Symphony of Trees
The Symphony of Trees is an annual fundraising event conducted in Napoleon, Ohio. It is a five-day, multiple-event that is held at the beautiful Armory Arts & Events Center. Over 300 community partners and volunteers come together every year to plan and implement the various events that are geared for audiences of all ages throughout the event week. Proceeds generated through the Symphony events benefit childrens’ treatment and programs at the Henry County Hospital, the Center for Child and Family Advocacy, and the Northwest Ohio Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program.
The Center for Child and Family Advocacy
The Center for Child & Family Advocacy, CCFA, is a community-based mental health agency specializing in prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse and domestic violence. The Center serves the counties of Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, and Williams. Child sexual abuse treatment services include play therapy for very young victims, as well as group and individual therapy for both victims and perpetrators. Sexual abuse prevention programming is provided to several thousand school-age children each year. The House of Ruth is a domestic violence shelter operated by the Center in a confidential location providing women and children with housing, food, clothing, counseling, and advocacy at no cost. Many CCFA programs to victims are provided free-of-charge. The donations and proceeds raised through this annual event cover the existing funding gaps and support CCFA in the provision of services to many child victims in the community.
Northwest Ohio CASA
Northwest Ohio Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) provides trained volunteers who are committed to standing up for abused children involved in the family court system. A CASA volunteer works to discover the best possible outcome for a child to make sure they are raised in a safe, permanent and nurturing home. Each child can then thrive and look forward to a positive future.
Henry County
Hospital
Henry County Hospital is a nationally recognized healthcare provider that is proud to be known as a place where family and friends care for family and friends. As a community hospital, the hospital is committed to being the best place for patient’s to receive care, employees to work, and physicians to practice medicine. Funds raised by the Symphony of Trees allow Henry County Hospital to support a community of well children. Programs such as the Imagination Library and Born Learning, sponsored by Henry County Hospital, promote literacy and learning with activity and play. Major equipment purchases such as the Infant Security System, Infant Warmer, Hearing/Screening Equipment and a special Pediatrics Room in the Emergency Care Services Department have also been possible thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Symphony of Trees. Through time, talent, and treasure, Henry County Hospital is committed to excellent patient care and a healthier community.
Check out www.symphonyoftrees.com for more information!
Unlost
Donated by: F.A.I.T.H.
Decorated by:
Teenage survivor of physical and emotional abuse
“When the day comes when we can be reborn
once again, I only hope that I can be reborn with you.”
The crystal drops represent the tears she has cried.
The rabbit and fluffy rabbit tails evoke memories
she has of raising rabbits as a child.
The drawing of the rabbit reminds
her of the artistic and creative talent
of her mother and beloved grandmother.
She has survived it all.
She stated, that she is now “Unlost”.
Sweet Dreams for a New Life
Donated by: F.A.I.T.H.
Decorated by:
7 & 8 year old sibling survivors
of neglect, physical and sexual abuse
These young survivors are wishing for sweet dreams
for a new life. Currently, they are placed in a foster
home that provides them with the love, safety and
security that they have needed so much.
They stated,
“Even though bad things have happened to us
and we have horrible memories,
we are still sweet kids”.
Survivors
Donated by: F.A.I.T.H.
Decorated by:
The current residents at the House of Ruth Shelter
The House of Ruth is a safe shelter for survivors of
domestic violence. While survivors are here at
The House of Ruth, they are assisted with regaining their independence by getting assistance with housing,
obtaining a job and by just getting support to find themselves again. The survivors at The House of Ruth chose this
theme as a tribute to being survivors of abuse and finding
their peace, love, and happiness within themselves. The purple stands for domestic violence, while the butterflies are a
symbol of strength. The doves represent the peace that the survivors now feel, as well as the love that they are finding within themselves. The tree, as a whole, is a statement of the
hardships these women had to face in their lives and
how they are now learning to overcome it.
Is This Real
Donated by: F.A.I.T.H.
Decorated by:
11 year old and her mother, both survivors
of domestic violence
My tree was decorated by a local mother/daughter.
They spent a night at the House of Ruth
and came up with safe word. The daughter
witnessed her mother’s violence by her father
and her mother would use the safe word in
which the daughter would run to the
neighbor’s house to call the police. The child
said she likes unicorns because “they have a
horn and are cute”. They survived an unimaginable situation in the hands of their abuser.
You may think, why does this have to be real? They are hopeful about their future together and dream of the magic of a unicorn to bring them real joy and happiness.
Help From an Elf
Donated by: F.A.I.T.H.
Decorated by:
9 year old child learning to understand
her thoughts and emotions
“My tree represents all of the beautiful colors of Christmas and being with my family.
It has been like Christmas at every therapy
appointment I have been to. It is like
opening up Christmas presents every time
I come and see my therapist.”
Her therapist is like an Elf, always there to help!
Always Look for the Rainbow
Donated by: F.A.I.T.H.
Decorated by:
6 year old sexual assault survivor
This little ray of sunshine loves
her family and her dog, Halle.
She has such a positive
outlook on life, despite the abuse.
She says, “There is always a rainbow
hanging over your head”.
Reminding us that, in the bad times,
to think of the positive things in your life
and to just look up.
Just Kids
Donated by: F.A.I.T.H.
Decorated by:
A support group for a set of 5 boy siblings and their mother, survivors of domestic violence
Kids don’t understand all the complexities of domestic violence.
Their journey often includes being forced to watch an authority figure beat down someone they care deeply about, usually the other parent. They are often forced to keep going back to the “monster” again and again as statistics show domestic violence victims try leaving an average of 7-10 before parting for good. This can be so confusing to kids because they may learn not to trust their own judgement due to feeling anger and resentment towards the abuser who is quite often the other parent. Kids are also very resilient and while this helps them survive, they were still “just kids”. The abominable snowman while large and frightening, also blended into his surroundings. Living with a monster had become “normal” for the five brothers from Fulton County that this tree was made for. These little guys now know what it’s like to live in a home that is monster free. They are no longer in fear that he at any moment the monster could appear. These 5 little guys, ages 6 months-12 years are free to be themselves and are learning to trust their mom again.
Stand Tall
Donated by: F.A.I.T.H.
Decorated by:
15 year old survivor domestic violence
“It all started when I was just seven years old and my dream had finally come true: I got to meet the man I so badly wanted in my life, my dad. I thought I had everything I ever wanted and life was so perfect, until after a year, it wasn’t. It all started with little outbursts, but eventually, those became more frequent and harmful as any little thing set my dad off. I soon realized that the man I once thought would be the perfect father turned into a character out of my worst nightmare. I was scared to come home from school and my sisters and I never wanted to leave my mom alone. He often chose to go out and consume drugs and alcohol over spending time with his family. Alcohol began to consume him. He would hurt my sisters, and me, but my mom got the worst of it all. The police were called time after time, but they never did anything to help my family. He had his first big outburst when I was in third grade, but he only got a “slap on the wrist.” Then he had another really traumatizing outburst in my fourth-grade year, so this time we got a piece of paper that was supposed to protect us, but it didn’t work. Later that year he broke into our house at three o’clock in the morning and caused a scene. The authorities finally decided that he had enough chances, that he needed a prison sentence. My father was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, but it seemed to fly by. My family was my rock during those years; they never gave up on me and I never gave up on them. Fast forward to my freshman year of high school, which is this year, I have lost friends I thought I would have forever. I pushed them away, I was terrified to let them get to close to me because I didn’t ever want to get hurt again. My father got out of prison a little over a month ago and I am living in constant fear, afraid that he might come back. This is all related to the theme of my tree because if sunflowers can’t see the sun they face each other. This reminds me of my family because if we can’t find anything good throughout the week, we just look at each other and that is all we need to survive, we need each other.