2009 Festival of Trees raises $58,000 for Goodwill
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 percent 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 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 Dec. 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. To become involved in the 2010 Festival of Trees, visit www.tuxandtrees.com, or contact 995-2106 ext. 249.