Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, northwest Florida’s premier fundraising organization, is celebrating another extraordinary year of generosity and impact with the distribution of more than $3 million to 15 children’s charities serving the region. The transformational grants were awarded during a private check presentation ceremony held August 27 at Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, bringing together community leaders and nonprofit partners to celebrate the life-changing work made possible through DCWAF’s supporters. Since its founding in 2005, DCWAF has donated more than $42 million to help children in need throughout northwest Florida.

The evening also marked an exciting new chapter for the organization as DCWAF publicly announced the establishment of its permanent endowment and a landmark $5 million gift from the Ocoee Foundation, the largest single donation in DCWAF history. Combined with additional gifts secured over the past 12 months, this extraordinary contribution will help safeguard the foundation’s mission, strengthen its long-term sustainability, and ensure its impact continues for generations.

“For the past 15 years, we have witnessed the compassion and effort by the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s staff to touch so many children and youth charities in Northwest Florida,” said Ocoee Foundation founders John and Margaret Sheehan. “We believe in this charity and hope our gift can inspire others to donate and ensure its success going forward.”

To commemorate this pivotal moment, donors who contribute $25,000 or more to the endowment before the end of the year will be recognized as founders. This special distinction, available only during the endowment’s inaugural period, offers supporters a meaningful opportunity to help shape the future of DCWAF and create a lasting legacy for northwest Florida’s children. DCWAF celebrated all those who have already contributed as founders with a special champagne toast at the event. You can find a full list of Endowment Founders here.  

 “This is a defining moment for DCWAF; one that celebrates the extraordinary impact we are making for children today while securing our ability to serve them for generations to come,” said Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation president Karah Fridley-Young. “Distributing millions to our charity partners is a powerful reflection of what our community makes possible each year, and the Ocoee Foundation’s transformational gift ensures that this work will continue well into the future.”

The following charities are being funded by Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation in 2026:

• Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
• Caring & Sharing of South Walton
• Children’s Home Society of Florida
• 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 of Walton County
• Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties
• Opportunity Place, Inc.
• Point Washington Medical Clinic
• Westonwood Ranch

More information on the specific programs DCWAF is funding through each beneficiary is available here.

DCWAF also awarded Northwest Florida Guardian ad Litem $25,000 to support its Children in Need Fund, which provides shoes, clothing and specialized services to children navigating the foster care system. This marks the first award through DCWAF’s newly launched Emerging Impact Grant program, which expands the foundation’s regional reach through smaller, program-specific grants. Emerging impact grants are designed to introduce promising new nonprofit partners to DCWAF or support organizations whose needs or resources may not require a full-scale partnership.

The dates for next year’s Destin Charity Wine Auction Weekend, the foundation’s signature fundraising event, are set for April 23-24, 2027. The foundation will release tickets and details in January.