The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation unveilled how much this years Festival of Tree's event raised for the hospital.

Proceeds from this years festival will go towards improving the Red Deer Regional Hospitals Medical Specialty Clinic.

Health Foundation Board Chairman Bob Bilton says they raised $950,000 for the clinic, which was more than anticipated.

"We all hear the unemployment numbers, the companies that have shut down, the companies that are pulling back. I would say all things considered, we actually overachieved because our numbers for the foundation and the festival of trees aren't nearly as down as the economy is."

Bilton made a point of emphasizing the importance of the Festival's volunteers who step up and help improve the hospital, when the government fails to.

The Hospitals Medical Specialty Clinic, something that Bilton says was badly needed.

"The rooms were very small. People were actually being examined in areas where they had absolutely no privacy. The staff would actually stand up and hold up blankets so that people wouldn't be exposed to other people in the area. It was that out of date, and way, way too small for how much work was done in there."

Bilton says this clinic allows people to get help from medical professionals that allows them to go back home and take care of themselves.

Which he says ironically will save the government money.