Santa Barbara's Community Holiday Tree Saved by an Angel
Release Date: October 31,2014
SANTA BARBARA, CA. – What started as a plea for an angel turned into an answer from not just from any angel - but one in the uniform of a first responder.
Downtown Santa Barbara is proud to announce that their first Presenting Sponsor in the 62-year history of the Holiday Parade will also be the crew that ensures Santa Barbara’s tradition of the Holiday Tree continues. Consumer Fire Products, Inc, a company currently based in Oregon and Goleta, and founded by a Santa Barbara native, is going to travel to Northern California and cut down and transport the Holiday Tree. This tree, donated by Southern California Edison, is already scheduled to be part of SCE’s annual reforestation efforts. Consumer Fire Products, Inc. is the angel that will bring the Holiday Tree home to Downtown Santa Barbara.
“When we learned there was a problem with the tree transportation, we appealed to the community for solutions or potential sponsors to pay the costs,” said Maggie Campbell, Executive Director for Downtown Santa Barbara and the producer of the Holiday Parade. “When Consumer Fire Products, Inc. called this week and said they wanted to be our rock, they had us at hello.”
Consumer Fire Products, Inc. produces FOAMSAFE exterior fire protection systems and Fireshades Window covers, among other safety products. As firefighters who have fought in many wildfires throughout California and the Western States, the Consumer Fire Products, Inc. team is a firefighter-owned company that is empowering homeowners with the tools to save their own homes, while being able to safely evacuate. The company is relocating its headquarters from Oregon to Goleta later this year.
"I’ve been thinking hard about how we can best give back to help our community," says Irene Rhodes, a firefighter and the inventor of this home safety product. “As firefighters, we are always willing to step in and save the day!”
The Downtown Organization of Santa Barbara has been organizing and presenting the annual Holiday Parade for all 62 years of its history, as its gift to the community. “With support from Consumer Fire Products, Inc, we are happy to allow this generous company to now serve as the Parade’s Presenting Sponsor,” said Maggie Campbell, Executive Director.
Downtown Santa Barbara would like to also thank the City of Santa Barbara’s Public Works and Parks Departments for handling the Tree’s installation, just north of the intersection of Victoria and State Streets. A new special event sponsored by Consumer Fire Products, Inc. around the installation of the Holiday Tree during Thanksgiving week will benefit The Unity Shoppe.
The official lighting of the Tree will take place on Friday, December 5th at 6:30 PM by the Holiday Prince and Fairy at the beginning of the 62nd Annual Downtown Holiday Parade Presented by Consumer Fire Products, Inc. and will shine brightly throughout the holiday season. Grand Marshal Alan Thicke (“Unusually Thicke”) will preside over the Holiday Parade, under the theme “Winter Nights & Holiday Lights.”
Additional sponsorships for the Holiday Parade are still available. For more information on the community tree or the 62st Annual Downtown Holiday Parade Presented by Consumer Fire Products, Inc, please contact Downtown Santa Barbara at 962-2098 ext. 802 or www.DowntownSB.org.
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