The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce will host its inaugural Mayor’s Charity Gala on Sept. 6, bringing together all nine Okaloosa County mayors for the first time in an event dedicated to honoring their service.
- The gala, scheduled for 5:30-10 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach, will feature formal to business professional attire and include a live auction with vacation trips and other items.
“The business community has not honored our mayors with an event like this before,” said Ted Corcoran, Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber CEO. “Other groups have recognized them, but we’ve never celebrated all the hard work our mayors do here in Okaloosa County with an event just for them.”
The event will present the inaugural Mayor Mike Anderson Award to former Fort Walton Beach Mayor Dick Rynearson, who served as a city councilman followed by 8 years as mayor. Rynearson was also recently named Mayor Emeritus by the council.
Mike Anderson served as mayor from 2005 to 2017, capping off a nearly two-decade career in public service that began with his election to the city council in 2001.
- “When we lost Mayor Mike Anderson, it seemed fitting to create an award in his honor,” Corcoran said. “He was such an important part of our community for so many years.”
Three other community leaders will receive Community Appreciation Awards:
- Capt. Gary Jarvis – Former Destin Mayor
- Mel Ponder – Former State Representative and Okaloosa County Commissioner, who now serves as president of Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.
- Nathan Boyles – Former Okaloosa County Commissioner, who now serves as State Representative.
“We want to thank these individuals for their years of public service and their continued commitment to our community,” Corcoran said.
The idea for the Gala came from Matt McKinnon of Emerald Coast Entertainment Group, a chamber member who has organized similar successful events in Atlanta and other locations. McKinnon is handling the live auction items and event production.
Bernard Johnson from Florida Power & Light will co-host the event with Corcoran. Johnson said the event provides a rare opportunity for formal gatherings in the area.
- “There aren’t that many events in our area that call for you to get dressed-up,” Johnson joked. “It is Florida, after all. But the Mayor’s Charity Gala gives us a great opportunity to put on a nice event, get dressed up and raise money for local charities.”
All proceeds will be divided equally among local nonprofits: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, United Way Emerald Coast, Air Commando Association, One Hopeful Place, and the Gulf Coast Council Scouting America.
The Chamber plans to make the gala an annual event, rotating the benefiting charities each year while continuing to honor different community members and mayors.
Corcoran said the event will provide an opportunity for attendees to meet and learn about all nine mayors from across the county.
“We’ll introduce each mayor and share some wonderful things about their service to their communities,” Corcoran said.
Tickets and table information are available at www.mayorscharitygalanwfl.com.
