Third Annual Festival of Trees Raises $58,000 for Goodwill Programs and Services

PRLog (Press Release) - Dec. 16, 2009 - Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida’s signature event, The Festival of Trees, has been deemed a success by the event’s organizers.  The third annual Festival, including the Tux & Trees Gala, raised $58,000 to support Goodwill’s mission.  That total represents an increase of 28% over last year’s event.

“We’re very pleased and grateful for the support we received from the community this year,” said Carolyn Johnson, Goodwill’s Vice President of Communications and Development.  “We had a record number of people come to our event, and many of them told us they’re turning it into a family tradition.”

The Festival of Trees (http://www.tuxandtrees.com) is a week-long showcase of holiday trees, each beautifully decorated by Southwest Florida businesses, organizations, and individuals.  More than 4,000 people visited this year’s free holiday showcase at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.

The 2009 Festival concluded on December 4 with the Tux & Trees Gala, a black-tie auction which serves as the event’s primary fundraiser.  This year, 24 trees were auctioned at the gala, and were purchased for prices ranging from $500 to $3,250.  This year’s gala was hosted by charity auctioneer Scott Robertson and WINK News anchor Stacey Adams.

The Festival of Trees and the Tux & Trees Gala support Goodwill’s mission of helping people with disabilities and other disadvantages.  More information about Goodwill is available at http://www.goodwillswfl.org.

To become involved in the 2010 Festival of Trees, visit http://www.tuxandtrees.com or  contact (239) 995-2106 ext. 249.

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Goodwill operates 24 thrift stores in SW Florida to support its mission of removing barriers to independence. Programs include income-sensitive housing, career placement assistance, the L.I.F.E. Academy Charter School, Four Wheels for Work, and others.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/10455162/1