November 2015 Business Briefs / Member News Part 3

Walk 4 Respect Attendees Pledge to End Violence
More than 100 people turned out for the 2nd Annual Walk 4 Respect at Morgan Sports Center in Destin on Halloween morning. The walk brought together youth from Okaloosa and Walton counties, during National Bullying Prevention Month, to talk and learn about healthy, non-violent relationships and treating everyone with kindness and respect. The event kicked off with a proclamation by Destin Mayor Mel Ponder. Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley challenged the crowd by asking, “If kindness was a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” He then presented a check for $1,500 from the Sheriff Star Charity to Shelter House. Shelter House, along with Project Respect, produced Walk 4 Respect with additional support from Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation. At the conclusion of the one-mile walk, everyone stopped to sign an anti-violence pledge wall and then enjoyed a free fall festival. Adults and youth alike enjoyed music from Horizon Entertainment and sampled tasty food from three food trucks. 

Order Your Tickets for Horizon Stars Fashion Show Today!
It is time to get your tickets to the Nov. 20 Fashion with a Cause. Join the Arc of the Emerald Coast as New York comes to the Emerald Coast, at the beautiful Linkside Conference Center at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Fabulous fashions for men, women and children, International Model Madeline Stuart, music provided by Singer/Songwriter Bridgette Lee and TV Star/Pop Singer Jason Dottley, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and more. For tickets, visit www.ArcEmeraldCoast.org or call (850) 376-1037.

Local Realtors Abner & Lena Williams Find a “Perfect Fit” with World Impact Real Estate
Abner and Lena Williams are the newest World Impact Real Estate agents. Both grew up here on the Emerald Coast, qualifying them as Florida Natives.  They married shortly after graduating from Niceville High School 24 years ago and now have two sons.

Abner entered into real estate after the closing of Edwin Watts Golf’s corporate office, where he worked for 15 years.  He is a 2013 graduate of the BOLD leadership program and a 2015 graduate of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors Leadership program. Abner has been nominated for "Realtor of the Year" by the Emerald Coast Association of Realors.  Abner and Lena are both active members of ECAR’s Toys for Tots task force. Lena recently retired from her 14 year teaching career with Okaloosa County Schools and attained her Real Estate license.   

You may reach the Williams at (850) 240-8099 or (850) 217-4497.

TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort Hosts Fun Run Benefitting Charity
TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort, managed by ResortQuest, raised $1,500 for the Matrix Community Outreach Center (MCOC) through its first Monster Dash Costume Fun Run on Oct. 31, 2015. The MCOC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to serving individuals and families in need in Walton and Okaloosa counties. The event garnered 45 runners, consisting of guests and TOPS’L Club members, and included a silent auction, post-run celebration at Club Tiki, and complimentary food and beverages for all registered runners.

Festival of Trees Celebrates Sixth Year of Charity Tree Decorating Competition in Grand Boulevard
Grand Boulevard’s sixth annual “Festival of Trees” will showcase 12 uniquely decorated Christmas trees from area non-profit organizations, Nov. 24 – Dec. 25, in Grand Park. The public is invited to attend the kick-off on Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., as the trees are lighted, judged on their decorations, and winners are announced at 6 p.m.  A People’s Choice winner will be selected by the voting public that night as well. Refreshments will be served, making this a fun kickoff to the holidays for the entire family. This year’s participating organizations are Building Homes for Heroes, Emerald Coast Relay for Life, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Children in Crisis, Junior League of the Emerald Coast, Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Alaqua Animal Refuge, The ARC of Walton County, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Heart Animal Rescue, andHorizons. The non-profit organizations are competing to win cash prizes totaling $7,000, including Best of Show and People’s Choice. 

The trees will be on display through Christmas and open to the public to enjoy at no cost. This free event is presented as part of the Coastal Culture calendar of events, made possible by Grand Boulevard Arts & Entertainment Program.

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa Awarded ConventionSouth's 'Top New & Renovated' Award
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa was awarded ConventionSouth’s ‘Top New & Renovated’ Award after the completion of a multi-year, $30 million transformation that touched every aspect of the property from the lobby to guest rooms, and meeting space to the award-winning Serenity by the sea Spa and AAA Four-Diamond Steakhouse, Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood. Hilton Sandestin Beach was nominated out of several thousand meeting destinations in the South, and with more than 5,000 readers voting, was chosen as one of 50 ‘Top New & Renovated’ winners – one of only seven in Florida. This month, Hilton Sandestin Beach was also awarded a 2015 Orbitz Worldwide ‘Best in Stay Elite’ Award for being the highest-rated hotel on the Emerald Coast, which was selected based on the overall numeric score of hotel reviews submitted by Orbitz Worldwide customers that have booked and stayed at hotels over the past year.

Trees Destin to Plant Tree at Destin Middle School
On Thursday, Nov. 19, at 9:30 a.m., Trees Destin, a local non-profit that works to enhance the beauty of Destin and the Emerald Coast, will visit Destin Middle School. An educational program will be provided for the 7th grade class. In addition, a tree will be planted on school grounds. Students will also be taught the proper way to plant a tree. The importance of trees will be discussed including providing oxygen, shade, beauty, food, wildlife habitat, preventing storm water runoff, and other environmental positives. Media RSVP to Lauren Gall at lauren@barbergall.com no later than 4 p.m. on Nov. 18.

United Way Needs coats for the 2015 COATS FOR KIDS Coat Drive 
Share the warmth and help the United Way of Okaloosa and Walton Counties provide a warmer 2015 holiday season for the many children within the community. If you would like to participate, please drop-off new coats or gently used clean coats at one of many local locations until Dec. 1. For a complete list of drop-off locations and other details, visit http://www.united-way.org/coats.htm.

Holiday Season Family Sponsor
Food For Thought Outreach is providing meals for more than 300 families this holiday season. Families will receive the food needed to support their children during Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. along with a traditional holiday meal. 
Cost is $30. Click here to donate.

The 30A Company, YOLO Board, and 360 Blue Join Forces Behind The Sonder Project
The 30A Company and YOLO Board announced today that they were joining with 360 Blue as the three Founding Partners of The Sonder Project, a new global nonprofit focused on high-impact, sustainable projects aimed at ending extreme poverty and fighting hunger around the world. The organization’s global projects, focused on some of the poorest areas in the world, include building schools (with an emphasis on equal opportunities for girls), drilling wells to provide safe drinking water, and coordinating deworming campaigns to help children stay healthy enough to thrive and learn. Most recently, The Sonder Project gained early national exposure for its “Project: feed,” a new program aimed at fighting hunger domestically. Project: feed helps vacation rental companies across the US collect all the nonperishable food items left behind by departing guests and then works with a network of nationwide volunteers to get the food redistributed to local food charities in each city. 

InDyne Employees Donates to CIC Children
Seen here, Ken Hair, Children In Crisis (CIC) president and CEO, receives a donation of food and toys for the children living at the CIC Neighborhood from employees of the InDyne Corporation, including Vernon Langford, Lacy Marlena, and Meghan Arnett.