Bijoux Destin Raises $20,000

Photo courtesy of Gerald Burwell

We were excited to be able to attend Bijoux Destin’s Winemakers Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction. The benefit raised $20,000 to help with the costs of open-heart surgery for longtime employee William Binford.

Photo courtesy of Mary Jane Kirby.

Community members purchased tickets for $250 to reserve their seats for the dinner, and all proceeds raised from the dinner and auction were donated to the William Binford Recovery Fund. Local businesses donated items for the silent auction and wines were provided by Dunstan Wines of Durell Vineyard, Sanglier Cellars, Pip Wines, and Prime Cellars. Wines by these vineyards are all distributed locally by McNeese Distributing.

On January 9, William Binford was diagnosed with a torn aorta at just 25 years old. He was flown immediately to Pensacola from Destin for emergency open-heart surgery. Insurance will only cover a small fraction of the total costs accrued from his surgery, hospital stay, and recovery. It is the Bijoux Destin team’s hope that with the support of the community it can raise enough funds to cover at least a significant portion of the costs of this unfortunate situation. For more information or to make a donation to the William Binford Recovery Fund, please visit his fund-raising page on YouCaring.com.

Photo courtesy of Gerald Burwell.