Capital Tree Ornament Auction begins

[Jeff]

OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST

E6248 US Hwy. 2                                          
Ironwood, Michigan 49938
906-932-1330
www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa


NEWS RELEASE

The Tree of Hope Planning Committee and the Forestry Forum is proud to announce the availability of official Tree of Hope ornaments for auction. Please visit the Tree of Hope auction site at:  www.ornamentauction.com

The first of the ornaments have been added to the site and the auction has started!

Proceeds from the auction will go to benefit Michigan Habitat for Humanity and the Michigan arts community.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION

     In 2001 the Ottawa National Forest and the State of Michigan proudly donated that U.S. Capitol Holiday Tree.  This very special Tree represented Michigan, our people, our natural resources and our wishes for the new millennium.  The crowning glory of this magnificent tree was the 6,000 hand-made ornaments that were created by Michigan residents.  Each of these ornaments was designed under the theme:  Hope Takes Flight.  More than just the material they were crafted from, these very special ornaments were expressions of hope for the nation, gifts of peace to a country seeking solace, and pieces of Michigan and the people who created them.  As part of the Tree of Hope project, these ornaments will continue to give and will continue to offer hope, as they are auctioned off in early 2002.  Through an on-line auction, people from across the State, and indeed, across the Nation, will be able to purchase a piece of this very special, once-in-a-lifetime event.  Proceeds from the auction will directly benefit Michigan Habitat for Humanity and the Michigan arts community.