Eight Inducted into Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame
The Commission on the Status of Women recently inducted eight, local women into the Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame: Sharon Allen – Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Inductee, Col. Allison Black – Military Inductee, Judge Lacey Powell Clark – Carolyn Spencer Humanitarian Inductee, Shawn Crist – Education Inductee, Sierra Elliot – Contemporary Inductee, Lori Kelley – Business-Professional Inductee, Joy Makela – Community Service Inductee and Barbara Henderson Slocumb – Pioneer Inductee. Since 1995, 140 women have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. This award was created to honor and recognize women who have made important contributions to Okaloosa County. For more information, visit occsw.com or call Jeanne Rief at 850-685-8027.
Okaloosa Saves Wins Coveted National Award!
Okaloosa Saves has earned the 2024 America Saves Savings Champion award, an honor explicitly reserved for organizations who effectively and actively promote saving strategies during the annual America Saves Week campaign.
Okaloosa Saves is one of 18 organizations honored with this distinction out of more than 4,600 participating organizations of America Saves Week, which took place April 8–12, 2024, as part of Financial Capability Month.
During this one-week timeframe, Okaloosa Saves along with the other 17 financial institutions helped to encourage nearly $354 million worth of deposits into new and existing accounts. Additionally, 231,000 new accounts were opened and 64,000 individuals increased their automatic saving transfers or deposits into existing savings accounts.
“Okaloosa Saves has been guiding people for 20 years in Northwest Florida to become savers,” said Board Chair Laura Coale. “We enjoy teaching the importance of reducing debt and building wealth by creating a plan to save money year-round. Financial wellness helps promote overall wellness, and we appreciate our partnership with America Saves for years to come.”
DCWAF Donates $3 Million To 17 Local Children’s Charities
Currently ranked as the fifth largest charity wine auction in the country by Wine Spectator Magazine, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s mission is to connect wine enthusiasts to benefit children in need in Northwest Florida. Following another successful year of fundraising, the Foundation presented its 17 benefitting, local children’s charities with funding to facilitate a variety of critical needs within the community. This check presentation brought the total amount donated by DCWAF to local children’s charities to more than $35 million. 2024 Benefiting Charities: AMIKids Emerald Coast, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Caring and Sharing of South Walton, Children in Crisis, Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Ellison McCraney Ingram Foundation, Emerald Coast Autism Center, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, Mental Health Association of Okaloosa/Walton Counties, Opportunity Place, Inc., Point Washington Medical Clinic, Shelter House, The Arc of the Emerald Coast, Westonwood Ranch and Youth Village.
Sport Clips FWB Receives National Awards
Sport Clips leaders from throughout the U.S. and Canada (1800 stores) met in Nashville recently to celebrate the National Huddle 2024 Conference and National Awards. The Sport Clips teams met with industry favorites, educators and enjoyed celebrations with THE LOOK and BATTLE OF THE HAIR contests. The Fort Walton Beach Sport Clips Store received the acclaimed President’s Circle award for attaining top performance in all areas of performance, PRO Stylist metrics and client favorites surveys, placing them in the top 10% of stores nationwide. Store leader, Tierra Barclay, represented the team at the Nashville awards, with Team Leader Mitzi Henley of the Henley Group, and received their award from Franchise founder Gordan Logan. “Congratulations to all our great team members and thank you to our great clients for helping our store achieve these honors,” said Mitzi.
