Christmas tree fetches a record $420,000 winning bid during TriState Health fundraiser auction

A Christmas tree sold for $420,000 Saturday night at the TriState Health Foundation’s Festival of Trees charity auction at the Clearwater River Casino and Lodge. That gift made it the biggest night in the 41-year history of the fundraising event, which benefits TriState Health in Clarkston. “It was epic that’s my word because that’s what it was,” said D’Lynn Ottmar, TriState Health Foundation’s chief development officer. They haven’t tallied the donations, but Ottmar estimates receipts will be near $1 million, eclipsing last year’s $368,000. Thirteen trees, decorated and ornamented with enticing gifts and prizes, were up for auction. The event was held at the casino 5 miles east of Clarkston. The spendy tree, named “Christmas in the Canyon,” stands in a mini-jetboat welded by Walla Walla Community College students. Bidding started at $1, 000. Soon the only good kind of war broke out: a bidding war for charity that pitted Cristina Wright against Jutta and Gary Hughes, all of Clarkston. “Two people really wanted this tree really badly and they both had the capacity to give,” said Ottmar. “It was the most amazing thing I’ve seen in my life.” The Hugheses, former owners of ColorTyme, prevailed. “The whole room was standing and it was in shock and . in awe . the whole room was excited,” Ottmar said. The tree was designed and ornamented by the Hugheses’ daughter, Karrie Kay Hughes, Deb Zenner with DZ Design, Kaitlyn Loseth and Randi Kilcup of Inland Cellular, which sponsored the tree. The tree donations go into funding whatever is the hospital’s “area of greatest need,” Ottmar said. For perspective of what $420,000 might buy in the area, the average home value in Clarkston is $336,000, according to the real estate website Zillow. The world record for most expensive Christmas tree was at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in 2010. The $11. 2 million, 43-foot tree was decorated with 181 pieces of jewelry, according to Guiness World Records. Other people were in the giving spirit as well. The “raise-the-paddle” portion of the fundraiser included a $250,000 donation from Chris Schmidt and on behalf of the late Rick Wasem. In total, raise-the-paddle raised more than $360,000. The raise-the-paddle portion was part of the initial fundraising to build a surgery and clinic expansion, estimated to cost $90 million. The foundation plans to raise about $15 million, over seven to nine years, for the local community and will seek state and federal funding as well. The event’s auctioneer was Jeff Owens with Owens & Company Auctions from Spokane. Ferguson can be reached at dferguson@lmtribune. com.
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