Fort Myers- Morning news anchor Sarah Augusthy and charity auctioneer Scott Robertson will co-host the “Tux and Trees” charity auction on Friday, December 5. 

The Festival of Trees is Southwest Florida’s premier holiday showcase, and the Tux and Trees Gala (www.tuxandtrees.com) is the signature fundraising event of Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc.  Last year’s inaugural event raised over $55,000 to support Goodwill’s mission of helping people with disabilities and other disadvantages overcome their barriers to employment and independence.  

For the last two years, Southwest Floridians have started their mornings with Sarah Augusthy, the charismatic co-anchor of “WINK News This Morning” and “WINK News This Morning on CW-6.”  As a journalist, Augusthy has won numerous awards, including a coveted Telly Award for her educational documentary about the Governorship in the state of Kansas.

Robertson is an award-winner himself—he earned the 2001 title at the Florida State Auctioneer Championship.  He has been a professional auctioneer since 1994, but for the last five years has focused strictly on fundraising auctions for non-profit organizations.  Robertson’s expertise helps to raise approximately $5 million per year for various nonprofit organizations.

“You name it, I’ve sold it:  Horses, houses, jewelry, antiques,” Robertson explains.  “But I really love the excitement of the crowd at a fundraising auction.  You’re selling items like you would at any other auction, but you’re doing it for the good of the organization.”

Robertson has conducted charity auctions in ten states, and worked with numerous celebrities, including Lily Tomlin, Sharon Stone, Meryl Streep, and Norman Schwartzkopf.   He’s helped a number of Southwest Florida organizations to raise funds, though this will be his first time working with Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida.