April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month …Recognized by ECCAC with Proclamations
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) and communities across the nation are bringing attention to the issue of child abuse prevention and how we as a society must support and help child victims of abuse. With National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, it brings to light the fact that many do not realize the peril our children can experience and have to deal with right here in Northwest Florida. To recognize this important month at both of ECCAC’s Centers in Niceville and DeFuniak
ECCAC’s 25th Annual Gala & Golf Weekend a Big Success
Presented by Janice and George Hendricks, the community, sponsors, and supporters of the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) came out once again to celebrate 25 years at this year’s annual signature happening, the Gala & Golf Weekend. It raised a significant $650,000 to help children and their families in Walton and Okaloosa Counties. The Gala featured an energetic live auction with celebrity auctioneer, DawnMarie Kotsonis, also known as “The Gavel Girl.” ECCAC board member Cindy Cole
ECCAC announces 2024 board of directors: Renee Pellegrino is new President
At a recent board meeting, the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) officially announced their 2023/2024 line-up of board members and officers, as well as naming their Executive Committee. Renee Pellegrino is their new President; Khaliqa Wheatley, Vice President; and Alan Wood, Treasurer. Other members are immediate past President, Janet Parker, along with Audie Rowell, Blake Morar, Candance Vlahos, Cindy Cole, Dr. Dennis Lichorwic, Heather Parrish, Michael Thompson, Neslihan Suhi-Moore,
Shannon Amos Joins ECCAC Board
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) recently announced its newest Board of Directors member Shannon Amos. Originally from Tennessee, Amos moved to the Florida Panhandle in 2005, where she has been a Destin resident with her husband and their 10-year-old daughter. They also have three adult children. Amos is currently a real estate agent with World Impact Real Estate. She and her husband, Dr. Warren Amos, a radiation oncologist with Genesiscare, are in the real estate investment and rental
Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center's Re-Naming & Re-Opening of Niceville Center
May 5th was a very memorable day for the Emerald Coasts Children’s Advocacy’s (ECCAC) Niceville Center. Not only did it mark the official re-opening after the almost 9-month restoration and renovation of the Center after it experienced fire and significant water damage, it was also the official re-naming and dedication of the Center to the Julie Sacco Porterfield Children’s Advocacy Center. Guests at the ceremonies met the ECCAC team, took tours if the newly restored Center and learned about the numerous
Meet Heather Parrish - Newest ECCAC Board Member
Heather Parrish recently joined the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center’s (ECCAC) Board of Directors. A Miramar Beach resident with her family, Parrish is a real estate agent and investor specializing in income and luxury properties with Keller Williams Realty. Previously, she was a Registered Nurse working primarily in Critical Care in both Memphis, Tennessee and with Sacred Heart of the Emerald Coast here in Miramar Beach, Florida. “My husband and I, along with our children, feel very connected to
Funds Raised at ECCAC’s Signature Gala and Golf Weekend Surpasses all Previous Records
The community, sponsors and supporters of the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) rallied at this year’s Gala in the Garden and Golf Weekend to raise an impressive $685,000. This substantial amount broke all previous records at ECCAC’s annual signature event that has been ongoing for 24 years. Julie Porterfield, ECCAC CEO commented, “We are so thankful for the incredible generosity of our sponsors and guests. The weekend benefited children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties to help ECCAC provide
Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center is there for the kids …April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
National abuse statistics are alarming. According to the National Children’s Alliance, the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers, nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S. annually. Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment with 75% suffering from neglect, 17.2% from physical abuse, and 8.4% from sexual abuse. About 4 out of 5 abusers are the child victim’s parents. With National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, it brings to light the fact that many do
Mark your calendars for ECCAC’s signature Gala in the Garden and Golf Weekend
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) is putting on their annual signature Gala in the Garden and Golf Weekend, this year presented by George and Janice Hendricks. The Gala features a cocktail hour starting at 5:30 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 10, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. Guests will enjoy dinner and live entertainment by popular local musicians, The Will Thompson Band, live auction, as well as a featured guest speaker. The Gala is an
ECCAC Hires New CARES Program Manager
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) recently announced that Debra “Debi” Riley-Broadnax will be joining their team as the non-profit’s new CARES Program Manager. In this newly established position as Manager, Riley-Broadnax will be responsible for creating, managing and sustaining the CARES Program. CARES stands for Community, Awareness, Resources, and Support. The CARES Program is being established because of the need for elevating ECCAC’s community abuse prevention education in Okaloosa
Holiday Gifts for Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center
Over the years, the Flying Needles Quilt Guild in Niceville has donated Christmas stockings and quilts to the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC), and the organization is doing it again this year. In addition to ECCAC, other organizations who received these home-made gifts of stockings, quilts, blankets, pillowcases and drawstring bags are Children in Crisis, Catholic Charities and the Northwest Florida Guardian Ad Litem Foundation. The Guild also supports the Quilt of Valor Foundation by
Lee Curtis Joins ECCAC
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) officially announced that Lee Curtis has joined their team as the non-profit’s head of Marketing and Donor Advancement. In this role, she will be leading the marketing efforts of ECCAC’s Centers in Okaloosa and Walton Counties and will be closely working with their donors. A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Curtis has lived along the Emerald Coast for the past 19 years. With a degree in Business Administration, she worked in the banking world with Regions
Christmas is coming to ECCAC… You can make a difference by helping to stock the toy room for kids
It’s not too early to start planning for this year’s Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) Holiday season to help children in need. This year, ECCAC is creating a toy room for their families and agency partners to “shop” for children from newborn, up to 18 years old. Bring unwrapped gifts, and Christmas wrapping paper for the gifts, by November 30th, or sooner. Check out gift ideas to purchase for all age groups in the events section of ECCAC’s website, www.eccac.org. Deliver to either the
9th annual Crust/Thompson 31Fifty Winery Dinner helps children at ECCAC
On a recent pleasant fall evening, the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) benefited from a dinner hosted by Mark and Kim Fressell, proprietors of Crust Artisan Bakery in Santa Rosa Beach, and Mike and Val Thompson, owners of their Thompson 31Fifty Winery located in California’s Russian River Valley. From appetizers to desserts, with wine pairings, a sumptuous 7-course meal was served to 15 couples who bid on this dinner at last spring’s live auction at ECCAC’s signature Gala. ECCAC CEO Julie
Well-earned honor for Julie Porterfield at Niceville Children’s Advocacy Center
Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy (ECCAC) CEO Julie Porterfield was recently surprised with a note-worthy honor to recognize her years of loyal service. At an ECCAC Board of Directors meeting last month, President Janet Parker announced that as a result of Porterfield’s 23+ years of dedication, founding and running ECCAC, the Board unanimously approved that the Niceville Center will be re-named “Julie Sacco Porterfield Children’s Advocacy Center”. Porterfield’s response to the surprise Center naming
Blake Morar Joins ECCAC Board
Blake Morar recently became a member of Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center’s (ECCAC) Board of Directors. A Santa Rosa Beach resident, Morar co-owns Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty that offers luxury real estate from Destin to Panama City Beach. Growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Morar earned a degree in marketing from Louisiana Tech University. He then relocated to the Destin area in 1996 and found his passion in real estate. In his free time, Morar enjoys paddle boarding, bike riding and
Niceville Children’s Advocacy Center Severely Damaged
It was a good news, bad news scenario when a fire occurred at the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center’s (ECCAC) 23-year-old location in Niceville that provides healing and protection to area children experiencing abuse and neglect. ECCAC’s CEO Julie Porterfield commented, “We are just incredibly sad and devastated that our Niceville Center suffered significant damage Saturday, July 16. Although there was much water damage from the fire sprinkler system, it prevented a what could have been a
Child & Teen Safety Matters Goes Back to School with the Students
It’s back to school time and the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center’s (ECCAC) prevention team is ready. They have had their Child & Teen Safety Matters prevention programs in place for the past several years. Each year, ECCAC’s staff educates and empowers Okaloosa and Walton students with information and strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to bullying, cyberbullying, all types of abuse, and digital abuse dangers. Curriculum is available for students K-12. According to
Niceville Children’s Advocacy Center to Undergo Expansion
After 22+ years of accommodating the needs of the original Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) in Niceville, Fla., it’s time to expand to provide additional space to better enable services to children experiencing abuse and neglect. The Center’s existing 13,000-square-foot, child-friendly facility doesn’t house children, but is set up with a multidisciplinary team of child protection personnel, prosecutors, law enforcement, DCF, therapists, as well as ECCAC staff and volunteers to provide
Dr. Dennis Lichorwic Joins of ECCAC Board
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center’s (ECCAC) Board of Directors recently announced Dr. Dennis Lichorwic as its newest board member. Lichorwic is well-known in the community and a practicing cosmetic dentist. He founded the Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in 1999. With great success over the years, he now has offices and cosmetic dentistry staff serving clients in Destin, Navarre and Panama City. As a respected member of the dental community, Lichorwic maintains membership in a number of
ECCAC Looking for Front Desk Volunteers at Both Centers
Both Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Centers (ECCAC) in Niceville and DeFuniak Springs are in need of front desk reception volunteers. The front desks at both centers are staffed entirely by volunteers so that the paid staff can be free to assist the children and families through the process of healing. Volunteers are the first people the children and visitors see when they step into the centers. These volunteers are responsible for meet and greets, monitoring children while parents and caregivers are
Speaking Up for Child Victims of Abuse and Neglect Meet Teen Giselle McLaughlin
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) wants to introduce the community to a young lady who is wise beyond her years. Meet 13-year-old Giselle McLaughlin, an 8th grade student at Liza Jackson Preparatory School in Ft. Walton Beach. Julie Porterfield, CEO of ECCAC, met Giselle at their Niceville Center when she presented a $280 donation check to Porterfield. It seems that Giselle is taking an in-depth look at Florida foster care for her school “Graduation By Demonstration” (GBD) project. GBD
Cory Fosdyck receives Zeke Bratkowski Advocate Award
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) recently named Cory Fosdyck as its 3rd Annual Zeke Bratkowski Advocate Award winner, during its annual Gala. Hall of Famer Zeke Bratkowski was a famous NFL professional football player and an assistant coach in the NFL for over two decades. He passed away in 2019 and was a passionate supporter of ECCAC, founding the non-profit’s first Gala and Golf Tournament in 1999. Three years ago, ECCAC developed this annual prestigious award that goes to a
Volunteers Needed in Both Children’s Advocacy Center Locations
Tuesday ◊ April 26 – Niceville CenterThursday ◊ April 28 – DeFuniak Springs Center6 – 7:30 p.m. The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) in Niceville and the Pierce Family Children’s Advocacy Center (PFCAC) in DeFuniak Springs are in need of volunteers. One of the ways to help ECCAC is to volunteer in numerous capacities at either of their Centers, or volunteer at events in the area that benefit them. That’s why on April 26 and 28, ECCAC is going to host a Volunteer Fair at each Center with
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month
“Every year we try to create awareness of April being National Child Abuse Prevention month and the services that ECCAC can offer to child victims. It is imperative that everyone do their part to help protect children. Prevention is the best protection against child abuse,” explained Julie Porterfield, Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center CEO National abuse statistics are alarming. According to the National Children’s Alliance, the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy