Last Updated on July 8, 2026 1:19 pm
St. Louis, MO, June 24, 2026 — The Board of Trustees of the Christmas Spirit Foundation (CSF) has reviewed nominations and selected Amanda Estes at Blue Ridge Elementary School as a recipient of the Christmas SPIRIT Award to recognize her superlative support of the Foundation's Trees for Troops® Program.
Amanda and her 2nd grade students at Blue Ridge Elementary, in Warrensville, NC will receive a crystal display piece as a representation of the Spirit Award honor. Every year, students from pre-K through 6th grade write messages and draw pictures to the many deserving military families on special tags that are attached to fresh Christmas trees donated by North Carolina farmers.
Blue Ridge Elementary students have been a special part of this project for over 10 years. And Amanda leads the effort. “My family owns Peak Farms in Ashe County, NC and Peak Farms donates trees to the Trees for Troops project every year,” said Estes. “I'm honored and not really sure how I was chosen for the Spirit Award. I love being a small part of this amazing project each year.”
Jennifer Greene, the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association Executive Director, who coordinates the overall Trees for Troops® program in the state, lauds the efforts of Amanda and her students. “She personally ensures that this happens every year by coordinating with me the arrival of the tags,” said Greene. “She distributes the tags to the teachers at her school, and then she delivers the tags to the Upper Mountain research station for the tree tagging and loading event.”
The Trees for Troops® program has provided a total of 347,390 free Christmas trees to military members and families over the past 21 consecutive years with the help of supporters like Estes. 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.”
About the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation and Trees for Troops
The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization that works to recognize and support the true spirit of Christmas through programs like Trees for Troops®. The foundation was established in 2005 and is among fewer than five percent of U.S. charities to be awarded the “Best in America” seal of excellence by Independent Charities of America. To learn more visit www.christmasspiritfoundation.org.
