Posted on

Shelter House to Host 5th Annual Luminaria Run

Twilight race encourages runners to glow

(DESTIN, Fla.) November 17, 2015 – Shelter House will host a unique twilight run designed to shine the light on abuse in our community. The 5th Annual Luminaria Run to End Domestic & Sexual Violence, presented by Verizon Wireless and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., will take place on Saturday, December 5 at 4:30pm. Runners will start at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Destin and follow a course lined with more than 2,000 luminarias lighting their path.

The race includes 5k and 9k courses winding throughout the Indian Bayou neighborhood. The 9k distance represents that a woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds in the U.S., and the luminarias symbolize how Shelter House and their community partners light the way to a safer place for victims of abuse.

“This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Luminaria Run,” said Shelter House Executive Director Rosalyn Iovieno. “It is encouraging to see support for the run grow each year as the community joins together to raise awareness of domestic and sexual abuse. All proceeds from the race go to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence right here in Okaloosa and Walton counties.”

Children are encouraged to participate in the run, and walkers are welcome. This family-friendly event will have a “sweet finish” at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. featuring confections, s’mores, hot cocoa and more as well as Bubba Gump’s famous gumbo.

This is a twilight race starting at 4:30pm. Runners are encouraged to wear reflective gear, and a prize will be awarded for the best lit runner. Glow packs are available for purchase during online registration and the day of the run.

Registration is open now with the following prices: adults, 5k – $30; 9k – $45. Children ages 3 through 12 are $10 for the 5k and $15 for the 9k.

Packet pick up begins on Friday, December 4 at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Destin from 5pm to 7pm. On-site registration and packet pick up will be open on race day from 2pm to 4pm at Bubba Gump.

Luminary bags will be labeled and placed along the course in honor or in memory of loved ones. Bags are available through a $10 donation to Shelter House and can be purchased at the Shelter House office in Fort Walton Beach or on-site the day of the race.

Shelter House would like to thank this year’s run sponsors: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Verizon Wireless, Destin Commons, SoWal.com and Sandprints Photography. Additional sponsorships are available.

To register, please go to www.shelterhousenwfl.org. For more information on the race, sponsorships or luminary bags, call Shelter House at 850-243-1201.

Last year’s Luminaria Run drew more than 360 runners and raised over $20,000 to help keep abused women, children and men in the local community safe.

Posted on

Walk 4 Respect Attendees Pledge to End Violence

Youth vow to stand up for respect and kindness

(DESTIN, Fla.) November 10, 2015 – More than 100 people turned out for the 2nd Annual Walk 4 Respect at Morgan Sports Center in Destin on Halloween morning. The walk brought together youth from Okaloosa and Walton counties during National Bullying Prevention Month to talk and learn about healthy, non-violent relationships and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

The event kicked off with a proclamation by Destin Mayor Mel Ponder. The proclamation read in part, “Let this Walk 4 Respect be the start of a unified commitment to the education and prevention of violence within our community, and to recognize the need for raising awareness of the prevalence of abuse affecting our youth.”

Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley challenged the crowd by asking, “If kindness was a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” He then presented a check for $1,500 from the Sheriff Star Charity to Shelter House, the domestic and sexual violence center serving Okaloosa and Walton counties. Shelter House, along with Project Respect, produced Walk 4 Respect with additional support from Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation.

Ponder and Ashley led off the walk. At the conclusion of the one-mile walk, everyone stopped off to sign an anti-violence pledge wall then enjoyed a free fall festival. Adults and youth alike enjoyed music from Horizon Entertainment and sampled tasty food from three food trucks. Bogarbecue, Cajun Meat Train and Rainbow Frost ice cream truck all turned out to show their support for the anti-violence movement.

“The community support for this event has been outstanding,” said Rosalyn Iovieno, Shelter House Executive Director. “Young people right here in our community are dealing with teen dating violence, bullying and cyberbullying. It is important to show them that there is help and that it is good to talk about it with friends or a trusted adult.”

Several community agencies had booths with information and festival games. Partners in attendance included COPE Center, Boys and Girls Club, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Junior League of the Emerald Coast and Shelter House.

Youth and parents lined up to sign the pledge to stop violence.
Posted on

Walk 4 Respect Promotes Kindness, Anti-Violence

Middle and high schoolers are invited to the fall festival with a message

(DESTIN, Fla.) October 26, 2015 – Walk 4 Respect brings together teenagers from Okaloosa and Walton counties during National Bullying Prevention Month to talk and learn about healthy, non-violent relationships and treating everyone with kindness and respect. In addition to a one-mile walk, the event will feature a proclamation by Destin Mayor Mel Ponder, fun festival games, food trucks, music and trick or treating.

The 2nd Annual Walk 4 Respect will take place on Saturday, October 31 from 10am to 1pm at Morgan Sports Center in Destin. Walkers are encouraged to wear non-violent Halloween costumes or something orange, the color of the anti-bullying movement.

“Walk 4 Respect is going to be a fun, fall festival, but it also carries a serious message,” said Shelter House Executive Director Rosalyn Iovieno. “Teens, and even tweens, are dealing with bullying, cyberbullying and teen dating violence. The purpose of Walk 4 Respect is to bring everyone together to talk about how we can all foster a community of kindness and respect.”

Walk 4 Respect is presented by Project Respect, Shelter House and Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation. Several community agencies will have booths with information and festival games. All ages are welcome to attend this family friendly event, however, the focus of Walk 4 Respect is middle and high school students.

For more information, call 850-243-1201 or visit the Project Respect Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ProjectRespectOW.

Posted on

4th Annual Walk Her Way Draws Record Crowd

High heel walk raises awareness and turns heads

(ROSEMARY BEACH, Fla.) September 10, 2015 – More than 220 men, women and children put on high heels and took to the streets of Rosemary Beach earlier this summer for the largest Walk Her Way yet. Now in its fourth year, the Rosemary Beach Foundation event brought awareness to domestic violence and raised $30,000 for Shelter House and Rosemary Beach Foundation.

Led by Village Brass Band, walkers strolled around town showing off their favorite pair of high heels, decorated shoes and fun costumes. Unique shoe-themed awards designed by Walton County students and educators were presented at the after-party.

“Walk Her Way continues to grow each year. We are thankful for the overwhelming support from our sponsors and the community,” said Rosemary Beach Foundation Executive Director Malayne DeMars.

Walk Her Way is not just a fun walk. It also carries a serious message about respect and healthy relationships with a display of Shelter House’s Clothesline Project, a touching exhibit that allows adult and child victims of domestic violence to tell their story through words and art, at the start and finish lines.

“We are grateful to the Rosemary Beach Foundation for providing Shelter House with vital funding and for increasing awareness of domestic violence,” said Shelter House Executive Director Rosalyn Iovieno. “Seeing such a positive response from the community again this year leaves me hopeful that through Walk Her Way more people now know that resources exist right here in our local area to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence and that more people will join us in our vision of all relationships violence-free.”

Thanks to 2015 Walk Her Way sponsors: Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Company, Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association, The Merchants of Rosemary Beach, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, Bud & Alley’s, Warren Averett, August + Brill, Sea Oats Beach Service, George and Dianne Lindahl, Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, Bamboo Bicycle Company, Moonpize, Grayton Beer Company, Bombora Sun and Surf, the Schwarzkopf Family, 30Avenue, Rosemary Beach Trading Company, Rosemary Beach Realty, Tamara and Carl Tricoli, Henderson Barrett, Perspicacity, 30A.com, 30A TV, SoWal.com, Beach TV, Sixpence Productions and J. Conley Images.

Posted on

Shelter House Holds Annual Backpack Drive

(FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla.) July 29, 2015 – Shelter House is collecting school supplies for the children served by the agency. Before the school year begins, Shelter House advocates will set up a store displaying the donated items where kids and their moms can “shop” for exactly what they need to head back to school in style.

“This is a very busy time in our emergency shelter,” said Shelter House Executive Director Rosalyn Iovieno. “Many victims have shared that summer is an opportune time to leave their abusers because it doesn’t cause as much disruption to their children’s schedules, friendships and overall education. As fall approaches, these families are still working to rebuild their lives and many struggle to cover basic necessities. Looking at the long list of school supplies required can seem overwhelming. Donations from the community close the gap and allow the children to return to school feeling confident.”

Items needed include: backpacks, lunch boxes, college rule paper, glue and glue sticks, three-ring binders, tabbed dividers, index cards, highlighters, scientific calculators, graph paper, USB thumb drives, protractors, Post-it notes and pencil pouches. Supplies are needed for both boys and girls.

In addition to hosting the school store, Shelter House will bring in hair stylists to provide free haircuts for the children and their mothers. Pampering professionals will also be on hand to offer free waxing and massages to the moms.

Donations can be dropped off by August 10 at the Shelter House Program Office located at 16 Ferry Road, SE in Fort Walton Beach between 8am and 5pm weekdays. If your business or civic/religious/professional organization would like to host its own drive, please contact Shelter House at 850-243-1201.