ROCK for Charity, ROLL with a Ride(tm)

Online, November 24, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Fort Myers Toyota
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUMMARY:
* ROCK for Charity, ROLL with a Ride(tm), online charity auction kicks off with a preview event at the Holiday Art Market in the Harborside Convention Center Friday, November 20, 2009.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Shay Bunch
(239) 938-2800
[email protected]

Fort Myers, Florida--November 20, 2009--Ft. Myers Toyota, "The Family Store," is auctioning off 28 beautifully hand-painted rocking chairs to raise money and awareness for 14 different local charities during the "ROCK for Charity, ROLL with a Ride(tm) online auction.

The auction is being kicked off with a preview event at the Holiday Art Market produced by ArtFest Fort Myers at the Harborside Convention Center Friday November 20 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, November 21 to 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Online bidding begins November 20, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. and ends February 7, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.

The chairs being auctioned off were used in the ROCK for Charity, ROLL with a Ride(tm) rocking chair marathon event held to create awareness for charities.

Says Pamela Templeton, Vice President of Ft. Myers Toyota, of the experience, "There was an incredible bonding and camaraderie that evolved during the rocking chair marathon. It was humbling and exciting all at once. The charities, contestants and staff really became invested in one another. Now that the ROCK For Charity, ROLL with a Ride contest (tm) has ended, we are now on to the online auction phase of this promotion. We have re-tooled our Web site to handle the silent online auction to auction of these beautiful and unique rocking chairs. This way, we can continue to shine a light on these local charities who stand in the gap for our community."

"Please join us at the Harborside Event Center during the Holiday Art Market or come by the Truck Center Gallery to view the chairs during business hours. They can be viewed online anytime at www.FmToyota.com. The first weekend in February 2010 is the ArtFest Fort Myers event that attracts thousands to the downtown River District, where there will a be finale of the online auction."

Participating charity organizations included:
* Abuse Counseling and Treatment
* American Red Cross, Lee County Chapter of Ft. Myers
* Barbara's Friends, The Children's Hospital Cancer Fund
* Good Wheels
* Goodwill of Southwest Florida
* Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida
* Hero Care
* LARC, Inc.
* Lee County Homeless Commission
* Lee Pace Center for Girls
* Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida
* St. Matthew's House/Immokalee Friendship House
* The "Tender Loving Care Complex" Inc.
* Voices for Kids of Southwest Florida

Please visit Ft. Myers Toyota to find out more about artist and charity information and how you can donate or get involved. Check the IRS publication on charity deductions or speak to an accountant to find out the tax-deductibilty of the item on which you are bidding.

About Ft. Myers Toyota:
Ft. Myers Toyota is located at 2555 Colonial Blvd, on the big corner of Colonial and Fowler in Fort Myers Florida just west of I-75 exit 136. Ft. Myers Toyota can be found online at www.FmToyota.com, or you can call toll free at 1-888-802-9401.

Ft. Myers Toyota, "The Family Store", has been serving Southwest Florida, Naples, Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, Estero, Bonita Springs, Venice, Sarasota, and Cape Coral since 1988.

About Holiday Art Market and ArtFest Fort Myers:
Holiday Art Market is a fine art show--produced by ArtFest Fort Myers--in which 125 artists from 39 states will gather at the festively decorated Harborside Event Center to show off unique jewelry, pottery, glass, metal, wood, sculpture, painting, photography, wearable art and so much more.

ArtFest Fort Myers, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit arts and cultural organization whose mission is exclusively the creation of public access to a broad array of visual art; nurturing the development and understanding of diverse art forms; supporting arts in education and encouraging the appreciation of the arts in Southwest Florida.

ArtFest Fort Myers is best known for its annual juried fine art festival, which nurtures the artistic and cultural environment of our entire community. ArtFest Fort Myers also supports arts in education through art education and outreach programs.
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Our mailing address is:
Fort Myers Toyota
2555 Colonial Blvd Fort Myers
Fort Myers, Florida 33907