The Northwestel Festival of Trees has brought in more than $160,000.00 for the Yukon Hospital Foundation’s 2009 campaign. The ten-day festival wrapped up November 28 with the Alkan Air Grand Ball.

The funds raised will go toward Picture Perfect Health, this year’s campaign to convert one of the X-ray rooms in the Whitehorse General Hospital’s Northwestel Centre for Medical Imaging to state-of-the art digital technology.

“The foundation is so very appreciative of all the generous bidders, sponsors, donors and volunteers who put so much into making this year’s festival another great success,” said Keith Byram, Chair of the Yukon Hospital Foundation. “The funds raised during the festival have given a real boost to our ongoing campaign and have brought us much closer to achieving our goal of bringing better X-ray services to Yukoners.”

The bulk of the funds raised during this year’s festival was brought in during the Alkan Air Grand Ball, where an exciting live auction of lavishly-decorated trees and associated gifts raised more than $106,000.00. A silent auction and raffle at the ball raised another $16,000.00. Other funds were raised through silent auctions at the Seniors’ Soiree and at the Yukon Government Building over the ten day festival. Donations and other funds were also received at the BAH Humbug Cocktail Party and the Skookum Asphalt Santa Breakfast, also part of the 2009 Northwestel Festival of Trees.

“The fundraising for Picture Perfect Health will continue in the coming months,” said Scott Kent, Yukon Hospital Foundation President. “The Northwestel Festival of Trees is an essential and exciting part of our fund raising, but the work isn’t over yet. We continue to look to Yukoners to donate what they can to help us improve services at our hospital. If we all do a little, together we can do a lot.”

Yukoners may continue to donate to the Foundation via its direct mail appeal, by contacting the Foundation directly at 867-393-8930, or by visiting www.yhf.ca.

The Yukon Hospital Foundation has been in place since 2005 to enhance diagnostic and treatment services at Whitehorse General Hospital. One of its key fund raising activities is the Northwestel Festival of Trees, which takes place each November.

Last year’s annual campaign completed fundraising for a new CT Scanner, now in place at Whitehorse General Hospital.