The 88th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting event took place at the State Capitol in Sacramento on Thursday, December 6. Governor Gavin Newsom, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California Volunteers, and the Sacramento Children’s Home were all on hand on the West Capitol steps in a partnership to inspire giving back to the community.
“This sense of unity and community is really what it’s all about,” Jennifer Siebel Newsom said. “(The holidays) are also a time when we are reminded of how important it is to give back to the larger community, a community from which all of us at one point or another have received so much.”
California Volunteers partnered with the Sacramento Children’s Home to provide a Giving Tree for the event. The SCH Giving Tree held 50 stars, each with three wishes from a child served by a Children’s Home program—including Residential, the Crisis Nursery, and Family Resource Centers.
“We encourage everyone (in attendance for the tree lighting) to visit the tree on your way out and take a wish star home with you so that you can each do your part to fulfill the true meaning of the holiday season and ensure California families, especially children, have their needs met,” Siebel Newsom said.
Attendees quickly sprung to action, claiming every single star off the Giving Tree in a matter of seconds following the First Partner’s announcement.
Watch the Facebook Live Stream of the Event Here:
The Sacramento Children’s Home is honored to be chosen by California Volunteers to partner for this event and grateful to First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom for her kind words, bringing awareness to our organization, and inspiring the community to get involved and give back this holiday season. We’d also like to thank those who grabbed wish stars to help fulfill the wishes of children we serve.