Holiday Wreath Contest Winners

And the winners are…

First Place—$2,000: Friends of Bear, Inc.

Based in Gulf Breeze, Friends of Bear, Inc. was founded 15 years ago by Gene “Bear” York. He organized a motorcycle ride to collect toys for the local Toys for Tots. Bear continued this event until his passing in 2008. A small group of friends decided to keep this great cause going in his honor. Since 2013, they have donated over $40,000 in toys (mostly bicycles) to the local Toys for Tots. Friends of Bear gives people an opportunity to come together and do great things for people in need.

Second Place—$1,500: Dogs on Deployment

A national non-profit, Dogs on Deployment provides peace of mind to military members by finding volunteers willing to board their pets (all pets, not just dogs) while they are deployed or have other service commitments. Additionally, Dogs on Deployment promotes responsible, life-long pet ownership in the military community. Dogs on Deployment has designated the $1,500 award to help a local military member in our community.

Third Place—$1,000: Dixon School of the Arts

Pensacola’s Dixon School of the Arts is a private STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) school serving kindergarten through eighth grades. They also offer a world-class arts program. Their mission is to nurture high academic achievement through the use of the arts, positive learning environments, beneficial relationships and high-caliber instruction, tailored to individual student and family needs.

These 19 other organizations were also represented:

ARC of Baldwin County

Autism Pensacola

B.I.G Autism Foundation,

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida

Children’s Dance Theatre of Fairhope

Every Child A Reader Escambia County

FavorHouse of NWFL

Hope Haven

Junior Humane Society

Miracle League

Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center

Panhandle Warrior Partnership

Phoenix Rising Rescue

Prodisee Pantry

Ronald McDonald House Charities of NWFL

Santa Rosa Kids House

Shriner’s of Escambia County

Trauma Intervention Program of NWFL

Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida.

We encourage you to learn more about all our Wreath Contest entrants and consider supporting one (or more). The contest will be back in December, but in the meantime PenAir has some great ideas for expressing your Communerosity all year ‘round.