3rd Annual Galentine’S Day Fundraiser Raises More Than $113,000 For Young Women In Need
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), one of the nation’s leading fundraising organizations, is pleased to announce that the 3rd Annual Galentine’s Day Fundraiser raised a record-breaking $113,000 for young women in need in Northwest Florida. The amount raised is a $20,500 increase over the previous year’s event.
Hosted on Saturday, February 3 by DCWAF trustee Candis Wilson and DCWAF board members Tiffany Edwards, Jeanne Dailey, and Lane Redding, the event brought influential women in the community together to support one another while raising money for programs designed to empower young girls through the Foundation’s 17 partner children's charities. Led by dynamic keynote speaker and founder of Good Grit, Laura Quick, all individuals and businesses affiliated with the production of the event are female owned and operated.
DCWAF would like to thank the following sponsors for generously supporting the event:
Presenting: Joan Carter, Jeanne Dailey, and Lane Redding
Ruby: Francis Roy Agency, Grand Boulevard, and MCB Foundation
Sweetheart: Carolyn Dietzen, Tiffany Edwards, and Crystal Spencer
The funds raised at this year’s Galentine’s Day Fundraiser will benefit the following charity initiatives:
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast:
A 10-week, small group program focused on health, fitness, prevention, education, and self-esteem enhancement through dynamic sessions, activities, field trips, and mentoring opportunities with adult women projected to serve 200 girls across nine Club sites.
Caring & Sharing of South Walton:
Funds to provide full hygiene kits including toothbrushes, deodorant, tampons, cleaning wipes, and more for approximately 300 girls ages 10-18 that are experiencing several new body changes without the resources to help navigate them.
Children in Crisis:
A Once in a Blue Moon Gala for the girls at the Children’s Neighborhood to give them the opportunity to dress up and experience an evening of fun while focusing on self-worth and affirmation.
Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center:
Providing clothing and gift cards for young girls following the trauma of a sexual assault exam. Many do not know that the clothes worn during an assault are collected as evidence during the exam. Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center provides victims with not only clothes to wear home, but a gift card to purchase new items that are not associated with assault in the hopes that the victim may create a new memory and regain a sense of control over his or her life.
Habitat for Humanity of Walton County:
The Women Build Initiatives in Okaloosa and Walton counties will educate, advocate, and promote awareness to over 250 women and girls in our community. They will reach these women and girls through their Hard Hats and High Heels Luncheon, power tool training, construction educational classes, and onsite construction skill training throughout the year.
Point Washington Medical Clinic:
The Young Women’s Health and Hygiene Initiative will provide pathology for PAP smears, additional testing needed for positive results, HPV vaccinations, and feminine hygiene products for girls under the age of 18.
The Arc of the Emerald Coast:
An expansion of the Adult Day Training Center to provide more comprehensive training and specified education to enrich each of the ladies’ experiences on their path from disability to capability.
Westonwood Ranch:
An unforgettable prom night for young women within their program to include scholarships for dresses, hair, and makeup as needed to enhance self-confidence and self-esteem while providing an experience otherwise unavailable to many developmentally different teens.
Youth Village:
Eight-week performing arts theater workshops during the summer, a Sprint Theatre performance, and eight-week tennis lesson workshops for elementary and middle school-aged girls.