Millcreek residents create “A Child’s Dream” to help sick kids this Christmas

For more than 20 years, each Christmas a local Millcreek couple and their friends have given a special gift to make the holiday season brighter for sick children at Primary Children’s Medical Center.

East Millcreek resident Dennis England, his wife Carolyn and friends Christine Smith, Carol Hammond, Marge Smith and Donna Springer have made it a tradition to decorate a Christmas tree to donate to the annual Festival of Trees.

“We love doing it. We do it for the kids. All six of us feel like this is the best charity to donate to,” England said.

The Festival of Trees is an annual Christmas season event to benefit children hospitalized at Primary Children’s Medical Center, the only full-service children’s hospital in the Intermountain West.

For more than 40 years, the Festival of Trees has displayed traditional holiday Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces, gingerbread creations and quilts. All of the funds raised from the sale of donated holiday items go to benefit the children served by Primary Children’s.

This year, the Festival of Trees was held from Nov. 30 – Dec. 3 at the South Towne Expo Center, located at 9575 South State Street.

England and his wife have been Millcreek residents for more than 30 years and raised three children who attended local schools Rosecrest Elementary, Evergreen Junior High and Olympus High School.

England said the holiday tradition of donating a Christmas tree to the festival started with small tabletop-sized trees and has just gotten bigger and better each year.

This year, the Englands and friends donated a 7-foot tall artificial evergreen tree topped with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and decorated with more than 200 miniature toy ornaments such as matchbox cars and small dolls in the theme of “A Child’s Dream.”

Children’s toys, games, books, an art set and two bicycles also surrounded the tree, which filled two spaces at the festival this year.

The group of friends spent months getting ready for the festival and more than $1,000 to prepare the Christmas tree and toys.

England said his son James and many of his neighbors also generously donated money to help with the project.

He said giving to the Festival of Trees is a wonderful way to make a difference in the lives of local children, and each year he participates, it inspires him to want to do it again the next Christmas.

“I know families who are uninsured, unemployed, or have had financial setbacks. I can’t imagine the burden those parents feel when their child is in need of medical care. [We are] able to help alleviate their fears and concerns by participating in the Festival of Trees,” England said.