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Local nonprofits decorate trees at Cantigny's McCormick Museum

Seven "Community Trees," each decorated for Christmas by a local nonprofit organization, will go on display Tuesday, Nov. 25, at the Robert R. McCormick Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton.

The area charities were invited to participate because their missions involve issues or causes that were important to McCormick during his career and life at Cantigny.

"We're delighted to offer this program for a fifth year, and to have provided support for 35 local charities so far," said Diane Gutenkauf, director of the McCormick Museum. "The trees help raise public awareness for the organizations and generate funding for their important community programs.

"Besides, we enjoy decorating the museum and commemorating Colonel (Robert) McCormick's philanthropic spirit makes it all the more meaningful."

Each participating organization will receive a $2,500 grant from the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. They also collect 100 percent of any donations made by museum visitors, all of whom are encouraged to vote for their favorite tree. The agency whose tree gathers the most votes will receive an additional $2,500.

The McCormick Foundation commits $20,000 annually to the program.

The chosen agencies recall McCormick's passion for community service. Decorating trees in 2014 are:

• Community Housing Advocacy & Development, Wheaton. Provides affordable housing to low-income people in DuPage and Kane counties.

• Family Shelter Service, Wheaton. Transforms lives by offering help and hope to those affected by domestic violence.

• Friends for Therapeutic Equine Activities, Winfield. Provides therapeutic equestrian activities for people with disabilities.

• Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry, Naperville. Provides food and leadership in the community by uniting and mobilizing resources to empower people to be self-sufficient.

• RevelationGolf, Elk Grove Village. Improves the physical, social, emotional and spiritual quality of life for veterans and others with disabilities by using the game of golf.

• Ronald McDonald House, Winfield. Keeps families together during difficult times, to help kids heal and cope better.

• We Grow Dreams Greenhouse and Garden Center, West Chicago. Provides people with disabilities the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives and to train and work in a supportive, safe and caring environment.

The trees creatively decorated by these seven organizations will be positioned throughout the McCormick Museum, with one tree in the Gold Theatre and six on the first floor.

For the fifth consecutive year, Phillip's Flowers & Gifts will design and decorate the grand 18-foot-tall tree in Freedom Hall, Colonel McCormick's historic library.

McCormick Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays in November and December, with visits by free guided tour. In addition, the museum will host a special Open House from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 during Cantigny's Celebrate the Season Holiday Festival.

The museum is closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving and the day after, and also Dec. 24-25. The last day for the Community Trees exhibit is Dec. 30, the museum's final day of 2014 operations.

Parking at Cantigny is $5 or $2 after 4 p.m. More information, including park hours, directions and details about events is online at www.cantigny.org.

If you go

What: Community Trees

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, Nov. 25 to Dec. 30; 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6; closed Nov. 27 and 28, Dec. 24 and 25

Where: McCormick Museum at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton

Cost: Free; parking $5 before 4 p.m., $2 after

Info: www.cantigny.org

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