BOARDMAN — The Vail’s Voice Foundation raised more than $12,000 — the most the foundation has ever raised — with its V’s Trees fundraiser at Home Carpet Flooring & Design, 8479 Market St.

George Rohan III and his wife, Ashlee Russo, started the foundation after their daughter Vail’s six-month hospital stay. Vail was born Aug. 10, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was diagnosed in utero with Down Syndrome and congenital heart disease

In January 2021, she was hospitalized with a severe illness and stayed there for six months. While they were at the hospital, they met other families staying overnight with their children. Oftentimes, they arrived in an emergency situation not planning to remain there, so they lacked necessities such as a toothbrush or blanket.

George III and Ashlee started the foundation to help and support families with children going through serious and prolonged illnesses. They have donated toothbrushes, blankets, Thanksgiving meals and other personal necessities to Akron Children’s and University Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland.

Gerri Rohan, Vail’s grandmother and third co-owner of the family business, came up with the Christmas tree fundraiser and it became the cornerstone of the foundation’s year-end donations.

V’s Trees is a display of artificial Christmas trees of 5 feet, 7 feet and 9 feet decorated with different themes. The themes for this year’s trees were Hot Wheels, Gingerbread, Mickey Mouse & Friends, bourbon and cigar, gold and blue, silver and white, and wilderness.

Gerri Rohan said she looks for gifts to surround the tree or ornaments for her theme throughout the year. She began decorating the trees in the showroom, but as the endeavor has grown, she has moved her workshop to her garage.

The firs are installed at the showroom in November to allow a month of raffle ticket purchases for the nonprofit. The drawing took place Friday after a party at the business.

Tickets were $10 each. Winners received the artificial tree with the decorations on the tree and the gifts underneath and around it.

For more information on the Vail’s Voice Foundation and its mission or their other fundraisers, visit its website vailsvoice.org.