Peace Tree

Thirty-six years ago (1987), the Association of Faculty and Friends (AFF) of Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine began this wonderful project.

A tree on the grounds of the Hershey Medical Center is decorated with white lights in memory of or in honor of a special loved one or person who has touched lives in a special way.

The 2023 Peace Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 6pm to 7pm. (Please check back for location.)

This tree remains a symbol of Peace, Hope, Unity, Joy, and Love throughout the holiday season. All donors will receive a printed copy of the program which will contain the list of all those individuals who will be honored or remembered this year. Donations received by date TBD were included in this year’s program booklet.

We thank you for your ongoing support of this tradition and the mission of AFF which is to promote medical education, research, clinical care, and scholarship, and to serve the needs of the community for which we are a part of.

Click here for the 2022 Peace Tree Program

Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Harpist Mary-Kate Spring Lee performs before the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Pianist Anthony Haubert performs before the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Event chair Lisa Braccini-Barletta welcomes attendees to the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Behjat Noori, president of the Association of Faculty and Friends, welcomes guests to the Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Penn State Health CEO Steve Massini offers opening remarks at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Pastoral care director David Simmons offers a reflection at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Performers from the Hershey School of Dance and Arts entertain guests at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Pianist Elenar Millar
Steve Mancuso, retired vice president of operations, performs at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Members of the Pennsylvania Ballet Academy perform at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
MD/PhD student Mike Sha performs at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Charlotte Caples and Ben Silvis perform at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Members of SHINE perform at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Members of MedNotes perform at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Hershey Middle School 8th grader Lucy Trout performs at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.
Joyce Marks performs at the Association of Faculty and Friends Peace Tree lighting ceremonies at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, November 16, 2022.

Peace Tree Lighting Ceremony was held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 6:00 pm at PennState Health Children's Hospital Treehouse Café.
Prelude in the Main hospital Lobby was performed by Anthony Haubert, Pianist, and in the Children's Hospital Lobby, performed by Mary-Kate Spring Lee, Harpist. Welcoming words were given by Lisa Braccini-Barletta, Past President and Event Chair, Association of Faculty and Friends, Behjat Noori, President, Association of Faculty and Friends, and Steve Massini, Chief Executive Officer, Penn State Health. The Reflection was given by Dr. David Simmons, Director of Pastoral Care Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

There were about 80 people attending the program who enjoyed the performance of the array of talented entertainers. Thanks to the generosity of Palliative Care volunteers, there were abundant sweets, snacks, and drinks for the guests. This year the event produced more than $5000 for AFF.

💙Thank you to the many wonderful performers who made the event so special. For details, please visit the link. AFF 2022 Peace Tree Program

The evening concluded with the lighting of the Peace Tree, closing remarks, and reception.