Wine Auction Raises Record $2.7 Million

By Special to the Daily News, May 12, 2017

MIRAMAR BEACH — Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation celebrated the 12th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction on April 29 and raised more than $2.7 million for children in need in Northwest Florida.

The record-breaking results are a $34,000 increase over the $2.66 million raised last year, according to a press release from the foundation.

“Our ability to continually increase the funds raised year over year is a testament to both the strength of our organization and the power of our mission of the charities we support,” foundation President John Russell said. “We are so thankful for the generosity of our board, trustees, sponsors, patron hosts, attendees and friends in the wine and culinary industry without which our auction would not be possible.”

The auction kicked off with the Magnum Force lot (50 autographed magnums from foundation vintners past and present), which raised a record winning bid of $55,000.

The highest grossing lot was the highly anticipated 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport, earning $85,000. Donated by St. Joe Community Foundation, the lot included a white, 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport with less than 2,300 miles on it and a stay at Watersound Origins, complete with a variety of activities. Currently, there is only one other Tesla Roadster Sport available for sale in the United States.

The funds raised are distributed to 15 local nonprofit organizations for specific projects and programs that benefit children.

Charity partners for 2017 are Children in Crisis, Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Emerald Coast Autism Center, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, Food for Thought, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, The Arc of the Emerald Coast, Opportunity Inc., Pathways for Change, Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, Shelter House of Northwest Florida, AMIKids Emerald Coast, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, the Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, and Youth Village.

As the top charity fundraising event in Northwest Florida, the Destin Charity Wine Auction has been ranked among the nation’s top 10 highest-grossing charity wine auctions in the country by Wine Spectator Magazine for five consecutive years. It currently is ranked third.

The money raised at this year’s auction will be presented to the charity partners during an event in August.

The dates for next year’s Destin Charity Wine Auction weekend are April 27 – 29, 2018. For more information on the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, visit www.DCWAF.org.

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