Destin Banner Art brings coastal flair to Main Street in Destin. Our Community Ambassador, Kathryn Guidry of Valparaiso, was a featured artist and painted a sunset scene with a heron. Many of you know Kathryn as our designer extraordinaire, contributing to all our creative projects throughout the year. Kathryn was interviewed for the banner art, and courtesy of the Destin Log, an excerpt appears below. Kathryn was joined in this effort with another incredible Fisher House supporter, Kathy Schumacher who donates highly sought after art each year at our Helping Heroes Gala.
“I did it because it kind of reflects the area and the colors were very vivid, so I thought it would make a perfect banner,” Guidry said.
Although this is Guidry’s first time to participate in the banner project, she’s dabbled in all sorts of arts and crafts all her life.
“Growing up I had a father who was very artistic and talented … so I guess it kind of runs in the family,” she said.
When her children went off to college, she had more time on her hands and took painting lessons.
Since then she has done artwork to raise money for such local organizations as the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society and Children in Crisis. She’s also very involved with Fisher House.
Fisher House is located on Eglin Air Force Base and provides a “home away from home” so that military families can be together during treatment for serious illnesses.
More:2019 – Art banners installed on Main Street
“That’s my big project,” she said, noting that her husband is retired military.
She first started her volunteering with us while in high school, raising money as part of the Miss Niceville High School pageant, donating $2100 as the Peoples Choice/Runner Up, she joined us as Dorothy with the Grand Boulevard Festival of Trees, we placed second, joined us for the Helping Heroes Gala, parents and sister in tow, and this past Christmas, she came home from college and hosted a fundraiser with her mom and friends, raising another $760 for our families. I love this girl and her heart for serving military and veteran families. HEY, she is part of a military family too and they raised her right. Kudos Pam and Pete! Lauren will also be coming home from school in April to volunteer at the Wine Festival. The sky is the limit!
Connect with holistic practitioners, sports and strength training professionals, weight management, natural & non-invasive anti-aging treatments. Demonstrations, as well as more than $5,000 in raffle prizes and vendor giveaways. Here for more info.
The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created to recognize the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family community. The application period is open until 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time, Wednesday, February 17th, 2021. Apply at sfmc.militaryscholar.org.
The very thought of coffee can instantly work magic on many of us. Its earthy aroma and strong flavor really works wonders in uplifting our moods and gifting us instant comfort. And this is not just a belief. It’s an experience for many of us. What is the secret that makes us crave for a cup of coffee when we are sad, alone, or in need of some good idea? You think there is some secret behind this. Yes, there is and it’s been scientifically proven.
You can’t buy happiness but you can buy coffee and that’s pretty close!
Coffee is well loved at our house throughout the day; consider shopping with Amazon and sending some comfort to the families staying at our Fisher House. Amazon wish list is here and includes k-pod options for our guests.
Hosted from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Palms of Destin Resort & Conference Center
Plug into fresh, smart, creative, fun ways to connect our minds, body, heart & soul to one another in a Whole Life Connection.
Experience pathways to whole living from local artisans, natural cosmetic solutions, organic food & cooking, holistic disciplines, sports & strength training. Interactive demos, workshops, raffles. Over $3000 in prizes and proceeds from Admission and raffle sales to benefit OUR Fisher House & Children’s Hospital. More info here: Wellness Unplugged-Whole Life Connection | Facebook
Tickets can be purchased here.
Meet the Bess family….To support our Eglin Fisher House, Mosquito Joe of Northwest Florida donates $20 for every person that pre-pays and mentions, “give 20.” By doing this they were able to donate $380 in 2018, in 2019 $500 and for 2020, they reached their goal to donate $1,000. Located in Niceville, we love to promote the local businesses who give back and hey, they are also a military family = win-win. Recycling our previous photo, this year virtual and social distanced. Here is a link to their business page.
The Scholarships for Military Children Program, academic year 2021-2022, began accepting applications Dec. 14, and the deadline for submissions is Feb. 17.
In existence for 21 years, the program recognizes the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and celebrates the commissary’s role in enhancing military quality of life. Thus far, SMCP has awarded more than $20.1 million to 11,814 students, selected from a pool of nearly 105,000 applicants.
SMCP is administered by the Fisher House Foundation. Funding comes from commissary business partners and other earmarked contributions. Every dollar received is given out as a scholarship grant. Additionally, the foundation matches all donations, dollar for dollar, and does not charge for its services.
Read more here.
The Port of Vancouver USA welcomed the USNS Fisher, a vessel with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) on December 12 for a stay of approximately nine months, as the temporary home port for the 951-foot long vessel. The ship will be docked at the port’s berths 13 and 14 and will offer an impressive sight to river users and those able to view it from the Oregon side of the Columbia River.
Read More Here
On behalf of Bear Bait Ultras, Dan Landrum presented proceeds from the SOLD OUT 2020 event held in January to the Eglin Fisher House. As part of the planning, he also shared that the 2021 event would be relocating to a new venue, which would open up slots for even more enthusiastic runners. Bear Bait Ultras have a long-standing relationship supporting our Fisher House and we look forward to this new location in Santa Rosa County at Adventures Unlimited. Our treasurer, Jerry Williams, President/CEO of Eglin Federal Credit Union regularly runs this race and is training now for the new race!
