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(MARSHALL JONES - MANAGING EDITOR / iNFOnews.ca)

The Tree of Hope Celebration raised more than $210,000 this year to support children in need.

These funds will be matched in their entirety by the Tree of Hope’s Stober Foundation, in support of the work done at the Child Advocacy Centre in Kelowna, according to a press release issued by the centre.

“We know how important our work is for the one in three children in our community who are impacted by abuse and neglect. The Tree of Hope provided us with a platform to not only raise critical funds, but to build awareness throughout the Okanagan. The response we received was truly overwhelming,” said the CAC’s executive director, Ginny Becker, in the press release.

READ MORE: Kelowna's Tree of Hope lights up tonight

The Tree of Hope in the Landmark District has been a fixture of Kelowna’s holiday season for 23 years. The Stober Foundation, along with the Tree of Hope organizers, motivated by the uniquely difficult year 2020 was, invited the public to donate to the Child Advocacy Centre in a Celebration of Giving with the pledge to match funds raised and be part of a collective impact story. 

“We wanted the Tree to be a beacon that everyone could rally around and help raise hope for the most vulnerable children in our community”, said Ken Stober, president of the Stober Foundation, in the news release.

“We began with a commitment to match $100,000 of the funds the CAC raised during the Tree of Hope. When we learned that initial commitment had been surpassed, we made the easy decision to extend our pledge. Today, knowing that we will be matching more than twice what we initially pledged means so much to all of us here. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the Okanagan community and thankful to live among such caring and giving people.”

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