The Christmas Tree Festival is a fundraising campaign for GHS Hospice of the Foothills that spans five days.  The Festival is hosted by Oconee Memorial Hospital Foundation and is coordinated by community volunteers who are passionate in their support of Hospice of the Foothills and the quality end-of-life care it provides for patients and their families.    

GHS Hospice of the Foothills is a not-for-profit community-based hospice operating the Cottingham Hospice House and a home-care program.   Serving Oconee, Pickens and Anderson Counties since 1989, Hospice of the Foothills provides compassionate care to terminally ill patients and supportive bereavement services to their loved ones.  Additionally, GHS Hospice of the Foothills provides grief support free of charge to anyone experiencing loss in the community. 

Built to provide hospice care services in a home-like setting, the first phase of the Cottingham House was completed in August 2007.  In September 2008, Phase II was finished giving our community a total of 15 patient rooms and numerous family gathering areas.  Our local community contributed more than $3.7 million to build the first two phases of the House.   In August of 2013, the public areas of Phase III were opened, providing a palliative care office suite for patients and a large family gathering room.  Additionally, 10 more patient rooms will be completed in this wing in the future. In other words, the Cottingham House has been built, furnished and landscaped with absolutely no debt, thanks to our generous community. 

Since our first Christmas Tree Festival in 2004, we have raised more than $1.5 million for GHS Hospice of the Foothills.  We are currently seeking financial support and sponsorships from local organizations, businesses and individuals for our 2018 Christmas Tree Festival. All proceeds from the Festival support GHS Hospice of the Foothills by building the Crippen Endowment, ensuring that GHS Hospice of the Foothills is strong and thriving in years to come. Your support is greatly appreciated and will ensure sustainability of these vital services in perpetuity.