St. Augustine, Fla. (January 11, 2013) -- The eighth annual St. Johns County Festival of Trees at World Golf Village continues to be a boon to local charities, with the 2012 event raising $8,000. The money is divided between the United Way of St. Johns County and The St. Augustine Record's Empty Stocking Fund. Both organizations have been involved with the Festival since its inception in 2005, and each received a check for $4,000 to distribute to the neediest families in St. Johns County on Thursday night.

The 2012 Festival was held in the St. Johns County Convention Center at the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort, and featured more than 50 trees and wreaths. Entries in the Festival are decorated and donated by organizations and businesses throughout the local community, and visitors vote on the entries and buy them through silent auction. The Festival ran from Nov. 30 - Dec. 9, and was free and open to the public.

The annual participant reception was held on Thursday, Jan. 10 at the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum. Attendees enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and refreshments catered by the Renaissance Resort prior to the awards ceremony and remarks from World Golf Hall of Fame Chief Operating Officer Jack Peter and the United Way's Ann Breidenstein.

Awards were also given at the reception, with the winners including:

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About World Golf Village
World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla. is home to the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and encompasses the flagship Renaissance World Golf Village Resort and adjoining St. Johns County Convention Center; two championship golf courses, Slammer & Squire and King & Bear; Grande Villas at World Golf Village, a Bluegreen Vacation Club resort; Laterra Resort;  and the PGA TOUR Golf Academy. Complementing these attractions is the PGA TOUR STOP retail center, Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant, the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX® Theater offering 2D and 3D movies and a variety of residential neighborhoods. For more information about World Golf Village or to book a package, visit www.WorldGolfVillage.com.

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As the Founding Partner of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and World Golf Village, Shell Oil Company played a lead role in supporting the development and growth of the institution, which opened in 1998. Since then, their continued involvement has led the way for others to join in support of the Hall of Fame & Museum's mission.