Christmas Spirit Foundation - Christmas Spirit Foundation

The mission of the Christmas Spirit Foundation is to advance the Christmas Spirit for kids, families & the environment through programs & activities.

Christmas Spirit Foundation Recognizes 2025 SPIRIT AWARD Recipient

Our dedicated military members can sometimes be separated from families at annual holidays while deployed, given the average deployment period of 6-12 months – the length of which varies between branches and situations. Providing these deserving individuals, or their loved ones waiting at home, with the comfort of a Christmas tree is a small but powerful act during the holiday season.

For 20 years, the Trees for Troops (T4T) program has proceeded to grow under the direction of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation (CSF) and the daily responsibilities of the dedicated individuals involved. Whether it be sourcing trees to donate, coordinating efforts to load or unload trees, raising funds to support the program, or the pursuit of publicity, the support of T4T volunteers is immeasurable to the program’s success.

In 2018, the Trustees formalized their recognition of individuals, companies, and organizations for superlative support of the T4T program. This honor is represented by the Christmas SPIRIT Award, which is annually bestowed upon selected recipients to thank them for their creative and extraordinary support. This year CSF recognizes Dr. Bernd Weber for his contributions to the T4T program.

Dr. Bernd Weber — The Board of Trustees of the Christmas Spirit Foundation (CSF) has reviewed nominations and selected Dr. Bernd Weber as a recipient of the Christmas SPIRIT Award to recognize his superlative support of the Foundation’s Trees for Troops® Program.

Mountain View Dental, through the guidance of Dr. Bernd Weber has been involved with the Trees for Troops® program for over 10 years consistently sponsoring donated trees each year. Dr. Weber has also helped harvest trees for the program for two years at South Farm, the collection and pick-up location for more than 400 donated trees from farms in New Hampshire and Vermont.

In 2024, some of his staff members came to the farm to help pick out trees and tag them with Christmas greetings for the military families who would receive the donated trees. By doing this and sharing their commitment on social media their donation helps get other local businesses involved with the program which has helped boost local donations of trees. This year Dr. Weber stepped up the donation to Trees for Troops® by partnering with South Farm, buying and giving Trees for Troops/South Farm logo wear to all his staff. The logo wear helps spread the word about Trees for Troops® to more people in the area.

Weber has now begun looking to the future to help Trees for Troops® improve Christmas Spirit. He recently took the time to plant new Christmas tree seedlings at South Farm, some of which will be dedicated to becoming donated Christmas trees. “It takes about 7-8 years for the trees to get tall enough,” said Nigel Manley, owner of South Farm and a CSF Trustee. “When I see that kind of commitment from others in the community, I know this program is having a broad, positive impact.”

The Trees for Troops® program has provided a total of 326,273 free Christmas trees to military members and families over the past 20 consecutive years with the help of leaders like these awardees. Fresh cut Christmas trees are collected at farms and retail lots before being picked up by the program’s partner, FedEx Freight.

As the Trees for Troops® program continues to grow since it first started in 2005, the CSF Board of Trustees recognized that success of the program depends on both civilian and military volunteers and leaders being involved. These individuals support the program in various ways throughout the year, including sourcing trees to donate, coordinating volunteer efforts to load/unload trees, raising funds to support the program and/or just creating crucial awareness. In 2018, the Trustees formalized their recognition of individuals/companies for outstanding support of the Trees for Troops® program. This honor is represented by the Christmas SPIRIT Award. “This program’s success depends on many people and organizations getting involved,” said Wendy Richardson, Foundation Chair. “The SPIRIT Award recognizes, thanks and highlights those who do amazing things for the program.”