14th Annual Christmas Tree Lane Kicks Off In Lake Elsinore

Once again the Lake Elsinore Outlets is hosting the Original Christmas Tree Lane, an annual event that raises money for local youth and gives everyone a chance to win holiday gifts.

From Nov. 30 through Dec. 9, the Outlets on behalf of the Original Christmas Tree Lane Committee will feature over a dozen decorated holiday trees trimmed with an array of gifts beneath them. For $1, visitors to the mall can purchase a ticket for a chance to win one of the festive trees.

Proceeds from the event are donated to local youth organizations, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County, Student of the Month Scholarships, Boy Scouts, Wildomar Rotary/Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program, and others.

The drawing for the trees starts at 4 p.m. Dec. 9 and you don’t have to be present to win.

The trees are on display at the mall, in room G160, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 9. Stop by, purchase as many raffle tickets as you like, and look for Original Christmas Tree Lane Committee volunteers, as well as local businesses and organizations that lend support, such as DeJong’s Dairy, Cherished Memories Photography, as well as the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Wildomar Chamber of Commerce.

Now in its 14th year, Original Christmas Tree Lane has become a tradition in the Lake Elsinore Valley. Last year the event sold $13,580 in raffle tickets, event organizer Glenn Copple told Patch earlier this year.

Youth organizations received the following donations as a result of the 2011 event, according to Copple:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County--$6,790

Wildomar Rotary/Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Student Training Camp--$1,150

Student of the Year sponsored by the Lake Elsinore Valley and Wildomar chambers of commerce--$2,275

Boy Scouts Troop #430--$1,000

Marilyn DeJong Memorial Scholarships--$1,000

SNAP--$400                                                                                                 

According to Copple, the balance of funds -- $964 – was held for the start up of this year’s event.

Over its history, the Original Christmas Tree Lane has generated and donated more than $184,000 to organizations that support local youth, according to Copple.