Shriners Patients Make Ornaments for 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree 

“Usually the children get to keep their art project, but when we told them their ornaments would hang on the national tree, they were thrilled.” 

– Penny Lees, Therapeutic Recreation & Child Life Manager 

ORNAMENTS MADE BY patients at Shriners Hospitals for Children® – Northern California are headed for Washington, D.C. According to the National Forest Service, California has been invited to provide the Christmas tree that will stand in front of the United States Capitol for the first time since 1995. The tree selected will stand nearly six stories high and will come from the Stanislaus National Forest in Tuolumne County, a region served by Shriners Hospitals for Children® – Northern California. Adding to the excitement is the fact that ornaments made by patients at Shriners Hospitals for Children will decorate the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree. While temperatures climbed toward the 100-degree mark this summer, kids at the Shriners Hospital in Sacramento celebrated Christmas in July by making ornaments for the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree. Working to the theme California Shines, the kids used glitter and glue to make their baubles sparkle. A ribbon that reads Shriners Hospitals for Children finished each of the ornaments that will travel by truck to Washington D.C. in November. The Shriners Hospital creations are among more than 5,000 other ornaments that will adorn the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree. 

“The kids had lots of fun making the ornaments,” says Penny Lees, Manager of the hospital’s Therapeutic Recreation and Child Life program. “Usually the children get to keep their art project, but when we told them their ornaments would hang on the national tree, they were thrilled. It was a real honor to be part of this project.” 

If you are interested in learning more about how you can join Shriners Hospitals for Children – Northern California in building a caring community, please call the Public & Community Relations Office at 916-453-2018