Event Location: Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa, Miramar Beach, FL
Story & Photography by: Harley S. Sampson, Jr.
Event Date: 03/07/2026
Soft coastal light and the quiet hum of conversation filled the hallway ballroom as community leaders, advocates, and supporters gathered with a shared purpose: protecting the most vulnerable among us. For many children along the Emerald Coast, healing begins with a safe place to speak and someone willing to listen. That mission is at the heart of the work of the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC). Along the Emerald Coast, an average of three cases of child abuse are reported every day in Walton County and Okaloosa counties, totaling more than 1,000 cases each year. Seeking to heal and prevent the trauma of childhood abuse and neglect, ECCAC was founded to build a better, healthier future by ending child abuse 1 child at a time. From elementary school educational programs to efforts that help keep children in safe and supported homes and out of the judicial child welfare sys-tem, ECCAC relies on a multidisciplinary team that responds to cases of child abuse throughout the re-gion. As a nonprofit, ECCAC is funded through individual donors and a wide network of community partners. On 7 March Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa hosted half of ECCAC’s signature event weekend: Gala and Golf.
Presented by Peggy and Jerry Swanson, the evening opened with a cocktail hour followed by a seated meal and a guest speaker. Isabella Rose first came through the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center at just 6 years old. Now 22, she stands as a testament to the power of a children’s advocacy center. Standing before the audience that evening, she reflected on the role ECCAC played in helping shape her future.
“As an adult now, I am forever grateful for the guidance received by ECCAC, because of their help, it has allowed me to thrive and excel in all areas of my life.”
Isabella Rose
Featuring a photobooth, live and silent auctions, and an award presentation, the gala was a night for thecommunity to come together on behalf of children in crisis. “Unfortunately evil plays on the innocent, but when we rise up together with courage to defend them, love wins,” said Julie Porterfield, Chief Ex-ecutive Officer, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center. “Our thank you to our gala guests and ev-eryone involved for helping to restore broken childhoods.”
Because every child deserves a childhood, ECCAC’s centers have served as safe havens for children af-fected by abuse and neglect for more than 20 years. Through advocacy, prevention programs, and edu-cational initiatives, ECCAC provides services and support to thousands of children each year across the Emerald Coast. To learn more visit eccac.org.
