The Walton County Tourism Department announced the winners of the 2024 Perfect Awards during a celebration held at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa. Now in its 10th year, the annual awards are nominated and voted upon by residents and visitors alike who choose their favorites in tourism-related businesses, services and organizations.   “The Perfect Awards are one of my favorite programs since we get to highlight our local businesses and the impact they have on Walton County,” says Matt Algarin, Walton County tourism director.  “To be able to share the accomplishments of these hardworking men and women with our residents and visitors is incredibly rewarding.” More than 5,000 votes were cast across 30 categories to determine the best dining, entertainment, shopping and more in Walton County; the 91 winners, first through third place, are featured in our Perfect in Walton County 2024 guide, and may be viewed, along with listing by category, on our website perfectinwaltoncounty.com. Also during the event, the Walton County Tourism Department honored Stacey Brady, director of marketing and communications with Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, as the winner of its annual Van Ness Butler Jr. Hospitality Award. The post 2024 Perfect in Walton County Award Winners Announced appeared first on South Walton Connections. Read More

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), one of the nation’s premier fundraising organizations, is excited to announce the details of the 19th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction presented by the Jumonville Family scheduled for April 26-28, 2024. All funds raised at the annual auction benefit children in need in Northwest Florida through the Foundation’s 17 partner children’s charities. In 2023, DCWAF donated $3.4 million to charity following one of its most successful auctions to date. A limited number of patron packages are on sale now at dcwaf.org/tickets. Sponsorships for the event are also available by contacting the DCWAF staff at info@dcwaf.org. This year’s auction will feature an impressive line-up of celebrity chefs and vintners from around the world, hosted by philanthropic couples within the local community. This year’s vintner line-up includes owners and winemakers from Alpha Omega Collective, Betz Family Winery, Benom, Cardinale, Clos Solène, Domaine Della, Domaine Serene, Fisher Vineyards, Gamba Vineyards & Winery, Jarvis Estate, L’Aventure, Lando Wines, Lerner Project, Lokoya, Pahlmeyer, Revana Portfolio, Spottswoode Winery, William Cole, and many more. Patrons attending the Destin Charity Wine Auction presented by the Jumonville Family can expect a weekend filled with exclusive wines and excellent food from a variety of celebrity chefs beginning Friday, April 26 with the patron dinner experience. Each year, patron dinners are hosted in the most exquisite homes and restaurants throughout South Walton and the Emerald Coast. Each dinner features a nationally recognized chef paired with world-class vintners. This evening provides a unique opportunity for patrons to... Read More

Crescendo!: A Cultural & Culinary Extravaganza benefits Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives. Taking place March 1 & March 3, 2024, this energy-infused experience will showcase world-class vintners, expert spirit purveyors, amazing auction items, and a special appearance by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi who will perform his entertaining New York-style cabaret show. This year’s theme is Crescendo!: the New Noir. Channel your individual take on black, be it classic, vintage, edgy or embellished with a wisp of white or a pop of color.” Vintner Dinners | Friday, March 1 at 6PM Crescendo! weekend will begin with a series of carefully curated vintner dinners hosted in elegant homes and venues throughout the Emerald Coast. Go to sinfoniagulfcoast.org for a list of the Vintner Dinner venues. CRESCENDO! Main Event | Sunday, March 3rd at 11AM Crescendo!: A Cultural & Culinary Extravaganza benefits Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives. This energy-infused experience will showcase world-class vintners, expert spirit purveyors, amazing auction items, and a special appearance by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi who will perform his entertaining New York-style cabaret show. This year’s theme is Crescendo!: the New Noir. Channel your individual take on black, be it classic, vintage, edgy or embellished with a wisp of white or a pop of color.” Purchase Tickets: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=sgc Tickets to Crescendo! 2024 are $195 per person and include all food, wine, reserved table seating, performance and valet parking. Proceeds from Crescendo! will benefit Sinfonia and its music education programs. Visit SinfoniaGulfCoast.org.... Read More

The St. Joe Community Foundation (“Foundation”) approved grants totaling more than $5.39 million in 2023 to be paid to local non-profit organizations, the highest for a single year since its inception in 1999. Following the Foundation’s stated goal of enriching quality of life for the people who live, work and play in Northwest Florida, the Foundation provides grants to other local 501(C)(3) entities that strive to make a positive difference for the community to strengthen education, improve healthcare, support cultural arts, and protect the environment. By category, in 2023 The St. Joe Community Foundation’s grant awards included a total of more than $2.6 million for Education, $1.1 million for Healthcare, $630k for Community Outreach Programs, $521,000 for Cultural Arts, and $407,000 for Environmental programs. Examples of local non-profits receiving grants from the Foundation in 2023 include Bay Arts Alliance and the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, Education Foundation for Bay District Schools, Walton Education Foundation for the Walton County School District, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, Food for Thought, Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Alaqua Animal Refuge, Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Special Olympics Florida, FSU Foundation, Gulf Coast State College Foundation, Florida State Parks Foundation, Guy Harvey Foundation, Angel House, and many others. (A full list of grant recipients can be found at www.joefoundation.com.) “At the end of each year, it’s exciting to see the continuous growth that The St. Joe Community Foundation has been able to generate in terms of grants awarded to deserving local charities,”... Read More