We’re privileged to work with numerous nonprofit organizations in our community, each dedicated to making a profound impact in our region. On this Giving Tuesday, we extend an invitation for you to join us in supporting these selfless champions of change. Your contribution, no matter the size, plays a vital role in supporting their missions!
Alaqua believes that every abused, neglected, and homeless animal deserves a second chance. They strive to be the leading advocate for all animals and provide shelter, safety, and second chances to animals in need. Support them in giving animals the home they deserve this Giving Tuesday.
Audubon Florida's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. This organization leads the way in the protection of our state's land, water, and wildlife. Contributions to Audubon Florida support science, education, advocacy, and on-the-ground action for birds and the places and resources they need.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast service many of our area's youth through after-school programs, summer programs, and more. Your generosity gives the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast the resources to enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.
The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance strives to promote swimmable, fishable waterways in our community through monitoring, education, restoration, and research. CBA encourages locals to join in their mission to take accountability for their area's natural resources. If you can't give money this year, please consider sharing your time with the CBA by volunteering to build reefs, monitor water quality, or raise oyster gardens.
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation connects wine enthusiasts to raise money benefiting children in need in Northwest Florida. They host world-class wine and culinary events that raise millions of dollars for select Northwest Florida children’s charities. These funds have impacted the lives of over 100,000 youth in our area!
Emerald Coast Autism Center dedicates and improves the lives of individuals with autism in Okaloosa and Walton counties and surrounding areas. They are unique in their approach to teaching these amazing children; all instruction and activities at the center are conducted consistent with the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
The Emerald Coast Science Center strives to inspire and grow a scientifically engaged community in Northwest Florida. As the only science museum in Okaloosa County, your gift helps close the STEAM education learning gap by providing transformative educational opportunities for children and expanding their pathways to success!
As our community's premier cultural arts organization, the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation strives to enhance and inspire through arts and culture. They are committed to cultivating and nurturing a deep appreciation of the arts along the Emerald Coast and live out this mission through art education for people of all ages and abilities!
Sinfonia Gulf Coast is committed to entertaining, educating, and inspiring the community through imaginative and innovative musical programming. Their goal is to enrich and expand the traditional orchestra experience through unique artistic disciplines and collaborations, enhancing Northwest Florida’s cultural vitality!
Which nonprofits will you support this Giving Tuesday? Let us know in the comments!
At Frances Roy, we seek motivation and inspiration through books, movies, podcasts, music, magazines, blogs, and more. Creativity presents itself in many forms, and we harness that creativity through these exposures. By sharing our team RWLs with you, we hope to extend this inspiration and offer it as a platform for contagious creativity. As we present our RWLs, we ask you to share your RWLs with us. Where do you find creative inspiration?
Shantelle P. Dedicke, CMP | President, Chief Creative Officer
R: Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten
W: What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu) and KitchenStory (Youtube)
L: Hallow App and Yo-Yo Ma Essentials
Hillaree Somerville | Senior Director of Communications
R: Handbook for Cool Moms
W: Severance
L: A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek
Janae Erickson | Senior Director of Design
R: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone with my son
W: Holiday Baking Championship
L: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
Kelsey Doar | Marketing Director
R: The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
W: The Big Bang Theory
L: Best of Both Worlds Podcast
Jodie Warner | Research Coordinator
R: Where We Promise by Ashley Munoz
W: Football
L: Law & Crime Sidebar and Crime Junkie
Gregory Dedicke | Digital Marketing Specialist
R: Your Utopia Stories by Bora Chung
W: Arcane Season 2
L: Live lofi beats for work, and Violent Vira
Nicole Malley | Digital Media Specialist
R: Herding Tigers by Todd Henry and The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
W: Yellowstone
L: Christmas Music
Jacie Chandler | Digital Coordinator
R: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
W: 9-1-1 and The Rookie on Hulu
L: Wasteland, Baby by Hozier, and my Discover Weekly album on Spotify
Ana Sharp | Graphic Designer
R: Nothing at the moment!
W: Adobe After Effects Motion Graphics on Youtube
L: Fall Feels on Spotify
Sophia Frankhouse | Content Coordinator
R: Verity by Colleen Hoover
W: Abbott Elementary on Hulu
L: Basically Unfiltered Podcast
The Best in Destin Awards were created because there are so many great things about the Destin area. Destin is fortunate to have so many great local businesses whose passion for their community is obvious, as each nominated business has left a positive impression on someone. This includes some of our clients and friends, so we’ll be voting for them to ensure they receive the recognition they deserve, will you join us?
Here’s who we’re voting for in the 2025 Best in Destin Awards:
Alaqua Animal Refuge
Avantgarde
Black Bear Bread Co.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation
Emerald Coast Title Services
Frances Roy Agency
Grand Boulevard
Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation
Newman-Dailey Resort Properties
Rock Out Climbing Gym
Ruckel Properties
Saltwater Restaurants
SimpleHR
Step One Automotive Group
Click here to cast your votes for the 2025 Best in Destin Awards!
This week on the Hello Frances podcast, host Shantelle Dedicke shares insights on the impact of simple, intentional actions that help us reconnect and reset during difficult times. She explores ways to find balance in relationships, prioritize self-care, and return to the basics as a source of renewal. Tune in for an honest conversation that encourages listeners to embrace small, meaningful steps toward well-being, especially when life feels overwhelming.
Have questions or comments about this episode? We’d love to chat! Email he***@********oy.com.
This week on the Hello Frances podcast, host Shantelle Dedicke sits down with Laurie Hood, Founder and CEO of Alaqua Animal Refuge, to discuss the game-changing impact Alaqua has on the lives of animals and the community. They explore the recent relocation of animals ahead of Hurricane Milton and how the dedicated staff and volunteers create a safe, loving environment through daily feeding and enrichment. Laurie shares the incredible ripple effect of Alaqua’s mission, from saving animals to inspiring others to take action. Together, they discuss how supporting animal refuges like Alaqua can lead to meaningful change and why so many are drawn to this vital work.
Have questions or comments about this episode? We’d love to chat! Email he***@********oy.com.
How You Can Support Alaqua:
From local networking events to celebrations and festivals, we’ve gathered up a few of the most-anticipated events happening in the next few months so you can easily add them to your calendar!
October
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours
8th Annual Harvest Wine and Food Festival
Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) Indoor League
Festival of the Arts: Arty Kick Off Party
29th Annual Festival of the Arts
Movie on the Beach: The Haunted Mansion
29th Annual Festival of the Arts
November
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee
Luminescence: Catalyst by Candlelight
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Nothing But Networking
Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) Indoor League
Château and Charcuterie with Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours
Hometown Holiday Parade and Celebration
Thanksending Bouldering Competition
December
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee
Holiday Open House and Shop-About
Big Band Holiday Toast ‘n Jam feat Morgan James
Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Party
This week on the Hello Frances podcast, host Shantelle Dedicke chats with Bill Leitner, the visionary behind Leitbox Storage Partners, about his journey into the self-storage industry. Bill discusses the game-changing strategies his team employs and how Leitbox sets itself apart from the competition. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts to hear how Leitbox is transforming the self-storage landscape, one project at a time!
Have questions or comments about this episode? We’d love to chat! Email he***@********oy.com.
We're revisiting one of our favorite episodes of the Hello Frances Podcast! On this episode, Shantelle is joined by guest Ellen May for a candid conversation about "Family First" workplace cultures and how it functions within Frances Roy. Together, they explore the fine line between fostering a family-oriented environment and when it can venture into "unfair" territory. Their discussion takes a few unexpected turns, offering an insider perspective on the origins of their friendship, the creation of their own "Moai," and the lasting bonds of mutual mentorship that transcend time and distance.
Have questions or comments about this episode? We’d love to chat! Email he***@********oy.com.
This week on the Hello Frances Podcast, Shantelle shares a deeply personal story about the profound impact of losing her grandfather, Roy. She opens up about feeling adrift in the wake of his passing and discusses her choice to stop struggling to return to the "normal" she once knew. Instead, she is embracing the reality that this significant loss has changed her. Join us for a heartfelt conversation on grief, healing, and navigating life’s most transformative moments.
Have questions or comments about this episode? We’d love to chat! Email he***@********oy.com.
At Frances Roy, we seek motivation and inspiration through books, movies, podcasts, music, magazines, blogs, and more. Creativity presents itself in many forms, and we harness that creativity through these exposures. By sharing our team RWLs with you, we hope to extend this inspiration and offer it as a platform for contagious creativity. As we present our RWLs, we ask you to share your RWLs with us. Where do you find creative inspiration?
Shantelle P. Dedicke, CMP | President, Chief Creative Officer
R: Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig
W: Getting Lost with Erin French on MAX and Presumed Innocent on AppleTV
L: Hallow App
Hillaree Somerville | Senior Director of Content and Marketing
R: Morning Brew newsletter
W: Alone (Season 11)
L: Diary of a CEO podcast
Janae Erickson | Art Director
R: Quicksilver by Callie Hart
W: Emily in Paris on Netflix
L: Audio Book - "Burnout" by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
Jodie Warner | Research Coordinator
R: The Fallen Men Series
W: Football!
L: Law & Crime Podcast
Kayla Koger | Design & Content Coordinator
R: Nothing currently!
W: Bridgerton & The Challenge
L: Gals on the Go Podcast & Viall Files Podcast
Nicole Malley | Digital Media Specialist
R: A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
W: Dark Matter on Apple TV
L: Sabrina Carpenter's new Album “Short n' Sweet”
Ryan Cobb | Web Developer
R: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
W: Psych
L: Pat McAfee Show
Jacie Chandler | Junior Copywriter
R: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
W: Rookie on Hulu and Umbrella Academy on Netflix
L: OneRepublic’s “Artificial Paradise” and Ashton Irwin’s “BLOOD ON THE DRUMS”
