Humanity ·

Good Wine, Good Deeds

Good Wine, Good Deeds

What if you could drink wine for a good cause? We’d cheers to that! The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation has been connecting wine lovers to raise money for children in need since its founding in 2005. Their work has impacted over 100,000 children in Northwest Florida, and their impact continues to grow each year. Last year alone, the DCWAF raised $3,000,000 to donate across 16 children’s charities—their largest charitable contribution to date. 

The foundation’s contributions touch almost every aspect of a child’s life, from housing to dental care. Because of their efforts, children in need are housed, fed, clothed, and counseled. These supports can change the trajectory of a child’s life, creating positive change not only in this generation, but the next as well.

Benefiting charities touch lives in so many ways. The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast used their 2019 donation to provide a year of free programming to children in low-income families. Food For Thought Outreach used their 2019 donation to fund the Backpack Program, providing nutritious meals to students on weekends and during holiday breaks. Every dollar goes towards an incredible cause. 

Most of the fundraising is done through three exciting events. The Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction, The Harvest Food and Wine Festival, and the Paddle Raise. There’s a lot of hard work behind each event, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. DCWAF has been recognized as one of the Nation’s ‘Top 10 Charity Wine Auction in the U.S.’ by Wine Spectator Magazine for the last seven years, and they hope to continue serving Northwest Florida’s children for the next seven. 

Charities DCWAF Supports

  • AMIkids Emerald Coast
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
  • Children in Crisis
  • Children’s Volunteer Health Network
  • Emerald Coast Autism Center
  • Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center
  • Food for Thought Outreach
  • Habitat for Humanity of Walton County
  • Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties
  • Opportunity Place, Inc.
  • Pathways for Change
  • Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast
  • Shelter House of Northwest Florida
  • The Arc of the Emerald Coast
  • Westonwood Ranch
  • Youth Village

This October, DCWAF is celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the Harvest Food and Wine Festival. The events will look a little different this year—small groups, social distancing, and live streaming will be involved—but the delicious chef’s dinners, unforgettable wines, and positive impact won’t change. Tickets go on sale September 1 at dcwaf.org/tickets.

DCWAF Travel Checklist

  • Wine drinking team
  • Sun hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Beach tote
  • Wine Away
  • Festival-chic apparel
  • Sommelier skills
  • An appetite
  • Festival playlist
  • Virtual paddle
  • Giving spirit
Damn Good Stories.