Annual Report 2021

Thoughts

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Friends,

We have much to be grateful for as we close out the most unusual year in our history.

This is the last paragraph from my letter for the 2020 annual report:

We all joke about the year 2020 and how we look forward to returning to normal in 2021. The reality is that January 1, 2021 is going to look a lot like December 1, 2020. The challenges of the pandemic will not disappear so easily. We will need your help, and especially our supported charities will need your help, in 2021. Collectively, we are capable of doing an enormous amount of good for the children of our community. Thank you for all you have done in this challenging period. We have made a very positive difference because of your support.

At the time I wrote that paragraph I had no idea how accurate my prediction would be. We are all a year older and much wiser about how to work and live through a pandemic; a skill set we hopefully will never need again.

This letter is not about the pandemic. We have all read more than enough on that subject. Rather, this letter is about the second half of that paragraph. Despite the obstacles, DCWAF and our charity partners accomplished an enormous amount of good for the children of our community. Here some great example of the difference you have helped us make in the past year:

From Children in Crisis: One of the many areas that DCWAF supports Children in Crisis is the continued support of Opportunity Home. These studio apartments are for children who have aged out of foster care.

Mikhail came to Children in Crisis as a struggling high school student with nowhere to go. CIC was able to provide him a home and support, and he will be a 2021 graduate from Choctawhatchee High School and in October will begin his enlistment in the Army. DCWAF has been supporting CIC since 2006, and we have donated $2,691,783 to this organization.

From Food for Thought: Despite all of the supply challenges we have all experienced, Food for Thought increased the amount of fresh produce and dairy they provided their recipients by 50%. In addition, their curbside service significantly increased the amount of food each family received; a vital life line for those who lost their jobs during the pandemic. DCWAF has been supporting Food for Thought since 2014, and we have donated $1,277,400 to this organization.

From Youth Village: November of 2020 saw the opening of our new 5,000+ square foot Child Care Center. This new location allows us to add a preschool academy for children three to five years old. DCWAF has been supporting Youth Village since 2009, and we have donated $1,185,950 to this organization.

From Opportunity Place: A young woman and her three year old daughter were homeless after hastily fleeing domestic violence. This was a lot of change to process for a little three year old girl. Carly told her mother that she hoped there would be unicorns in their new home. The thoughtful staff at Opportunity Place made sure there was a unicorn in little Carly’s welcome bag. Today, both mother and daughter are safe in their new home, and the unicorn is there too! DCWAF has been supporting Opportunity Place since 2016, and we have donated $581,800 to this organization.

From AMIkids: Brandon was a 19 year old who was out of high school without graduating, and after three years of vocational rehab, had made no progress. Diagnosed with autism, there seemed little hope for his future. Due to the hard work and skills of the AMIkids staff, and a big commitment from Brandon and his family, he has earned his GED and is currently enrolled in the IT program at Okaloosa Technical College and works part-time at the local Publix. DCWAF has been supporting AMIkids since 2015, and we have donated $845,000 to this organization.

From Emerald Coast Autism Center: ECAC celebrated the successes of 11 students in 2021. Two students graduated away from ECAC to classrooms in the Okaloosa County School system. Two students transitioned into a full academic program. Finally, ECAC had their very first graduation into the Transition To Work (TTW) Program! DCWAF has been supporting ECAC since 2011, and we have donated $1,830,000 to this organization.

There are many more stories like these, but they are a good representation of the impact our charity partners are having on the lives of people in our community. While many organizations had to pause or dramatically reduce their work during the pandemic, because of your generous giving, our charity partners continued their amazing work to help the children of our community.

It was with an enormous sense of gratitude that we announced distribution of $2 million to our charity partners at our most recent check presentation. We are truly grateful to all who helped us in our mission in the past year.

Our plans for 2022 are to return to a more traditional model for fund raising. Join us the weekend of April 22-24 for Patron Dinners and our 17th Annual Auction as we come together once again, in person, to set a new bar for generous giving so that we can continue to support the front line organizations that are changing lives in our community. While the challenges remain, we are resolute in our effort to provide much needed support for our charity partners.

Sincerely,

John Russell
President
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

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FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Dear Friends,

This time in our lives will be remembered as the most difficult and character-building ever experienced. We had all hoped to be back to normal in 2021, but unfortunately, the pandemic endured. Despite the year’s challenges, our staff, patrons, vintners, charities, distributors, Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and other supporters have demonstrated that even in unusual times, character, commitment, and persistence will always prevail. Our amazing charities found creative solutions to continue the important work of helping children in need. Our staff demonstrated the ability to pivot and find solutions to produce safe and successful events. Our patrons demonstrated they would support our mission even in the most challenging times. Character and generosity truly describe all facets of the 2021 Destin Charity Wine Auction!

When I think of the small community that represents the Destin Charity Wine Auction, I am amazed at the sense of philanthropy that our supporters demonstrate. Helping children in need is the collective passion that drives us to make a difference in the world we live. When DCWAF originated, no one was able to foresee helping more than 100,000 children with donations of more than $25 million to our charities.

As we look to 2022, we are hoping and praying that we can put the pandemic in our rear-view mirror. We have all been touched in some way by the circumstances of the past two years, but now it’s time to focus on the good work we can collectively accomplish for children in Northwest Florida. The spirit and values of all associated with the Destin Charity Wine Auction are a true demonstration of caring for our next generation. As we often say, let us send the elevator back down to help those in need. Let us take this time to focus on the future good work of the 15 charities that DCWAF supports.

Thank you for your support and generosity in helping children in need!

Cheers,

Stephen Carter
Chairman of the Board
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation

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BENEFICIARY Charities Of 2021

changing the lives of children

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation donated $2 million to 16 Northwest Florida children’s charities on September 8 at the Henderson Beach Resort, marking a $691,000 increase in funds donated over the previous year. Celebrating its 16 year anniversary, DCWAF has now donated more than $25 million to non-profit organizations serving children in need in Northwest Florida.

“The fact that DCWAF has just celebrated 16 years of philanthropy is a testament to the values of so many people in our community. Our supporters and donors have shown their commitment to our mission from our very first auction in 2006. Because of their generosity, DCWAF has weathered the great recession, the Deep Water Horizon oil spill, and now the Covid pandemic. The $25 million raised and donated to our charity partners has had a profound impact on the lives of tens of thousands of children and their families. Our charity partners supply all the inspiration we need to continue our mission for years to come.” – John Russell, DCWAF President

AMIKids Emerald Coast

AMIkids Emerald Coast received $105,000 to fund a GED program for at-risk students between the ages of 16-24.

$105,000