11/19/2025
👏Community Events: Fiestas, Denim & Mafia Nights: How the Jensens Celebrate for a Cause
What began as a small holiday party among friends has transformed into a Highland Lakes tradition, where themed celebrations bring joy to guests and make a meaningful impact on the community.
Trisha and Bryan Jensen's parties have always carried a theme. For the first two gatherings, in 2021 and 2022, guests donned ugly Christmas sweaters. Then in 2023, the Jensens invited their 50–60 guests to dress representing their favorite vacation spot or take inspiration from the movie Christmas Vacation.
In 2024, the party took on an entirely new focus. Bryan had just begun teaching at St. Francis DeSales, sparking the family to return to their Catholic faith. “As we planned our party, we decided that we would skip the traditional white elephant and instead do good in our community,” Trisha recalls. “We expanded the party to 90 people and realized we could make an incredible impact for a local charity.”
The Jensens knew they wanted their giving to support children. While volunteering at the Family Mentor Foundation, their kids, Lucas (12) and Ashleigh (10), were shocked to learn that some local kids receive their best meals in the school cafeteria and the family decided the Foundation would be the perfect organization to support.
Honoring the 2024 theme of “Denim and Drinks,” an expanded group of 90 guests packed the Jensens’ home, enthusiastically embracing the new holiday party focus. Together, they gathered 852 items to donate to the Family Mentor Foundation!
The tradition will continue this year. With a Mafia-inspired theme featuring Italian food and wine, guests will gather items for Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM). What began as a cozy gathering of friends has become a holiday tradition that spreads cheer to both partygoers and the wider Westerville community.
🖊By Jennie Williams, N2 Staff Writer and Highland Lakes Resident