RIVERSIDE, Calif.– Altura Credit Union sponsored “Story Time With Santa” at the Annual Festival of Trees here, which gives hundreds of children the opportunity to ring in the Christmas season. Story Time is part of a four-day festival that raises funds for Riverside County Regional Medical Center’s pediatric units.
Altura employees filled goodie bags for about 500 children who attended the free Story Time event. Altura’s elves also coordinated a coloring contest, craft activities and a chance for one-on-one time with the jolly fellow.
Altura’s elves included Dean Mayorga, Cinthy Howard, Michelle Gardner, Veronica Vergne, Sevan Yakinian, Yvette Avila, Deatricia Chambers,Carlos Loza, Sonia Gil, Nallely Chavez, Amy Burns, Jeannette Reyes, Ileana Ulloa, Tara Morlett, Robert Whitton III, Flor Flores, and Hemet student Karissa Esparza, who volunteered.
Donated and decorated Christmas Trees are a key fundraising element of the festival. Each of the 54 trees, which feature an individual theme, are displayed during the festival and purchased by sponsors with proceeds benefitting the medical center. More than 30,000 people visit the festival annually, raising nearly $500,000.
Altura’s donated tree this year featured a Military theme. The tree was purchased by Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley’s office. The Altura design and decorating team included Altura employees Tanya Price, Tina Covington, Sonia Gil, Veronica Vergne, Yvette Avila, Ileana Ulloa, Cherryl Benjamin, Karina Cocoletzi, PamCuthbertson, Carlos Loza, Kara Adams, Fabian Vidal, Shilo Vigil, Denise Hunt, Maria Caparas, Sandra Worthan, Cinthy Howard and volunteer Hemet student Karissa Esparza.