The 18-foot Rockefeller Plaza-inspired Christmas tree that brightens the lobby of the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital every winter was plugged in and lit up on Monday — The JGL Group of Companies sponsored the tree for the first time ever with a $25,000 auction bid at the recent Festival of Trees.
“In past years, Murray GM has sponsored this tree, and we were lucky enough this year to purchase it and have the tree up in the hospital for everyone to see,” said Jeff Jameson.
The ‘Light Up the Holidays’ tree has been a tradition of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation’s (MJHF) Festival of Trees for many years. It is auctioned at the Festival of Trees, which raised a total of $184,832 on October 19.
The Health Foundation will use the funds to help the Dr. F.H. Wigmore hospital purchase advanced bronchoscopy equipment to aid in surgical interventions for patients with COPD, lung cancer, and related conditions.
The JGL group showed up for the lighting with a large contingent of employees, who brought their families to help celebrate — including dozens of children.
“We would not have this hospital today if it wasn’t for, not only the donations from JGL, but the leadership of JGL,” said Kelly McElree, executive director of the MJHF. “They’re at the heart of what makes Festival of Trees so special, they’ve been there from the beginning. To see so many people from JGL here, all the kids, you know, it makes me think we need a bigger lobby for the hospital.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many kids in here and it was just wonderful to see. It really felt like Christmas.”
The tree is decorated by a dedicated crew with a scissor lift and features over 2,900 LED lights. In the past nine years, the Holiday Tree by itself has raised in excess of $191,000 to help supply the hospital with equipment including NICU beds, maternity ward equipment, advanced surgical tools, and more.
“I’m here as part of Hawk’s Agro, which is part of that JGL group of companies, and I’m here my wife Kylie and my three kids, Kane, Mason, and Gavin,” said Dallas Funke. “It’s just a nice spectacle in here, obviously anyone that’s having to come here is either sick or visiting someone that’s sick, so having this huge Christmas tree here is a great thing, and we’re happy to be a part of it.”
“There’s a lot of smiling faces on these kids, so it sure looks like they’re happy to be here,” Jameson said. “It’s an awfully big tree and you know what, it’s a nice touch for Christmas for the people that have to walk into the hospital, seeing it all lit up.
“Giving back to the community is just something JGL does, it’s part of who we are, and hopefully people enjoy it.”
McElree pointed out that the windows to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit look out directly on the holiday tree — he said that makes the decorations all the more special.
“For what those people go through, with their critical care needs, it gives them a bit of hope,” he added. “That’s a wonderful feeling and thank you to JGL for lighting up the tree today.”