Julie Huber finds hers in Christmas tree lights.

Carmen Dolen found hers on her daily walk along the river at Morad Park.

And all of them - the differently-abled young women and their moms - find inspiration in soldiers, sailors and Marines far from home - and the families left behind - this holiday season.

Today's 19th annual Teddy Bear Tea and Tuesday's gala Festival of Trees to benefit Special Olympics Wyoming features one very special tree.

"OK, it's kind of a Charlie Brown tumbleweed tree," Dolen laughed on Saturday as she used a dowel and some wire to attempt to straighten the tree created by the Unicorns, a group of seven young women who have formed a social network basd on self-help, mentoring - and fun.

Dolen found two tumbleweeds and the inspiration for this year's tree on a recent walk.

The group asked for photos of military personnel and made them into ornaments for the tree, named "Poinsettias for Peace." There is Staff Sgt. Stephen T. Maciech, serving in Kabul, Afghanistan. There is a Sgt. 1st Class Duane Moore in Iraq and Shyne Ingerwson, also serving in Iraq.

As numerous groups gathered at the Boys & Girls Club on Saturday to decorate for today's event, the Unicorns enjoyed lunch and their new "Poinsettias for Peace" T-shirts as they wired large red poinsettias to the tree, already threaded with green Christmas lights.

Huber said the Festival of Trees is important to her because she's been downhill skiing as a Special Olympian since she was 8.

She's now 29, describes herself as a "tender, loving care person," and enjoys her Unicorn friends.

"I love young people," she said, "and there are awesome people here."

Huber is a veteran of Festival of Trees events. This year, she will greet patrons as they enter, and she's also been asked to speak.

On Saturday, she explained how she overcomes her fear of public speaking.

"I walk in, and I'm nervous," she said. "Then I'll walk around to my favorite tree, just stand there looking at the pretty lights, and all of a sudden, I go 'Wow, I'm not nervous. I can do this.'"

Huber's mom, Debbie, and Sue Blomstrom attended a conference about 10 years ago and heard about the benefits of social intereaction for young, differently-abled people. The Unicorns came to be as a result of that inspiration.

Today's Teddy Bear Tea is a family-friendly event with a new teddy bear the only price of admission. It runs from 1 to 4 p.m., in the main gym at the Boys & Girls Club, 1701 E. K St. Refreshments will be served, Santa will be on hand and people can cast their vote for their favorite tree, which wins the coveted People's Choice Award on Tuesday.

Last year's Festival of Trees made more than $120,000 for Special Olympics Wyoming. Beyond the tickets at $30 per person or $50 for a couple, the majority of the money is raised by people's love of a great cause, competitive bidding spirit and desire for fabulous Christmas decorations.

Fully decorated trees in a variety of themes, colors and sizes are auctioned, as well as stunning wreaths, centerpieces and other holiday decorating items.

The teddy bears donated this afternoon are used to fill trees decorated by Boys & Girls Club members. Those trees are auctioned on Tuesday with the proceeds going directly to the Boys & Girls Club.

Tuesday's event is a perfect way to begin the holidays with a little bit of glitz. Cocktails and a silent auction begin at 6 p.m. Fabulous hors d'oeuvres are served and the live auction starts at 7 p.m.

For more information or to order tickets for Tuesday, call Special Olympics Wyoming at 235-3062 or www.specialolympicswyo.org.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0520; sally.shurmur@trib.com or see her profile and blog at my.trib.com/Sal/blog