as the "Rough Riders".  Today, the Rough Riders organization is a Service and Social club. It is the intent of the members of the organization to develop ways to celebrate this great moment in American History through educational activities, social service opportunities and festive events.  Each year, the Tampa Bay Rough Riders collect new teddy bears in the Teddy Bear Round-Up, distributing them to ill children in our local hospitals and to children displaced from their homes.


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