‘Make it a Grand Week’- Olivia Lobertini, The Grand on Central

‘It’s my baby; Fantasy of Trees project’- Chris Matthews, LMC’s Dir. of Rehab

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- “A while back, our son received frequent surgical care as an infant, and, as a result, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital has been near to my wife and me,” said Chris Matthews. Matthews is the Director of Rehabilitation at Tennova La Follette Medical Center, and he and his wife wanted to giveback to the hospital in some way.

Last year an idea came to the Matthews family, donating mini Christmas Trees to the ETCH’s Fantasy of Trees. “We’ve started a tradition and hope to continue to grow. Different department managers here at the hospital took a tree and came up with their own theme; to get creative with their trees, and they did,” said Matthews.

This season, Matthews bought 12 trees, and through the Matthews’ idea, and the support and participation of Chris’s co-workers, the event grew from seven trees in the inaugural year to a dozen this Christmas season. For several days, the trees were on display in the La Follette Medical Center lobby. “It’s brought a Christmas joy to the hospital and created patient interaction with patients voting on their favorite trees,” said Matthews.

The third place winner is Administration, and the Radiology Department came in second. Patient Access won with the most votes as the best of the 12 Christmas Trees.

This is always a joy, according to Matthews. Matthews and Jennifer Hughes, an LMC Occupational Therapist, loaded their vehicles Friday afternoon and delivered the trees to the Knoxville Convention Center ahead of this week’s 40th annual event. The Gala Among the Trees is Tuesday with the Fantasy of Trees running from Wednesday through Sunday.

In the first year last year, close to $3,000 was raised through the sale of the trees at the Fantasy of Trees. “For this week’s event, our goal is to raise between 45-hundred and $5,000. These dollars will be used to purchase surgical and pediatric equipment for the ETCH,” said Matthews.

A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.

Below, take a visit through The Grand on Central.

For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 11/25/2024-6AM)