19th Destin Charity Wine Auction raises $3.3M for charities that serve children in need

Collin Bestor, Northwest Florida Daily News
·2 min read

MIRAMAR BEACH — Confetti flew and champagne bottles were popped as the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation raised $3.3 million for children in need at the 19th annual Destin Charity Wine Auction presented by the Jumonville Family on April 26-27.

“We are really proud of our generous community,” DCWAF President Karah Fridley-Young said in a release. “The $3.3 million we raised together will have lasting impacts on the children in need right here in Northwest Florida.”

The 19th auction began on April 26 with 12 patron dinners hosted in private homes and restaurants from Destin to Alys Beach, raising more than $550,000.

The fun continued the next day as the live auction began. DCWAF presented its Magnum Force lot, which featured over 50 magnums from vintners and raised $55,000. The highest single-selling lot of the afternoon was a five-night trip to Anguilla, which sold for $100,000. This was followed by a Rolling Stones concert experience, which sold for $65,000.

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Other lots included a five-night trip to the Cayman Cookout and a seven-night trip to Virgin Gorda that sold twice for $110,000 each. This year's Paddle Raise garnered more than $210,000.

The $3.3 million will be divided among 17 local nonprofits for specific projects and programs that benefit local children. Charities include:

  • AMIkids Emerald Coast.

  • Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast.

  • Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast.

  • Caring & Sharing of South Walton.

  • Children in Crisis.

  • Children's Volunteer Health Network.

  • Ellison McCraney Ingram Foundation.

  • Emerald Coast Autism Center.

  • Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center.

  • Habitat for Humanity Walton County.

  • Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

  • Opportunity Inc.

  • Point Washington Medical Clinic.

  • Shelter House of Northwest Florida.

  • The Arc of the Emerald Coast.

  • Westonwood Ranch.

  • Youth Village.

This year's auction featured 52 Live Lots, 16 Cellar Lots, 27 Super Silent Lots and 123 Silent Lots featuring rare wines, luxury travel experiences and many other one-of-a-kind items. The funds raised from this year's auction will be presented to DCWAF's charity partners at a private ceremony on Aug. 29 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf and Resort Spa.

For information on the 20th anniversary Destin Charity Wine Auction, which is scheduled for April 25-26, 2025, visit DCWAF.org.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Destin Charity Wine Auction to give $3.3M to local nonprofits