social responsibility

Beaches of South Walton, located in the heart of Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, is the perfect destination for meetings of all size. Our 15 beach communities offer diverse natural, educational, and cultural activities. Between meetings, many professionals seek experiences and methods to “Give Back” to the surrounding community. Not only does this leave a lasting memory of their visits, but it also provides a lasting contribution to many area non-profit organizations. Some of the local organizations that benefit are:

DESTINation Management LC

Contact: Marilyn MacCollum, MBA, CMP, DMCP
Phone: 850-269-2242
Website: www.destinationmanagementfl.com
Direct e-mail: mmaccollum@destinationmanagementfl.com
Mission: To successfully assist visiting groups in achieving their goals and objectives. We will custom design, coordinate, and manage a rewarding teambuilding program that meets your interests, time frame, and budget. Local activities that give back to the community and environment have a profound effect on attendees. And isn’t that what you want your meeting to do? Here are a few reasons to incorporate a voluntourism program into your next visit:

• To create goodwill by giving your attendees the opportunity to help others in need and demonstrate that your organization cares about the local community.
• To foster teamwork among your attendees by working together on a worthwhile project.
• To develop positive community relations by publicizing your volunteer efforts to your members or customers.
• To help demonstrate the value of the meetings industry to the community at large.

Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve

Contact: John Wilkerson
Phone number: 850-859-2141
Website: www.glendalenaturepreserve.org
Direct e-mail: info@glendalenaturepreserve.org
Mission: Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve celebrates the life of individuals who have passed by providing a burial place in quiet, natural surroundings, while granting a lasting tribute to nature and the future of life on earth. We are like-minded friends who care about the planet earth and are dedicated to protect her. We have set aside a portion of land that is protected by law from being spoiled by encroaching suburban development. The preserve is 350 acres of countryside made up of pines and hardwoods, wetlands and clear water creeks, broad fields, serene ponds, and rich earth. The park’s beauty inspires all who enter the domain to ponder how they want their earthly remains to be returned to the nutritive cycles that perpetuate life.

Seaside Repertory Theatre

Contact: Craige Hoover/Executive Director
Phone number: 850-231-3033
Website: www.seasiderep.org
Direct e-mail: choover@seasiderep.org
Mission: The Seaside Repertory Theatre is Northwest Florida’s premier professional theatre company. In six short seasons to date, the Rep has built itself into a first-rate regional theatre, attracting some of the finest talent from around the country. The Rep has performed for over 150,000 people so far. Having built a home on the stage of the 75-seat Meeting Hall Theatre in downtown Seaside, the Rep has never stopped broadening its horizons -- adding new programming and new venues to better reach its expanding audience base. Now a year-round operation, the Rep produces five main-stage productions, an independent film series, an outdoor family show, a touring show for elementary schools, theatre camps, acting workshops, and a comedy festival.

Topsail Hill Preserve – Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve

Contact: Leda Suydan
Phone number: 840-267-0299
Website: www.FloridaStateParks.org
Direct e-mail: leda.suydan@dep.state.fl.us
Mission: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is named for Topsail Hill, a picturesque dune standing 25 feet above sea level, resembling a ship’s topsail. Identified as the most pristine piece of coastal property in the state of Florida, this undeveloped area features 1,640 acres of stunning gulf front pine forests, nature trails over mountainous sand dunes, and two freshwater coastal dune lakes. The mission of the Florida State parks is to preserve the ancient forests of old-growth longleaf pine, wet prairies, basin swamps, rare coastal dune lakes, endangered beach mice, and other forms of rare flora and fauna.