By Shari Kaplan
The Valle Monte League's 29th annual Christmas Tree Elegance, a four-day, pre-holiday celebration, will take place Dec. 3-6 at the Red Lion Hotel in San Jose.
Christmas Tree Elegance is the league's biggest fundraiser and benefits local, licensed mental health agencies, including the Adult and Child Guidance Center, the John XXIII Senior Center, the Centre for Living with Dying and the Alzheimer's Activity Center.
This year's theme is "A Holiday Tradition" and features eight parties at which more than a dozen 8-foot Christmas trees are given away; a champagne brunch; a holiday office party; two morning coffees; two afternoon teas; a children's party, complete with a visit from St. Nick; and the Grand Ball, which includes dinner, dancing to a live band and a silent auction. All events except the Grand Ball also include a fashion show by Macy's with professional models, as well as local youths.
The trees are trimmed by professional designers, decorators and florists and are bedecked with colorful ornaments and small gifts. Underneath each tree are larger gifts in keeping with each tree's distinctive theme, selected by Valle Monte League members. Each tree is worth approximately $5,000.
Los Gatos resident and California Interiors owner Sandra Farris chairs this year's Christmas Tree Elegance, assisted by co-chairs Pam Costello of Los Gatos and Eden Nesse of Morgan Hill. Farris is a past president of Valle Monte League and has served on various Christmas Tree Elegance committees in the past.
"It's all volunteer work; not a penny goes to overhead," said Farris, who among other things, was in charge of finding decorators, helping select gifts for under the trees and coordinating various events at the eight parties.
"We raise money for charities--that's what it's always been about. But one of the most rewarding things is making friends. You get to know people so much better and grow closer to them by working on this. You don't get a monetary reward, but the friendship is very rewarding," she said.
This year's participating tree designers representing Los Gatos are Betty Lohbeck of Betty Lohbeck Interior Design, Kren Rasmussen of Bloomsters and Mary Ann Scolari.
Tickets to the Grand Ball are $150 each; all other events are sold out. Call 395-1943 for information.
The Valle Monte League was established in 1954 to raise fuds for licensed mental health agencies.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, November 27, 1996.
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