Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s (DCWAF) 2nd Annual Galentine’s Day Fundraiser raised a record-breaking $92,500 for young women in need in Northwest Florida, $30,000 more than last year’s inaugural event. 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 16 partner children’s charities. All individuals and businesses affiliated with the production of the event are female owned and operated. The funds raised at this year’s fundraiser will benefit the following charity’s initiatives: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Children in Crisis, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, Point Washington Medical Clinic, Shelter House of Northwest Florida and Youth Village.
Join Military Family Appreciation Day to Honor Local Service Members and Their Families
The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce that Military Family Appreciation Day is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 15th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Landing in downtown Fort Walton Beach – 139 SE Brooks Street.
Military Family Appreciation Day is a community event that aims to honor the brave service and sacrifices made by military families and veterans in our area. The event will feature live entertainment on the Eglin Federal Credit Union Stage, a free children’s play area and veteran service organizations, including the USO, Healing Paws for Warriors, Food For Vets, and Homes for Heroes. In addition, attendees will enjoy complimentary on-site lunch from Sonny’s BBQ sponsored by Step One Automotive Group and Forever Warriors.
There is still time for businesses in the community to become involved in this event. Opportunities include Presenting Sponsor, Kids Play Zone Sponsor, Participating Vendor Spots, premier giveaway sponsors, and volunteers to serve lunch.
“We are thrilled to host Military Family Appreciation Day and honor our local military families and veterans,” said Ted Corcoran, President/CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. “This event is a great way for the community to show its support and appreciation for the sacrifices made by our service members and their families.”
For more information about Military Family Appreciation Day or to become a sponsor or volunteer, please contact the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce at (850) 244-8191 or www.fwbchamber.org.
Air Force Armament Museum 50th Anniversary Homecoming!
The Air Force Armament Museum invites you to the 50th Anniversary Homecoming of our Okaloosa Vietnam POWs, Thursday, March 9, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Air Force Armament Museum, 100 Museum Drive, outside the West Gate of Eglin Air Force Base. Eglin Federal Credit Union and Forever Warriors presents this complimentary reception to honor Brig. Gen. George “Bud” Day, USAF, Ret, Col. Keith Hall, USAF, Ret., Col. Howard Hill, USAF, Ret., Col. Ed Hubbard, USAF, Ret., Col. Rob Webb, USAF, Ret., Lt. Col. Dave Gray, USAF, Ret. All are welcome. The program starts at 6:15 p.m. with Hors d’oeuvres sponsored by Magnolia Grill. Beer and Wine will be available as well as the opportunity to bid in the silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Air Force Armament Museum Foundation.
Emerald Coast Autism Center (ECAC) is launching the 11th Annual ONE Campaign to provide scholarships to students with autism. ECAC’s ONE Campaign is an annual effort to raise funds and awareness of autism within Okaloosa and surrounding counties. ECAC is kicking off the campaign with the 11th annual ONE Run 5K Saturday, April 1, 8 a.m., at Emerald Coast Autism Center on the campus of Northwest Florida State College, 80 College Blvd. East, Niceville. An after party with food, music and raffle drawings will follow. The ONE Campaign will continue with a golf tournament at Blackstone Golf Course in Mossy Head Friday, Sept. 29, with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Vertex Solutions and Republic Airways’ LIFT Academy Announce Partnership
Vertex Solutions, a leading developer of high-fidelity learning technology, including extended reality (XR) pilot training and Republic Airways’ LIFT Academy, will integrate Vertex Immersive Training Devices (ITDs) into LIFT Academy’s cutting-edge training curriculum to increase the throughput, rigor and efficiency of LIFT’s already industry-leading pilot training program.
Proven by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Vertex ITDs have shown a 40% decrease in training time, a 70% decrease in time to solo and a 15% increase in performance—results that directly align with LIFT’s vision for increasing the efficiency of their flight training program to meet industry demands. LIFT Academy recognizes that this partnership—a first for pilot schools—will sustain them as a leader in flight training. For Vertex, this partnership opens a new pathway into commercial aviation, proving the dual-use versatility of their military offerings in the commercial sector.
For both DoD and commercial aviation, the high cost and limited availability of current Flight Training Devices (FTDs) and Full Flight Simulators (FFSs) have created barriers to achieving the number of pilots’ industry demands. The lightweight, small-footprint Vertex ITD improves student access by allowing a more widely spread distribution of devices, and its truly immersive learning environment prepares pilots for safer, more efficient aircraft evaluations. The use of Vertex ITDs in USAF undergraduate pilot training has shown up to a 70% decrease in the time it takes students to get to their first solo flight. Not only that, students retain information at a much higher rate, decreasing error rates during initial check rides, significantly increasing the training value of those flights. The XR ITD developed by Vertex Solutions, combined with LIFT Academy’s innovative, cutting- edge flight training program, will become the standard in commercial aviation training.
If you are an aspiring pilot, contact LIFT Academy at www.flywithlift.com. If you are an aviation training academy, contact Vertex Solutions at www.vertexsolutions.com.
Step One Automotive Group dealerships earn 2022 CARFAX Top-Rated LIFETIME Dealer Titles. CARFAX, the leading provider of vehicle history information, recently announced that Buick GMC Cadillac Fort Walton Beach, Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram South Savannah, and Volkswagen Fort Walton Beach have earned the title of 2022 CARFAX Top-Rated LIFETIME Dealer. This achievement is based on verified ratings and reviews from customers on CARFAX.com, demonstrating their commitment to providing exceptional customer service and high-quality vehicles. https://www.steponeautomotive.com/.
LiveOak Fiber is bringing fast internet and world-class service to Northwest Florida. In February, LiveOak Fiber held a ribbon cutting with the Destin, Greater Fort Walton Beach and Niceville Valparaiso chambers of commerce. It also included a groundbreaking ceremony for internet service for Shalimar. LiveOak Fiber is a new Internet Service Provider headquartered in Brunswick, Ga., with offices extending west to Niceville. It offers fast internet speeds, world-class customer service, accessibility and localization. Its application allows you to control all your devices. No contracts are required, and there is no data cap. Find out more at liveoakfiber.com or call (850) 635-6755.
Debra “Debi” Riley-Broadnax has joined the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) as the non-profit’s new CARES Program Manager. Debi will be responsible for creating, managing and sustaining the CARES (Community, Awareness, Resources, and Support) Program. She will also oversee the non-profit’s successful Prevention and Safety Matters programs, already in the schools. Debi is a native of Fort Walton Beach and a product of the local public school system. She received her bachelor’s degree from Troy University, and her master’s degree in social work from the University of West Florida. Visit www.eccac.org or call (850) 892-0280 for more information. If abuse is suspected, call the anonymous Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE.
Florida Power & Light Company has donated $5,000 to OCSD Summer Camp Programs which will enhance the summer camp experience for rising fifth graders to help spark interest in coding, construction, biomedical, automotive, welding, culinary, entrepreneurship, digital design and cosmetology. Visit www.okaloosaschools.com.
Okaloosa County native Jennifer (Cannon) Kunz has shattered glass ceilings her entire life – first, as one of only a very few females enrolled in Auburn University’s Aerospace Engineering program, and now as the Associate Director, Technical at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Please join One Okaloosa EDC for an enlightening Roundtable Breakfast on March 15 (7:30-9 a.m.) at the Island Beachside Resort to hear more about Jennifer’s journey. She will also discuss recent NASA successes – including the first launch of the much-heralded Artemis program, which will see mankind return to the moon. Tickets are $20 for One Okaloosa EDC members and $30 for non-members. Advance registration is required by March 2. Visit https://florida-edc.org/our-organization/one-okaloosa-events.
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