GUITAR FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Autographed instrument being auctioned off for wildlife refuge

For one lucky buyer and hundreds of animals, the eBay charity auction of a unique guitar benefiting the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge could make for a very merry Christmas indeed.

The Ibanez AW400 guitar displays the signature of 16 musical greats including Kenny Loggins, the Doobie Brothers and the Coral Reefer Band. The guitar, along with a pick guard signed by Jimmy Buffet, were both donated by James “Roger” Knight and autographed specifically to benefit the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge.

To bid on the autographed guitar, click here.

“The money from the auction will go entirely to the refuge for things like food, equipment and animal housing,” said Knight. “Their goal is to rescue injured wildlife and nurse them back to health so they can be released back into the wild.”

Knight has been a board member of the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge since July 2010 and is also the owner of the Fort Walton Beach Flea Market. Since becoming owner three years ago, he has worked to raise and donate roughly $35,000 for charities.

“With the oil spill in April, we were expecting sheets of oil. Wildlife in Louisiana were already suffering,” said Knight. “Then we heard about the concerts coming to the area, and thought it would be cool to get them to sign a guitar and auction it off for charity.”

Knight came to own the guitar from an estate sale. “We didn't want to use just any cheap guitar,” said Knight. “The Ibanez AW400 is worth around $600.” To get the guitar signed, Knight used connections developed through his business.

Melissa Addison, manager of the Fort Walton Beach Flea Market, travels to Key West every year for the Annual Parrothead Convention. “This is where I got the signatures of the Coral Reefer Band, Sunshine Smith, Tom Corcoran and Lulu Buffett,” sad Addison. “We couldn't get Jimmy Buffett in the same place as the guitar, but we did get an autographed pick guard.”