School in Ansonia decorates tree to donate to charity

Teacher Yavanna Horbal and Assistant Principal Jeffrey Levinson show off a special Christmas tree Monday in the lobby of Emmett O'Brien Technical High School in Ansonia.

ANSONIA -Yavanna Horbal, a social studies teacher at Emmett O'Brien Technical High School, recently coordinated a Tree of Hope project among her colleagues.
They purchased and decorated a tree that will be donated to Trees of Hope, an event that benefits Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut.

Horbal formerly taught at Eli Whitney Technical High School in Hamden, and she said that school participated in the annual holiday event so she decided to bring the idea to Ansonia.

The 24th annual Trees of Hope will be held 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 7-15 at the Maritime Center, 545-555 Long Wharf Drive, New Haven.

Horbal said those who attend may purchase raffle tickets for $1 each and put them next to a tree, wreath, or gift basket of their choice.

"All of the proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House," Horbal said. "Last year the event funded over 500 nights for parents to stay with their children" who are undergoing medical treatment, she said.