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Rosemary Beach Foundation Presents 5th Annual Walk Her Way®

High heel FUN walk to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence

(ROSEMARY BEACH®) April 25, 2016  Whether you choose to parade in pumps, walk in wedges, strut in stilettos or stroll in sneakers, make plans to join us on May 20th for the 5th Annual Walk Her Way® presented by Rosemary Beach Foundation.

Men, women and children of all ages are invited to put on their fiercest footwear for a short walk through the streets of Rosemary Beach®.

“Walk Her Way is a fun way to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence,” says Malayne DeMars, Executive Director, Rosemary Beach Foundation.

Decorate your shoes (heels are suggested but not required); wear costumes to reflect your style and personality. Enter as a team with your family, friends and coworkers, or walk as an individual! Sign up for Walk Her Way at www.walkherway.com.

Stick around for the after party and awards in the Rosemary Beach Town Hall. One-of-a-kind “Shoe” awards created by Walton County teachers and students will be given for the highest heels, best costume, most spirit and more.

Attendees will enjoy live music by variety band Moody, pictures in Facetime Photobooth’s Airstream-inspired RetroBooth and food, beer and cocktails from Freshii, Bruno’s Pizza, Shades Bar & Grill, and Chaste 850. One-of-a-kind “Shoe” awards created by Walton County teachers and students will be given for the highest heels, best costume, most spirit and more. Walkers can also take a chance on winning fabulous prizes at our raffle or 30A Wine ring toss game.

“We are thrilled that Rosemary Beach Foundation is investing in Shelter House’s long-term sustainability through their continued support,” said Rosalyn Iovieno, Shelter House Executive Director. “The Foundation’s generosity helps ensure Shelter House will be around for many years to come to serve local women, children and men impacted by domestic and sexual violence.”

Walk Her Way® benefits Shelter House, the domestic and sexual violence center serving Okaloosa and Walton counties and Rosemary Beach Foundation, a nonprofit organization that offers community, educational and other charitable activities in Walton County.

2016 WALK HER WAY® SPONSORS: Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Company, Rosemary Beach Realty, Rosemary Beach Trading Company, The Merchants of Rosemary Beach, Rosemary Beach Property Owners’ Association, 30A Collection by Rosemary Beach, Rent Gear Here, Klabzuba, Moonpize, Rent Gear Here, The Pearl, Schwarzkopf Family, 30A.com, SoWal.com, Beach TV

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Purses with a Purpose Raises Almost $20,000 for Shelter House

Money raised will help local domestic and sexual violence victims

(MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla.) April 8, 2016 – Women from across the Emerald Coast recently made their way to Grand Boulevard at Sandestin for Purses with a Purpose, a unique event benefiting Shelter House, the domestic and sexual violence center serving Okaloosa and Walton counties. The two-day event raised almost $20,000 to support programs and services such as a 24-hour rape and domestic violence hotline, emergency shelter, child advocacy, support groups and violence prevention classes.

“Since it began six years ago, Purses with a Purpose has brought in more than $73,000 for critical services,” said Rosalyn Iovieno, Shelter House Executive Director. “Not only did 300 shoppers attend this event, more than 40 Shelter House volunteers gave over 200 hours of their time to make it happen. We had more shoppers and raised more money than ever before. This tremendous support from the community enables us to help more women, children, men and pets whose lives have been touched by violence.”

The Friday night party offered shoppers the opportunity to bid on designer handbags from Kate Spade, Coach, Michael Kors and more. They were also treated to food from Travinia Italian Kitchen and wine as well as a purse fashion show with models impacted by domestic violence, including Shelter House advocates, volunteers and survivors. The fashion show was emceed by Laura Holloway of The Storyteller Agency and featured hair and makeup by Pin Up Girls Hair Studio and music by Rock the House.

In addition to over 1,000 purses for sale and auction, Purses with a Purpose also featured scarves, jewelry, wallets and more were up for sale. Saturday shoppers snapped up the remaining purses at deeply discounted prices while enjoying muffins and mimosas.

Shelter House would like to thank the 2016 Purses with a Purpose sponsors: Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Pin Up Girls Hair Studio, Rock the House, Travinia Italian Kitchen, 5 Star Photo Booth, The Storyteller Agency, Appleseed Expeditions, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, Flip Flop Realty, Mara Fiorentino, MD, Primp Salon, Serenity by the Sea, Massage Envy and Panera Bread.

Shelter House accepts purse donations throughout the year at its program office located at 16 Ferry Road, SE in Fort Walton Beach. For more information about Purses with a Purpose or future events, please contact Shelter House at 850-243-1201.

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Shelter House announces details for annual fundraiser, Purses With A Purpose

Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (February 8, 2016) – Shelter House Domestic & Sexual Violence Center will host their sixth annual Purses With a Purpose event March 11-12, 2016, in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin in the 560 building, corner storefront, next door to Altar’d State.

Festivities begin Friday at 6:00 p.m. with an exciting silent auction featuring over 100 purses, including brands like Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Vera Bradley, as well as sunglasses and other accessories. Attendees will also enjoy hors d’oeuvres by Travinia, wine, an interactive photobooth by 5 Star Photobooth, DJ services by Shane Keller of Rock the House and a fashion show featuring hair and makeup services by Pin Up Girls Hair Studio & Spa in Destin. Avid purse shoppers can purchase a VIP ticket to enter the event 30 minutes early (5:30 p.m.) for an exclusive preview of the silent auction and the opportunity to immediately purchase their handbag or accessory of choice before the event officially begins.

Tickets are now available on the Shelter House website, www.shelterhousenwfl.org. General admission tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 or at the door for $15. VIP tickets are $20 when purchased in advance, or $25 at the door, based on availability.

The fundraiser continues Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with free admission to view the remaining handbags and accessories, with discounts up to 50% off. Attendees will enjoy complimentary mimosas and fresh baked muffins.

To date, Shelter House has raised more than $50,000 through Purses With A Purpose. Shelter House is actively seeking sponsors and new or gently used handbags and accessories for the silent auction. Individuals or businesses interested should contact Whitney Lee Ladwig at 850-974-2002 or whitneyleeladwig@icloud.com.

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Shelter House Receives Economic Empowerment Grant

Allstate Foundation supports financial education for survivors and community

(FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla.) January 31, 2016 – The Allstate Foundation recently awarded Shelter House a grant for $30,625 to continue its economic empowerment program. Shelter House first received this grant in 2009, and has since earned recognition and offered training to other domestic violence centers on its innovative programs.

“Financial abuse and domestic violence often go hand in hand,” said Rosalyn Iovieno, Executive Director of Shelter House. “Learning about financial tools and strategies empowers survivors to establish new lives with safety plans for themselves and their money.”

Tactics that abusers use to exert control include restricting the victim’s access to money, ruining the victim’s credit, forbidding her to work or even harassing her on the job causing a spotty work history. Shelter House advocates in the WAM! (Women and Money) program work with survivors on budgeting, building savings, repairing credit scores and more through the economic empowerment courses. Shelter House also works with the children of abuse survivors so they learn early in life how to handle their own finances.

While the programs for domestic violence victims are a major focus, Shelter House offers workshops that are free and open to the public as well. The agency will hold public workshops on April 4 and June 25. For more information, call 850-243-1201.

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White-Wilson Community Foundation Supports Shelter House

Funding will expand sexual violence services

(FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla.) January 12, 2016 – White-Wilson Community Foundation recently awarded Shelter House a grant for $22,542 to expand the agency’s sexual violence services. Shelter House currently provides services including a 24/7 rape crisis hotline, peer counseling and victim accompaniment during medical exams and law enforcement interviews.

The White-Wilson Community Foundation grant enables Shelter House to create an on-site sexual assault forensic exam room at the agency’s program office in Fort Walton Beach. The funds will also be used to establish a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program in Okaloosa and Walton counties with plans to train and certify five local nurses in the first year.

“Currently, sexual assault victims sometimes wait up to six hours for an exam in an emergency room,” explained Shelter House Executive Director Rosalyn Iovieno. “This generous gift from White-Wilson Community Foundation means survivors can come to our office, a safe space away from the chaos of the ER, and meet with an advocate, have a forensic exam by a certified SANE nurse and meet with law enforcement. The goal of this approach is to provide victim-centered, trauma-informed care.”

The exam room project includes the renovation of a bathroom with a shower and wash station as well as purchasing an exam table, camera, medical lighting and other exam equipment and medical supplies.

The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence designated Shelter House as the certified sexual violence center for Okaloosa and Walton counties in 2014. In less than two years, Shelter House has fielded almost 300 sexual assault hotline calls, counseled more than 150 rape and sexual assault survivors and activated the Rape Response Team (RRT) to local hospitals more than 100 times.

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All American Jeep Show Raises Money for Shelter House

Hundreds of Jeep enthusiasts turned out to support domestic and sexual violence victims

(CRESTVIEW, Fla.) November 18, 2015 – More than 500 Jeep enthusiasts turned out recently to the 2nd Annual All American Jeep Show at Old Spanish Trail Park in Crestview to show off their vehicles and raise money for Shelter House. The weekend-long event brought in $12,514 to support domestic and sexual violence victims in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

“I’m overwhelmed by all of the support from the Jeep community and the generosity of our local and national sponsors,” said event organizer Jeff Bullard, President of the All American Jeep Club.

“The funds they raised at this event will allow Shelter House to serve more women, children and men right here in our local community who are recovering from domestic and sexual violence,” said Shelter House Executive Director Rosalyn Iovieno.

Jeep show attendees were treated to a broad range of Jeeps on display, awards, a silent auction, Jeep poker run, bounce houses and a demonstration by the Crestview Fire Department.

Thank you to the presenting sponsors of the 2nd Annual All American Jeep Show: All American Jeep Club, Tattoos Forever, Lee Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Summerlin Truck Outfitter and Elite Jeeps, Inc.