8th Annual Hurricane Party Sep. 21 at Bud & Alley's

Back in 2005 the small crew at Children's Volunteer Health Network was hard at work starting up their organization and then Hurricane Katrina hit, forcing evacuation in many areas. Many locals had evacuated and returned, and many folks from the New Orleans area fled here. The already-scheduled, first fundraiser for CVHN became known as the Hurricane Party.

The Hurricane Party has grown in to a great tradition. The 8th annual edition is on September 21 in the heart of South Walton at Bud & Alleys in Seaside, with great food and fun entertainment.

The doors open at 6 pm with drinks and hors d’oeuvres and the event will feature a live and silent auction. Tickets are $60 in advance or $75 the day of the party with all proceeds going to Children’s Volunteer Health Network Inc.

Two weeks prior to the party, select auction items will be available online for anyone to bid on. The online auction will end at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 19 and will continue at the party. Look for more details coming soon. Purchase tickets »
 

Children’s Volunteer Health Network began in 2005, when one little boy’s crooked smile touched the heart of Tricia Carlisle-Northcutt. Tricia volunteered at an outreach program at her church, and every Tuesday, Tyler and his little brother were there “only for the cookies,” he would say. Tyler was disruptive, funny and had great leadership potential, but his jumbled mouth of teeth caused him emotional pain. He was called “Monster Mouth” and ridiculed by other children and, in turn, became a bully and show off. He was routinely suspended from school for fighting.

Over a period of a few months, Tricia knew that Tyler needed to be helped or he would be a lost child. She also believed there were many more children like Tyler who could not afford dental or medical health care. Through a lot of prayer and research, the idea for Children’s Volunteer Health Network was born.

Volunteer doctors and dentists could donate their time, and volunteers would make sure the kids got to their appointments. In theory, it sounded great. Getting there was going to be a Herculean task.

Tricia called three people in her church community and asked them to help form this faith-based organization. All three of them said, “let’s do it!” The next step was convincing an orthodontist to see Tyler at no cost. With the first phone call placed and Tyler’s story shared, Dr. Runnels said, “yes!” Tyler would get his braces.

From that day forward, there was no going back. And for Tyler it was life changing. His grades improved, he became manager of his wrestling team and he learned that there was an entire community that cared for him.