Enjoy the Fashions for Evergreens event benefitting United Way of Roanoke Valley from home this year

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — You can now enjoy the beauty of the Fashions for Evergreens event — sponsored by the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center and benefitting the United Way of Roanoke Valley — from the comfort of your own home this holiday season.

This year’s tree-decorating competition will be conducted in a virtual manner due to coronavirus precautions, according to an announcement from United Way of Roanoke Valley on Monday, Nov. 30. In other words, visitors can tour the trees through an online gallery and vote monetarily for their favorite designs.

“Every year, Fashions for Evergreens attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the Hotel, and this year, while we’ll need to celebrate the season on a smaller scale, we’ll still be able to make a critical contribution to help our neighbors in need,” said Michael Quonce, a spokesman for the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.

Monday’s statement says Fashions for Evergreens has raised more than $62,000 for United Way of Roanoke Valley and its nonprofit partners over the past decade.

“Fashions for Evergreens is a timeless holiday tradition. It’s especially relevant this year as families and our entire community work to stay connected and help each other through tough times,” said Abby Hamilton, President & CEO of United Way of Roanoke Valley. “While online visitors may only be donating a dollar or two when they vote for their favorite tree, by pitching in together the event helps us extend a hand to many families throughout the Roanoke Valley who are struggling to keep a roof over the head and food on the table.”

This year, 11 organizations and businesses will compete for the coveted People’s Choice award through online voting following a self-guided tour. You can check out the 2020 contestants and place your vote for your favorite by following this link to the online gallery.

In addition, as a new feature this year, residents are encouraged to email photos of their own tree décor to kyle@uwrv.org to be showcased on the Fashions at Home page on the UWRV website, which can also serve as a source of inspiration for your own holiday decorations.

The Fashions for Evergreens contest is set to through New Year’s Day, which is when the winning tree will be selected based on dollar vote counts. Meanwhile, Monday’s statement says voters and anyone who submits their own tree photos to Fashions at Home will be eligible to receive prizes from the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.

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