About the Event:
We’ve taken this year’s Annual Auction virtual!
Join us online on Saturday, August 22, at 4 PM (CST) to support Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation. We’ll come together for a shortened but impactful livestream program and you’ll have the chance to bid on some great auction packages while supporting the children in need of Northwest Florida.
Your support is needed now more than ever before so we can continue to provide hope and support for our 16 benefiting charity partners during these challenging times.
If you’re unable to participate in the Annual Auction, please consider making a donation today to help our community's kids: Donate Here
How do I participate in the virtual Annual Auction?
Click on the livestream button below before the event goes live on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at 4 PM (CST).
REGISTER TO BID HERE
VIEW LIVE BROADCAST HERE
What will the program be like during the virtual Annual Auction?
This program will be a celebration of our work over the past 15 years as well as an opportunity for you to continue supporting Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation's 16 children's charity partners during this critical time. The auction itself will be virtual and you will be able to bid from the comfort and safety of your home. The Silent, Super Silent, and Almost Live lots will open Friday, August 21 at 9 AM (CST). Live bidding will begin virtually on Saturday, August 22 at 9 AM (CST), and our live auction broadcast will begin at 4 PM (CST) presented by our extraordinary auctioneer, Ursula Hermacinski. Be sure to bid high and bid often as these live lots will close periodically during our broadcast.You will be able to join us on your phone, laptop, or even through your home television.
All other online bidding will close on Sunday, August 23 at 12 PM (CST).
If I win an online auction package, how do I pick-up that package?
If you have won an auction package and we are able to mail you certificates, we will do so, if not, pick-up will be available starting Monday, August 24 by appointment only at the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation Office (195 Grand Boulevard, Ste 200, Miramar Beach, FL 32550). At this time, we are not able to ship items to auction winners.
A Message from our President:
Friends of Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation,
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the increasing number of positive cases in our state and community, has caused us to rethink our approach to raising funds for children in need. After much consideration, we have decided to make our event fully virtual with your safety front of mind.
The 2020 auction represents our 15th year of joining together to benefit the children in our community. While we have determined that it is no longer safe for us to connect under a tent in a group of 600 guests or even in smaller gatherings of 100, we are compelled to continue connecting with you virtually to raise money for the children who depend on these life-changing funds.
Since our humble start raising $80,000 in 2006, we have grown to be one of the top charity wine auctions in the country having now raised and donated more than $21 million for the children of Northwest Florida. This year we had great plans to present to you an impressive selection of auction lots along with an incredible line-up of vintners and chefs in celebration of this great milestone anniversary. Those plans had to change in recognition of the need to present the auction without endangering any of the hundreds of supporters that come together during our auction weekend.
The plan for our 2020 auction unfortunately cannot include Patron Dinners. These dinners are very special and all of us regret the cancellation of a chance to enjoy great wine and food to benefit our mission. We look forward to the return of Patron Dinners in 2021.
The auction itself will be virtual and you will be able to bid from the comfort and safety of your home. Bidding will begin virtually on Friday, August 21 at 9am, and our live auction broadcast will begin at 4pm on Saturday, August 22 presented by our extraordinary auctioneer, Ursula Hermacinski. You will be able to join us on your phone, laptop, or even through your home television. We encourage you to join with an appropriate number of friends for an auction watch party, keeping social distancing guidelines in mind. More information on bidding procedures will be released in the coming weeks and included within your auction catalog package.
Despite the challenges we have encountered, our mission remains clear. This new plan will allow us to ensure your health and safety, and with your continued support we can still be there for our charity partners who are counting on us to give our very best effort to raise as much money as possible for the children they serve.
While we remain optimistic about our 2020 auction, we know our revenues will be significantly lower than in years past. This shortfall will negatively impact our supported charities so we are taking every step imaginable to maximize available funding. I am making a personal request that you allow us to convert the cost of your patron package to a charitable donation. If you agree to do so, we will provide a tax receipt listing the full cost as tax deductible.
We hear every day that we are all in this together, and that is a true statement when describing our auction effort this year. There isn’t much we can do as individuals to fight the coronavirus, but together we can still make a positive impact on our community by helping the children who need us most.
Thank you for your continued support. Please stay safe and healthy and plan to join with us August 22nd to help children in need. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 850-650-3732 or email me at john@dcwaf.org.
Sincerely,
John Russell
President
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation
