$10,031 was raised for Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. (From Left to Right – Shervin Rassa, Erin Igram, Lexi Holdbrooks, Whitney Ladwig, Jessica Proffitt, Brandon and Brandi Montalto, and daughter Ella Montalto.)
Beginning as a holiday party for local women just one year ago, GNO soon cultivated into a signature charity event held at venues including Harbor Docks, Marlin, Grill, Tuscany Italian Bistro, and The Solaris. GNO quickly garnered a loyal following of 300+ ladies. With such significant growth, Proffitt PR began to incorporate a different beneficiary for each event in order to give back to the community.
For GNO Does 30A, Proffitt PR partnered with local charity, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, whose mission is ‘To inspire and empower all young people to achieve their full potential.’ Under the organization’s umbrella, there are seven Clubs throughout Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties. Among targeted programs and high-yield activities, the Club provides a safe, positive environment for young people as well as supportive, meaningful relationships through informal mentorship with caring adults. The money raised from GNO does 30A will go directly to fund programming costs at the South Walton Club’s new facility, currently under construction and due to open in the fall.
“Everyone feels so blessed for the opportunity to have been chosen as the charity recipient of such a unique and special event,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Resource Development Specialist, Erin Igram. “Through the support of Proffitt PR, GNO sponsors and attendees, we’re able to continue providing premier youth development services for our current Club kids and the many more who join come August.”
GNO’s efforts raised $10,031 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Emerald Coast and their new South Walton location. To date, Proffitt PR’s Girls’ Night Out events have raised $31,595 for multiple charities in just a year and a half.
For a $30 donation to attend, guests enjoyed heavy hors d’oeuvres by Pandora’s of Grayton Beach and mixology stations, featuring specialty cocktails by Ketel One Vodka and The Honey Hutch, a local honey and beekeeper. The evening featured a silent auction, a $1,000 shopping spree from Perspicacity, a NOOK Simple Touch with Glow Light donated by Dr. Amber Wiebe of Santa Rosa Beach Dental, live music by Hotel Oscar and DJ EXQ, local vendors and a sell-out crowd of over 300 leading ladies of the Emerald Coast in attendance.
Photo by Nichole Burnett Photography
One fundamental aspect of GNO was sponsorship from local businesses through silent auction, raffles and giveaways. Attendees browsed the array of over 75 silent auction packages including a luxurious weekend stay at The Pearl of Rosemary Beach, a Chastane reverse art painting, golf packages and more. Raffle prizes covered the hallways of Pandora’s where ladies purchased tickets to those items they wished to win. Raffle prizes included an ‘Ultimate Proffitt PR Package,’ which was filled with an array of various items from Proffitt PR clients.
Attendees were surprised at the end of the evening, when one lucky lady was chosen out of the crowd to win round trip tickets on Southern Airways Express, the new airline operating out of Destin and Panama City Beach.
“Being able to gather hundreds of the most incredible women in our area into one place on one night is so amazing,” said Jessica Proffitt. “It has been such a blessing to be able to create an outing for women to enjoy themselves, network and have a good time all while giving back to a worthy cause.”
The next Girls’ Night Out will take place on Thursday, September 26 at the new Elephant Walk at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
