Ecker Center opening annual Festival of Trees

The Ecker Center for Mental Health will hold its seventh annual Festival of Trees in November.

Beautiful artificial Christmas trees, sponsored and decorated by local businesses and individuals, will be on display starting Thursday from Nov. 9 at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin, when people can vote for their favorite.

The trees will then be sold to the highest bidder during silent and live auctions at a gala event on Nov. 10 at the Chicago Marriott Northwest in Hoffman Estates.

This year's Festival of Trees gala will feature a Market Place -- a holiday bazaar with artisans and vendors, a jewelry tree and raffle drawings. Patrons will enjoy a meal and dance to the live sounds of the Music Ensemble of Eden by Phil Barrile.

The featured speaker is the Rev. Pat Lindquist of the First Congregational Church in Elgin. Lindquist is a recovery specialist in the field of mental illness, who will portray her journey to recovery.

Raffle tickets are available for a 25-inch flat-screen plasma TV and the popular family interactive Wii game. Purchases can be made at the Ecker Center, Joseph's Salon, Karena's Salon & Spa or Quizno's in downtown Elgin for $5 per chance. Purchaser must be 18 years of age. Winners will be announced during the gala and need not be present.

Tickets for the Festival of Trees gala are $85 per person. Table rates are also available. For details or to get tickets, call Mary Ann Stephens, (847) 695-0484, ext. 303.