Our Story

How It All Began

The Central Utah Tree Festival was born from a simple observation: when children in our rural community need specialized medical care, their families face an impossible choice between their child's health and their family's financial stability.

In 2024, a group of neighbors and friends in Sanpete County came together with a vision, to create something beautiful that could make a real difference. We knew our community was full of generous hearts, creative spirits, and people who care deeply about their neighbors. The Central Utah Tree Festival became our way of channeling that love into meaningful support.

From that first festival, we've been amazed by the creativity, generosity, and compassion of our community. Every decorated tree tells a story. Every bid at our auction represents hope. Every volunteer hour is an investment in a child's future.

The Journey No Family Should Face Alone

Living in rural Six County Utah offers many blessings, tight-knit communities, beautiful landscapes, and a quality of life many people dream of. But when a child faces a serious medical condition, that rural setting becomes a challenge.

Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City is one of the nation's premier pediatric medical centers, offering specialized care that can mean the difference between life and death for critically ill children. For families in the Six County Region, accessing that care means traveling over 100 miles each way.

The Hidden Costs of Distance

When a child needs ongoing treatment, those miles add up to more than just inconvenience:

Gas, parking, meals, and sometimes overnight stays pile up quickly. For families already stretched thin, these expenses can force impossible decisions. Parents skip meals to pay for gas. Siblings stay with relatives for days at a time. Medical debt grows alongside the fear and exhaustion of caring for a sick child.

Our Mission & Vision

The Central Utah Tree Festival exists for one purpose: to ensure that every child in the Six County Region can access the specialized medical care they need, regardless of their family's financial circumstances.

What We Do

We provide direct financial assistance to families traveling to Primary Children's Hospital for their child's medical care. Our support covers the practical costs that insurance doesn't: gas for the long drive, parking fees at the hospital, meals during all-day appointments, and lodging when overnight stays are necessary.

Every dollar we raise goes directly to helping families. We're an entirely volunteer-run organization, which means 100% of donations support the families who need it most.

How We Work

Families can apply for support through a simple, confidential process. We work quickly to provide assistance when it's needed most, because we know that medical needs don't wait.

Our Vision for the Future

We envision a community where no family faces the journey to specialized care alone. Where neighbors support neighbors. Where financial barriers never stand between a child and the treatment they need. And where an annual celebration of creativity and generosity reminds us all of what we can accomplish together.