20 Years of Healthy Smiles!

Children’s Volunteer Health Network Kicks Off 2025

Story and photography courtesy of CVHN

The Children’s Volunteer Health Network (CVHN), a nonprofit based in Florida’s Walton and Okaloosa Counties, is excited to invite you to join its board members, volunteers, staff, and supporters as they celebrate the organization’s twentieth anniversary!

Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Inc. is a faith-based 501(c)(3) organization established in 2005 to improve the health and well-being of the area’s children. The mission of CVHN is to eliminate the barriers to accessible and affordable healthcare for children in need through mobile solutions and community partnerships. CVHN provides comprehensive dental health care services through its Mobile Dental Clinic facilities, serving local elementary schools and other community partners.

As most nonprofits do, CVHN relies on donations, grants, and volunteers to keep its programs running, including its two mobile dental clinics that now serve over twenty thousand kids. You can help these initiatives by attending CVHN events, donating online, or signing up to assist the team! We’re so excited to celebrate twenty years of not only CVHN in 2025 but also the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), one of the organization’s leading fundraising partners.

Let’s make a difference, one smile at a time.

The Soiree Emerald Gala

March 14 & 15, 2025

Returning for its fourth year with an over-the-top twentieth-anniversary twist, CVHN’s “Soiree on the Bay” will become the Soiree Emerald Gala for 2025! Join the organization at the beautiful Dugas Estate on Choctawhatchee Bay both Friday and Saturday, March 14 & 15, for an unforgettable evening of fundraising and celebration amid centuries-old live oak trees, bayside breezes, and good spirits.

The event features vintners and craft spirits from around the world, creating a tasting experience like no other as guests mingle, sip, and savor delicious bites provided by Café Thirty-A. Silent and live auctions will include unforgettable experiences, with special guest auctioneer Mike Hoss—the “voice of the New Orleans Saints” as the team’s play-by-play announcer—bringing the energy and fun to the live auction on Friday night under the tent.

Saturday afternoon’s bocce ball tournament has been a crowd favorite during Soiree on the Bay for the past three years, as teams compete to see who will take home bragging rights and have their names commemorated in CVHN history. Meanwhile, gather beneath the live oaks and get ready to dance to music by the Tip Tops Band, a jazzy group out of Mobile, Alabama. Branded as one of the top party bands in the South, their mix of Motown, soul, funk, and pop never fails to get guests out on the floor.

“CVHN is so thrilled not only to be presenting our fourth annual Soiree on the Bay event but also to celebrate our twentieth anniversary in style as we turn it into a Soiree Emerald Gala this year!” says executive director Megan Trent.

Being part of this incredible organization has been one of the great honors of my life. The people who support us and our team of amazing dental professionals, staff, and volunteers are nothing short of heroes who do everything they can to help the children and families in our community. Thank you to everyone who has donated their money, time, and energy to CVHN over the past twenty years—we couldn’t do this without you, and we hope you’ll all come to celebrate with us at the gala in March!

The organization shares its twentieth birthday with another fantastic area nonprofit, the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF). This entity also works tirelessly year-round to support various children’s charities in Northwest Florida, including CVHN. DCWAF will host its anniversary auction weekend April 25–27, 2025, with a curation of wine dinners, auctions, tastings, and more.

Stay tuned as details unfold and more sponsors join the party for these incredible weekends!

In the meantime, you don’t have to wait until March to groove with the Tip Tops! Join CVHN on February 7, 2025, for an unforgettable evening under the stars at Grand Boulevard! Now in its second year, Under the Big Top with the Tip Tops builds on the success of last year’s beloved event, previously known as “Sounds with Soul.” A carnival of flavors will also be a highlight as guests can savor mouthwatering bites and refreshing drinks from an incredible lineup of vendors, including Tommy Bahama, Cantina Laredo, Grimaldi’s, Emeril’s Coastal, Hilton Sandestin, Black Bear Bread Company, Vin’tij, and Fatboys, to name a few. It’s a feast for the senses that’ll make this magical evening under the big top unforgettable!

Families will love the Kids’ Tent, featuring supervised fun with games, activities, and a special kid-friendly menu. While the little ones enjoy their evening, adults can unwind and soak in the festive atmosphere. It’s a night of family-friendly entertainment, with all proceeds supporting CVHN’s mission to provide critical healthcare services for local children. Tickets are $40 per adult and $25 per child and can be found at CVHNkids.org.

“We are truly grateful to Grand Boulevard, Hilton Sandestin, and Trustmark Bank for sponsoring this magical event,” says Trent. “Be sure to visit our website for the latest sponsorship updates, and a big thank you to all our generous supporters who help make this event a reality!”

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For more information on these and future events or volunteer opportunities, visit CVHNkids.org or call (850) 622-3200. For more updates, follow CVHN on Facebook and Instagram (@cvhnkids05).