Trees for Troops FAQs
How Does My Donation Help?
Costs of the Trees for Troops program include support materials --
posters, banners, tree tags that carry tree care tips and positive
messages to the troops. There are also costs of having staff on the
bases when the deliveries are made, to make sure everything goes
smoothly and the trees are taken care of properly so each family
gets a fresh, fragrant real tree.
There are also some direct expenses as we coordinate donations of
real trees from more than 650 different tree farms and hopefully
thousands of consumers. It includes working with the Morale Welfare
and Recreation (MWR) officers with the five branches of the military
and the National Guard to assure that the trees go to military
families with an emphasis on families that have someone serving
overseas.
Monetary donations are the fuel that makes the program run!
How much of my Donation goes to the program?
More than 95% of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation's budget goes
directly to its programs. We spend less than 1% on fundraising and
administrative costs are about 3.5%.
How do I know if this is a legitimate program?
The Christmas Spirit Foundation is recognized by IRS as a 501(c)(3)
public charity, established in 2005 as the charitable branch of the
National Christmas Tree Association, which was established in 1955.
The foundation files Form 990 annually and is professionally audited
by Ring Helm & Company.
The Foundation has been accepted into the Combined Federal Campaign
(CFC#12283) - the world's largest annual workplace charity
campaign.
The Foundation is a member of America Supports You, a nationwide
program launched by the Department of Defense, that recognizes
citizens' support for our military men and women and communicates
that support to members of our Armed Forces at home and abroad.
What Companies Support the Christmas Spirit Foundation?
See Foundation Friends/Partners page.
What other programs does the
Christmas Spirit Foundation support?
CSF is proud to have helped kids, families and the environment in
the following ways:
- Provided Hurricane Relief to those
affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
- Implemented the Trees for Troops Program
in conjunction with FedEx
- Provided age-appropriate books to
under-privileged children and their families
- Provided food, clothing and other items
for abused children
- Supported the preservation of green
spaces to help protect the environment
- Helped build a playground for underprivileged children in the St. Louis area
- Assisted with flood relief efforts in Illinois
What is the Trees for Troops
Weekend?
When: First weekend in December
What: Consumers can buy a tree to send to the troops
Where: At participating farms and lots.
Note: if there are no locations near you, you can make a donation on-line or by mail.
Why: Consumers have been asking how they can help with the Trees for Troops program
Can I Send a Tree to a Particular
Service Member?
Unfortunately, we do not have that ability within this program.
However, some Christmas tree farms and lots, or those that sell mail
order trees, may be able to help you do this.
Click here to
SUPPORT THIS EFFORT!
