Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida Celebrates 10 Years of Festival of Trees

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nov. 9, 2016 - PRLog -- The 10th Annual Festival of Trees begins Tuesday, November 29th and ends Sunday, December 4th.  All trees will be in the raffle except for The Very Beary Goodwill Tree, which will be in a live auction.  Event highlights include a Tree Preview Party and Wine Tasting, Holiday Stroll, Brunch with Santa, Santa's Block Party, and concludes with raffle drawings for 20 beautifully decorated trees with gifts.  The event is held at the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center, located downtown in the heart of the Fort Myers River District. For details on these events and more during this year's Festival of Trees, patrons are asked to visit http://www.goodwilltrees.com or call (239) 995-2106, ext. 2213.

During the past decade, several organizations, businesses and volunteers have helped to make the Festival of Trees Goodwill's largest annual fundraiser.  In this 10th year, special recognition will be given to tree designers who have been with the Festival of Trees since its beginning. Ten year tree alumni, sponsors and in-kind contributors include Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, The Home Depot, Lee County Electric Cooperative, Century Link, Costco, Media Vista/Univision, and The News-Press.

"We have been incredibly honored to have the support of our tree designers, event sponsors, and our volunteers who have helped make the Festival of Trees what it is today. The amazing creativity and enthusiasm they put towards this event each year has made this such a special holiday tradition for thousands of people—it simply wouldn't be possible without each and every supporter. Thank you!" said Carolyn Johnson, Goodwill's Vice President of Communications and Development.

New this year, there will be a Tree Preview Party & Wine Tasting in lieu of the Tux and Trees Gala. Twenty trees will be in the raffle. The Preview Party will still feature a silent auction and the live auction of Goodwill's Very Beary Tree. The bear tree will be auctioned to raise funds for Goodwill's Job-Link Veteran program to help veterans in our area re-enter the workforce.  The teddy bears and the tree will be sent to Children's Hospital just in time for the holidays.

Tickets to the Preview Party are $50 and will include five wine tastings with food pairings. The first 50 people to register will receive a complimentary hand painted holiday wine goblet.  Reservations can be made online at www.goodwilltrees.com.

There is still time to become involved in the festival. Volunteers, vendors, and sponsors can email SusanHegarty@GoodwillSWFL. org or call (239) 995-2106, ext. 2213.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades Counties. The agency's mission is to help people with disabilities and disadvantages by offering life-changing opportunities to achieve independence.  For more information about Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, please visit http://www.goodwillswfl.org or call (239) 995-2106.