More than $38 million donated to help children in need in Northwest Florida since 2005
The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) has donated of $3 million to 16 local children’s charities following another successful year of fundraising. The funds were awarded at a private check presentation ceremony on Sept. 18 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Since its inception in 2005, the organization has given more than $38 million to help children in need across Northwest Florida.
“As we bring our 20th anniversary to a close, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary vision and dedication of our founders—the foundation upon which our success has been built,” said DCWAF President Karah Fridley-Young. “Their legacy has carried us to this milestone, and it now falls to us to ensure that same spirit carries forward for the next 20 years and beyond. The continued success of DCWAF is not only vital to our mission, but also essential to the well-being of the partner charities we fund. As we look ahead, a steadfast focus on sustainability will be key to securing our future and deepening our impact.”
2025 Beneficiaries
Sixteen charities received funding to support programs that directly impact children and families in need:
- Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast – $210,000 for fetal monitors, Giraffe warmers, and other NICU equipment.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast – $250,000 to provide access to a licensed mental health counselor and subsidize youth development programs benefiting more than 200 children annually.
- Caring & Sharing of South Walton – $200,000 to expand family counseling services and its Kids Specific Pantry with diapers, formula, and other essentials.
- Children in Crisis – $225,000 to provide housing, food, clothing, and care for abused, neglected, and abandoned children.
- Children’s Home Society of Florida (newest beneficiary) – $150,000 to expand school-based services including tutoring, medical, and behavioral health care.
- Children’s Volunteer Health Network – $175,000 to staff and maintain the Mobile Dental Clinic, serving uninsured and underinsured children.
- Ellison McCraney Ingram Foundation – $200,000 for scholarships for teens who have benefited from at least one DCWAF partner charity.
- Emerald Coast Autism Center – $200,000 to support the Phase II Learning Center, expanding programs for teens in the Transition to Work program.
- Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center – $225,000 to fund mental health therapy, case advocacy, and the CARES abuse-prevention program.
- Habitat for Humanity of Walton County – $275,000 to build two new homes for local families.
- Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties – $137,000 to fund the Brain Health Program for uninsured students ages 12–21.
- Opportunity Place, Inc. – $175,000 to provide emergency housing and child-centered support for homeless families.
- Point Washington Medical Clinic – $150,000 for pediatric medications, nutrition programming, and family resources.
- The Arc of the Emerald Coast – $100,000 to renovate its children’s daycare program facility for kids with developmental differences.
- Westonwood Ranch – $175,000 to provide scholarships and transportation support for students with developmental differences.
- Youth Village – $160,000 for program operations, teacher salaries, and scholarships for low-income children in VPK and after-school programs.
Building for the Future
In addition to these grants, DCWAF contributed $93,000 to the Jumonville Family Children’s Fund, a reserve established to strengthen the organization’s long-term sustainability and serve as a safety net for its partner charities during emergencies.
Looking ahead, DCWAF’s signature fundraising event, Destin Charity Wine Auction Weekend, is scheduled for April 24–25, 2026. Tickets and event details will be released in January.
For more information, visit www.DCWAF.org.
