The holidays will be especially starry this year thanks to the talents of 20 local artists participating in the Fountain Hills Community Foundation’s inaugural holiday ornament fundraiser to benefit the International Dark Sky Discovery Center.

Each artist is creating a series of 15 ornaments in a “Starry Night” theme. Some series will be auctioned as a collection, while others will be sold individually. Ornaments purchased as a collection will include an ornament storage box; those purchased individually will be wrapped for gift-giving.

The online auction begins Monday, Nov. 3. Remaining ornaments will be sold during the Stroll in the Glow on Saturday, Dec. 6. All profits will be donated to the International Dark Sky Discovery Center.

“The Starry Night holiday ornament fundraiser is a great illustration of how the Fountain Hills Community Foundation (FHCF) partners with nonprofit organizations to enhance the quality of life in this community,” President Dori Wittrig said. “We’re excited to give Fountain Hills residents the opportunity to join us in supporting this great initiative with their purchase of these unique keepsakes.”

Participating artists include popular Flutter artists Vanessa Davisson, Sandy Herbst, Bradley Donaldson, Vicki Derksen, Toni LePeor, Kim Warneke, Kathleen Dietz, Dawn Porter, Misty Watkins, Chris Demma and Pam Nelson.

New artists include Karen Otis-Webb, Veronique Benoit, Lillie Orth, Sandy Gatlin, Kathy Brancheau, Lori Allison, Gretchen Boyer, Joshua Gridley and Laura Thurbon.

Debbie Clason, a former FHCF board member and owner of Clason Communications, is chairwoman for the Starry Night fundraiser. She admits her love for the holidays encouraged her to bring the idea to the FHCF board for review.

“We did something similar in my Indiana hometown years ago,” she said, “And residents looked forward to it every year. From the preliminary artwork the artists are sharing with me, I’m sure it will become an annual favorite here as well.”

To receive updates about this fundraiser as well as other events hosted by the Fountain Hills Community Foundation, visit fountainhillsgives.com and subscribe to the newsletter.