(November 15, 2023) — For Christmas 2023, the 120 employees of Tesuque Casino in Santa Fe, New Mexico are decorating Angel Trees. Each of the Casino departments are adopting a live Christmas tree and decorating it to their own selected themes. Teams of every department have come together to decorate 18 freshly cut pine trees that are spread throughout the Casino which is celebrating it’s 5th Anniversary. The Casino was formerly Camel Rock Casino which operated for 23 years in a nearby location. It is now Camel Rock Studios, the site for the popular AMC series, Dark Winds.
The department Teams have been busy planning their decorating themes under the cloak of secrecy until it all comes together Thanksgiving week as the trees are unveiled and first seen by the public. Beginning the week of Christmas, the Angel Trees will be donated and delivered to Pueblo of Tesuque area community families who may not be able to have a holiday Christmas Tree.
An employee committee made up of volunteers Shawna Jiron, James Issacs, Jamie Williams, Peter Romero, Anthony Thomas and Don Kennedy planned the Angel Tree project as well as the holiday decoration plan for the entire Casino property. The committee wanted to combine the traditional holiday decorating with an all employee involvement as well as giving back to the community.