How It Started

The Hope Tree Project began in 2015 with a simple idea: host a holiday party with a purpose.

At the time, my children attended Cotswold Elementary School. I learned that the school counselors coordinated an Angel Tree program for local families, but many people—including my friends and me—weren’t familiar with it. I wondered if we could help.

So I invited a few friends to sponsor several children. They purchased gifts from each child’s wish list, brought everything to my house, and together we spent an evening wrapping presents. I love organizing people and events, so I coordinated the sign-ups and communication with the school counselors. What started as a small gathering quickly became one of the most meaningful days of the holiday season.

The following year, we sponsored even more children. My daughter, Ella, who was in second grade at the time, stayed up late helping wrap gifts. She loved every minute of it, and I realized something important: this project wasn’t just blessing the families receiving gifts—it was changing the hearts of the children who were serving.

That realization became one of the guiding principles of The Hope Tree Project.

By 2017, the project had grown again. More families joined us, and Ella recruited many of her friends to help. Those children became our very first Hope Tree Elves. They welcomed guests, sorted donations, wrapped hundreds of gifts, and worked tirelessly to make sure every present reached the right child. Watching young people take ownership and serve with such enthusiasm was incredibly inspiring.

Each year, the project continued to grow.

As we packaged hundreds of gifts, one question kept coming up: Would parents rather know what their children were receiving?

In 2019, during our fifth year, we piloted a new approach with families at Billingsville-Cotswold Elementary. Instead of wrapping every gift, we included wrapping paper, tape, bows, and gift tags with each family’s donations. Parents told us they loved being able to wrap the presents themselves. It allowed them to experience the joy and anticipation of preparing Christmas for their children while preserving the magic of Christmas morning. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and we’ve continued that tradition ever since.

Today, The Hope Tree Project has grown far beyond anything I imagined.

What began with a handful of friends has become a community-wide effort involving hundreds of volunteers, sponsors, schools, swim teams, and families. Together, we’ve served more than 700 children and over 300 families, all while creating meaningful opportunities for children and teens to discover the joy of serving others.

Every year, I’m moved to tears as I watch our community come together. Many families have made Hope Tree Project part of their own holiday traditions. Parents bring their children shopping for another child they have never met. Young people volunteer as elves, lead activities, and help deliver hope to their neighbors.

There is something incredibly powerful about knowing you’re shopping for a real child—a first grader who loves dinosaurs, a fourth grader who dreams of art supplies, or a middle school student who simply needs a warm winter coat. Although every recipient remains anonymous to protect their privacy, each sponsor knows they are making a difference in the life of one specific child.

That’s the heart of The Hope Tree Project.

One child.
One family.
One act of kindness at a time.

And it all started with a few friends, a pile of presents, and the belief that hope grows when a community comes together.

With many thanks and joy and hope,

Chief Elf Elizabeth