Local Organizations Improve Teens’ Mental Health
United Way Emerald Coast's Women United hosted their second EmpowHER Teen Mental Health Seminar presented by Eglin Federal Credit Union Saturday, Nov. 4 at Walton High School. This event is part of a series aimed to empower local teenagers with mental health resources and education. Women United selected Defuniak Springs as the location due to the high caseloads carried by counselors and the stigma surrounding mental health in the area. The event featured interactive workshops and presentations from
United Way Emerald Coast Partners with Okaloosa County School District
The Okaloosa County School District has partnered with the United Way Emerald Coast to help build a foundation of early literacy, social-emotional development, and mentorship. ReadingPals is a statewide early literacy initiative that provides volunteer mentors for local students from voluntary prekindergarten to third grade who may need extra help. Once a mentor passes their background screening, they undergo training before getting placed in a classroom where they work at a 1:2 ratio. For more
Step One Automotive Group Partners with Local Organizations to ''Stuff the Bus'' with Essential School Supplies for Students in Need
Step One Automotive Group, a leading automotive dealership network with locations across Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, proudly announces its successful participation in the community-led "Stuff the Bus" initiative. Focused on providing essential school supplies to students in low-income families, Step One Automotive Group transformed its various dealership locations into donation stations for the duration of the campaign. In a partnership with the United Way Emerald Coast and United Way of West Florida,
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital Collect More than 3,000 School Supplies
HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital joined HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals across the state throughout July to participate in the organization’s first statewide We Show Up for Our Schools month of service. In partnership with the Okaloosa County School District and United Way Emerald Coast, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital and HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital collected more than 3,000 supplies for students and teachers in our community ahead of the new
United Way Emerald Coast Celebrates Achievements and Impact at Annual Meeting
United Way Emerald Coast (UWEC), a local non-profit dedicated to improving lives and building stronger communities, successfully concluded its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, July 25th at The Place on Beal. The sold-out event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, board members, elected officials, community leaders, and partners. The Annual Meeting served as a platform to celebrate UWEC’s accomplishments over the past year and engage with supporters, demonstrating the
Fish Window Cleaning of Destin Celebrates Anniversary of Meaningful Partnership
Fish Window Cleaning®, the nation’s premier window cleaning service, is thrilled to announce its Destin, Fla., location is celebrating the first anniversary of its meaningful partnership with United Way Emerald Coast. For the past year, the crew has been offering free window cleaning to the charity as a way to give back to the community. It is one of the many initiatives of Fish Window Cleaning Franchisee Danica LaFaire, who is always looking for ways to integrate her company into the local
The United Way Emerald Coast Emerging Leaders 40 Under 40 Seeks Nominations
The United Way Emerald Coast Emerging Leaders 40 Under 40 award seeks to recognize Okaloosa and Walton counties’ top young leaders who are excelling in the areas of leadership, community involvement, and professional accomplishment. Know a rockstar individual? Nominate them by July 17th 40 Under 40 | United Way Emerald Coast (united-way.org)
Thank you to everyone who participated in Volunteer Week!
Collectively, we volunteered 1,160 hours working on 27 projects this week and built 1,000+ resource kits to be distributed to our community. Congratulations to our award winners: Mary Farruggia - Volunteer of the Year; Life Enrichment Senior Center - Volunteer Partner of the Year; Susan Cota - Presidential Service Award, Gold (500+ Volunteer hours); Charlotte Slay - Presidential Service Award, Silver (200+ Volunteer hours); Juanita "Nina" Flores - Presidential Service Award, Bronze (100+ Volunteer
Women United Makes a Difference in Local Teens' Lives
United Way Emerald Coast's Women United hosted their first EmpowHER Seminar on Saturday, April 22nd, at Crestview High School. The event aimed to empower teenagers with mental health resources and education. Women United selected Crestview as the location for the event due to the high caseloads carried by mental health counselors in the area. The seminar featured interactive workshops and presentations from partner organizations donating their time to support the cause. Participants had the opportunity to
Okaloosa County School District Partners with United Way Emerald Coast on ReadingPals Program
The Okaloosa County School District has partnered with the United Way Emerald Coast to help build a foundation of early literacy, social-emotional development, and mentorship. ReadingPals is a statewide early literacy initiative that provides volunteer mentors for local students from voluntary prekindergarten to third grade who may need extra help. Once a mentor passes their background screening, they undergo training before getting placed in a classroom where they work at a 1:2 ratio. For more
United Way Would Love Your Help!
Each year, we recruit volunteers to serve during our Community Investment Process. Volunteering is a rewarding experience where you’ll be responsible for reviewing grant applications from our non-profit partners, listening to presentations, and determining where the dollars we’ve raised will have the greatest impact. This opportunity is open to anyone who has made a donation (of any amount) to United Way Emerald Coast this fiscal year (July1, 2022 – now). If you haven’t yet made a gift, you may visit
United Way Emerald Coast Presents Volunteer Week
Volunteer Week: April 16th – April 22nd, 2023 Learn morehere Sponsorship Opportunity: Looking for ways to align your brand with making a difference in our community? Put your brand in front of hundreds of local volunteers and businesses. Sponsorships start as low as $500. SPONSORSHIP DEADLINE: MARCH 10 Project Submission Deadline: Are you a non-profit, school, or community organization with a project that could use some manpower? Our volunteers are here to help. Submit your project request
United Way Emerald Coast presents Volunteer Week: Day of Caring and Our 2nd Annual Volunteer Celebration!
Volunteer Week is an opportunity to honor the individuals that donate their time and dedication towards tackling issues in our community. Join us in a week of volunteerism through hands-on and virtual opportunities to support some of our region's nonprofits and end the week with a luncheon as we celebrate YOU and your impacts! Download our flyer here, check out the sponsorship opportunities here, or sign up to volunteer here! Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, United Fidelity Bank.
United Way Emerald Coast Now Offering Group Volunteerism Projects!
UWEC is here to help make your team-building volunteer opportunity one to remember. Our staff will work closely with you to customize your activity so that everyone will leave energized and inspired. You can clean up a beach, build a trail at a local park, read to children, plant a community garden - the options are endless.
New Mental Health Resources Coming to Local Area
Children’s Volunteer Health Network (CVHN) and The Youth Mental Health Project are introducing regional chapters of The Parent Support Network to the panhandle. Two local events will be held in Okaloosa and Walton counties to discuss The Parent Support Network and the regional chapters being developed. The new resources will provide local parents and caregivers who are concerned about their children’s mental health with an opportunity to find and support each other in a confidential and safe space. The
United Way Emerald Coast Recognizes 2022 Class Of ‘40 Under 40’ At Awards Celebration
United Way Emerald Coast (UWEC) hosted its ‘40 Under 40’ awards celebration on Friday, September 16 at The Island Resort. Presented by Florida Power & Light, nearly 200 people attended the sold-out awards celebration which recognized Okaloosa and Walton counties’ top young leaders. “FPL is honored to partner with United Way Emerald Coast as the Presenting Sponsor of the ’40 under 40’ event to recognize our local up and coming leaders,” offered Bernard Johnson, Florida Power & Light’s Regional Manager. “The
Okaloosa Health Summit | NEXT WEEK!
Save the date for the Okaloosa Health Summit on September 8 from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Mark your calendar for the launch of the 2022 Community Health Assessment booklet and formation of our new workgroups! The workgroups will strive to improve the health of Okaloosans. The meeting will be held virtually and in-person at three locations across the county: Crosspoint Church - Niceville North Okaloosa Medical Center - Crestview United Way Emerald Coast - Fort Walton Beach Register
15 Graduate from Chamber’s Community Education & Leadership Program
On May 3, the Destin Chamber celebrated the graduation of 15 business professionals from its 14th Destin Forward class. During the event, the prestigious Destin Forward Leadership Award, chosen by class vote, was presented to Jenna Kilpatrick of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. Destin Forward, a community education and leadership program, was created to help find and educate future city and business leaders. After a retreat in August, the class spent the next eight months touring and learning about
How Should Your Donation Be Invested?
It's time to raise your voice and let us know how your gift to United Way Emerald Coast (UWEC) should be invested. By volunteering as a Community Investment Grant Panelist, you will have the unique opportunity to hear about the work UWEC's nonprofit partner agencies are doing across Okaloosa and Walton counties while recommending where Community Investment grants will have the greatest impact on critical needs in our region. UWEC donors of any amount are invited to participate. (Not currently a donor? You
United Way Emerald Coast Launches Women United
United Way Emerald Coast (UWEC) celebrated the launch of Women United on Saturday, March 5. In honor of Women’s History Month, 118 ladies from across Okaloosa and Walton counties gathered at WaterVue at Brooks Street in Fort Walton Beach to celebrate the launch of UWEC’s Women United chapter. At the event, our community’s most generous ladies were invited to raise their voice for the causes they are passionate about by voting on the first focus of Women United. Previously vetted by the Women United
Redding Promoted to South Walton & Bay County Market President
Progress Bank Florida Market Executive Dewayne Youngblood announced today that Lane Redding has been promoted to South Walton & Bay County Market President. “Due to our recent expansion into Panama City, it was the perfect time to grow Lane’s role to Market President of that area and the surrounding community. She has been instrumental in our success since she joined the Bank in 2020 and we are excited to watch her continue to prosper in her new position,” said Youngblood. Redding graduated from Baylor
Eglin Federal Credit Union Participates in United Way EC's 28th Day of Caring
Eglin Federal Credit Union is proud to once again support the United Way Emerald Coast’s 28th Annual Day of Caring. Twenty-three employees painted and landscaped at the Emerald Coast Science Center in Fort Walton Beach and at the Crestview Manor in Crestview on Friday, Jan. 14. This year’s Day of Caring aligned with Martin Luther King Day’s National Day of Service celebrated on Monday, Jan. 17. “In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing
United Way Emerald Coast Seeks Nonprofit Partners
United Way Emerald Coast (UWEC) is pleased to announce it is accepting applications from local non-profits who wish to become Partner Agencies. This application is open to all 501(c)3 non-profit organizations serving Okaloosa and/or Walton counties; partnership status will be valid for one year. There are many benefits in becoming one of UWEC’s Partner Agencies. It enhances your organization’s credibility by showing the community (and other funders) that your organization has been reviewed, vetted, and
