FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Friends,

It is a pleasure to present to you our annual report for 2019. This past year will be remembered by many for the tragedy of Hurricane Michael. However, for the DCWAF family, what stands out is the strength of our region and the generosity of so many of our citizens.

We produced our second Harvest Wine & Food Festival just 17 days after one of the strongest storms ever to make landfall in the U.S. By all metrics, the festival weekend was a major success and sets the tone for greater success in the years to come. To assist those so severely impacted by the hurricane, we added a fund-a-need to the silent auction at Harvest and a wine dinner later in the year. As a result, we raised and donated $25,000 for hurricane relief.

2019 marked our 14th year of successfully producing one of the nation’s top charity wine auctions, and we were honored to receive notification from Wine Spectator Magazine that we were the fourth most successful charity wine auction in the country in 2018. DCWAF has now made this prestigious list for seven consecutive years.

The final success story of the past year was securing a one million dollar donation from Ryan Jumonville. This extraordinary gift ensured we could donate $3,000,000 to our charity partners while providing significant funding to our children’s fund. To recognize this most generous gift, we have renamed this important reserve as the Jumonville Family Children’s Fund.

DCWAF and our supporters continue to show their commitment to our mission of connecting wine enthusiasts to raise money benefiting children in need in Northwest Florida. We are a force for good, and we make a positive difference in the lives of the children of our community. We help find homes for the homeless, shelter for the abused, and food for the hungry. Thanks to your support, we are able to invest in our most precious asset, the children who call the Emerald Coast home.

From the board, trustees, and staff of DCWAF, we sincerely offer our thanks and gratitude. There is much more to do and, with your support, DCWAF will continue to lead the way to better the lives of children in need.

Sincerely,

John Russell
President
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Dear Friends,

It was an honor to serve a second term as Chairman of this wonderful organization. The Foundation has made tremendous strides over the past 10 years that I have been involved, and it was exciting to set a new record and finally eclipse that elusive $3 million mark.

There are several accomplishments that I am proud of this year, but no triumph is complete without experiencing a few setbacks along the way. Hurricane Michael hit just a few days before Harvest Wine & Food Festival, but the staff worked tirelessly to pull off a world-class event that not only represented the brand well, but enhanced the level of expectations for years to come. Two other tremendous non-profits host an auction in the weeks leading up to our event, and they both set records for the amount of funds raised. However, this community never ceases to amaze me in terms of its generosity and commitment to those in need. In the days following the 14th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction, local philanthropist Ryan Jumonville stepped up to surpass our target by making the single largest contribution in the organization’s history! Not only were we able to distribute a record-breaking $3 million to our local charities, but we will provide long-term stability for the organization to withstand a business interruption by enhancing the newly renamed Jumonville Family Children’s Fund. While we have been able to contribute in a small capacity over the years to this fund designed to protect the charities and children that depend on our annual fundraising effort, Mr. Jumonville’s contribution will ensure funds are available down the road if we face an issue that impacts auction day.

Perhaps the effort that gives me the most satisfaction is the continued work by Bob Gelardi and DCWAF’s Charity Relations Committee. Over the years, they have developed a framework to help our 16 local charities collaborate with one another rather than compete for donor dollars. DCWAF should be the focus of a Harvard Business Study and the effect of Game Theory on community non-profits. Bob and his committee have all but eliminated the human tendency to try for a larger slice of the proverbial pie and focus instead on increasing its overall size thereby ensuring that everyone wins. This, to me, is the essence of Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation and the collective efforts of its board members, trustees, staff, and stakeholders. This committed collaboration equates to a community with fewer children in need.

Cheers,

Cory Fosdyck
Chairman of the Board
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

Memorable Moments

DCWAF hosted the 14th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction on April 27 and celebrated a few major milestones along the way. For the first time in Foundation history, the auction secured a presenting sponsor. The 14th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction presented by Chuck Hutton Toyota raised $2.6 million over the course of the auction weekend, and days later in an unprecedented act of generosity, received a million dollar donation from local philanthropist Ryan D. Jumonville.

The funds raised are a $900,000 increase over the amount donated in 2018. In addition to allowing the Foundation to give $3 million to its 16 benefiting charities, it also allows for a significant contribution to the newly renamed Jumonville Family Children’s Fund to solidify the sustainability of the organization into the future.

The 2019 Auction was comprised of 54 unique Live Lots, 33 Super Silent offerings, and 139 Silent Lots. The sold-out event was attended by approximately 600 wine enthusiasts.