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SALT LAKE CITY -- Hundreds of people help launch the Festival of the Trees each year. We surprised one of the volunteers, Jo Ann Cummings, with a KSL High 5.
She's been involved with the festival for 40 years and served on the Festival Executive Board for 30 of them. Fellow board members nominated her for the honor.
"She's put so much heart into this event," said Robyn Austin of the festival's board of directors. "We're honored to honor Jo Ann as we celebrate the 40th year of the Festival of Trees."
The board says Jo Ann has been instrumental in orchestrating the massive undertaking, including serving as an executive board co-chair, in ticket sales, the speaker's bureau, the Aisle of Wreaths, and as alumni chair. "The list is long. She's done so much," Austin said.
Each year, Jo Ann also makes her famous pecan rolls -- more than 100 of them. So over those 30 years she has probably made 3,000 pecan rolls. (Click here to read the nomination)
Jo Ann said the event obviously is close to her heart. "My children, our whole family, they need to be involved. They are and they love it as much as I do," she said.
"We couldn't do this without the community is what it boils down to," she said. "We live in such a great state that they are thrilled to volunteer, to donate, and then to come back and buy. What more could you ask?"
Jo Ann is receiving a gift basket from our High 5 partners, Les Schwab, which includes a $100 gift certificate for services. If you'd like to nominate someone for a High 5, click here.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Saturday at South Towne Expo Center in Sandy. Money raised there benefits Primary Children's Medical Center.
E-mail:bwalker@ksl.com
