Businesses Hold Teddy Bear Drives for Local Children

FORT MYERS, Fla. - July 29, 2013 - PRLog -- Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. is happy to announce that the following local businesses are holding public “teddy bear drives” for Goodwill’s seventh annual Festival of Trees.

ArtFest Fort Myers, GMA Architects and TDM Consulting, Imaginarium Science Center, Kelly Road Self Storage, Puddy n’ Pearl II, Rnells Tuxedos, and Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center are all hosting teddy bear drives for the Festival’s “A Very Beary Christmas” tree.

Goodwill hopes to collect 300 bears by November, in time for the start of the Festival of Trees on November 29 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in the Fort Myers River District.

Goodwill’s bear tree has been a staple of Goodwill’s annual Festival of Trees since the event’s inception in 2006. Made up from bears donated by the community, the tree is one of 25 beautifully decorated trees that is auctioned off at the Festival’s signature event, the Tux & Trees Gala, on December 7.  Auction guests gather around this special tree to raise money for The Southwest Florida Goodwill Foundation.  The tree is then traditionally donated to a children’s hospital.

“We truly appreciate the support of local businesses,” says Madison Mitchell, spokesperson at Goodwill. “It’s such a magical moment when the tree gets put together and you just see the finished result. Coming together for two wonderful causes- it really feels like Christmas.”

If you are interested in hosting a teddy bear drive, or have new bears that you would like to donate contact Madison Mitchell at (239)995-2106 ext. 2213 or email MadisonMitchell@goodwillswfl.org. For more information on the Festival of Trees and Tux & Trees Gala visit www.tuxandtrees.com .

Last year’s Festival and Gala raised $93,000 to support the Southwest Florida Goodwill Foundation, which provides long-term financial support to programs and services of Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida.  In 2012, Goodwill helped 30,000 Southwest Floridians with disabilities and other disadvantages become more independent.

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