For the last 10 years, it’s looked a lot like Christmas around Leslie and Jeff Smith’s house. Leslie, a member of the CARTI Auxiliary since 2012, joined the Festival of Trees event committee in 2014 as a tree designer. Over the years, she and her tree designer co-chair Sonia Worsham have planned and decorated more than 150 trees. This annual undertaking begins in January with a trip to Dallas to pre-purchase ornaments, ribbons and accessories. Throughout the year, Leslie and her team check their lists (twice), organize innumerable packages and prepare for the whirlwind of volunteers who help assemble the trees that serve as the centerpiece for CARTI’s annual holiday celebration and fundraiser.
Entering its 48th year, CARTI’s 2024 Festival of Trees will again bring three days of signature events to the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock. The festivities kick off with the Sugar Plum Ball, a night designed to delight little girls and their dads or father-figures, followed by the Festival of Fashion, a New York Fashion Week-style runway show. Tux ‘n’ Trees, a black-tie gala featuring fine dining, live entertainment and dancing, will cap off the weekend.
This year, the Smiths are expanding their role with the festival by serving as co-chairs for Tux ‘n’ Trees. The couple is excited to head up one of their — and central Arkansas’ — favorite holiday events.
“Most importantly, we are humbled to help raise funds to uplift those in our state facing cancer,” says Leslie, whose decade of volunteer work has introduced them to countless CARTI volunteers and, over time, deepened their connection with the festival’s goals.
“We obviously wanted to learn more about CARTI and the mission of CARTI and what the money was going to from this event that Leslie was working on,” Jeff says. “And, we love what the money goes to.”
Each year, the festival raises funds for CARTI’s Patient Assistance Program, with last year’s events bringing in a record $830,000. CARTI, a nonprofit cancer care provider, serves more than 50,000 Arkansans annually, and its Patient Assistant Program helps patients navigate their treatments, aiming to remove any barriers to care along the way. Funds from the events support services like patient transportation, temporary housing, fuel cards and counseling referrals.
“It seems so personal to me that this money is going to directly help people that just got some of the most difficult news of their life,” Jeff says.
And recently, the event became even more personal when the Smiths helped sponsor a tree in honor of Jeff’s aunt, Mary Lensing, who lost her battle with cancer.
“My family came and my uncle and cousins came,” Jeff says of his most poignant Tux ‘n’ Trees experience. “We were able to be there and celebrate her memory together.”
Even professionally, the Smiths are uniquely positioned to champion CARTI’s work. As owners of Smith Family Funeral Homes, they often hear first-hand accounts of how CARTI supported the loved ones of their clients.
“We hear great things about CARTI and what a difference CARTI made, things like ‘CARTI was wonderful. And the doctors were wonderful. And everybody there helped take care of us and made this a great experience,’” Jeff says.
CARTI as a whole has grown to better support patients across the state, not only with expanded services, but also physical presence.
“Last year, we marked a significant milestone with the opening of the CARTI Surgery Center, enhancing our ability to provide state-of-the-art surgical treatments seamlessly across our statewide network,” says Adam Head, CARTI’s CEO and president.
And this year CARTI opened The Bridge, an on-site support services center located off the skywalk at CARTI’s Little Rock campus.
“The Bridge symbolizes its purpose: to connect patients from diagnosis through treatment and recovery,” Head says. “It stands as a testament to CARTI’s unwavering dedication to delivering care, comfort and continuity to both patients and caregivers.”
With no indication of slowing down, CARTI will continue its mission across the state, working to increase both awareness for and access to early detection and treatment for all Arkansans.
“We are committed to investing in new facilities and expanding our footprint to address these challenges and save lives across our state,” Head says.
In the spirit of serving patients, the Festival of Trees is dedicated to both partnering with the community through fundraising and to building community for CARTI patients, their caregivers and friends. These crucial goals are highlighted by this year’s event theme, Brighter Tomorrows.
“Our theme reflects the hope supporters feel as they join forces — in the lights of beautifully decorated trees — to help those in our state facing cancer. Nearly 50 years in, we firmly believe there is no better way to kick off the season, nor gift to give during the holidays, than being there for cancer patients and their families,” says Jennifer Selig, executive director of the CARTI Foundation.
And as Leslie finishes up yet another bustling year of tree design, she keeps one simple sentiment top of mind.
“I am proud to serve for the cancer patients of CARTI and ready to celebrate the theme of a brighter tomorrow.”
CARTI’s 48th Annual Festival of Trees
Statehouse Convention Center | Info: carti.com/festivaloftrees
Sugar Plum Ball Nov. 14, 6 p.m.
Festival of Fashion Nov. 15, 7 p.m.
Tux ‘n’ Trees Gala Nov. 16, 6 p.m.
PHOTOGRAPHY
JASON MASTERS
DRESS
UNVEILED BRIDAL COLLECTION
SHOES
BARBARA/JEAN
JEWELRY
SISSY’S LOG CABIN
MAKEUP
BRIDGET BALTIMORE OF BARBARA/JEAN
TUX
BAUMANS FINE MEN’S CLOTHING