Coins For a Cause at Destin Commons Benefits Sinfonia & MKAF

You'll be happy to feed a parking meter at Destin Commons for a premium parking space and for a great cause. With a focus on the local community, Coins for a Cause program gives the proceeds from the parking meters to local charities.  Just recently, Destin Commons  was able to donate $10,000 each to Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) and Sinfonia Gulf Coast marking the tenth consecutive year the Coins For A Cause program has supported these outstanding community organizations.

The Coins For A Cause program was created by Destin Commons to help local charities by donating the monies collected from the center’s parking meters. Local charities benefit from donations made to their respective causes related to issues such as health, disabilities, education, the arts and children’s well-being. Coins For A Cause has donated over $1 million to area charities since its inception ten years ago. Premium parking spaces on the interior streets of Destin Commons cost $0.25 for fifteen minutes, or $1 per hour.

“We are extremely fortunate to have the continued support of Destin Commons," says Demetrius Fuller, Music and Artistic Director of Sinfonia Gulf Coast. "For ten years, the contributions made possible by their Coins for the Cause program have enabled Sinfonia to continue to expand its capacity to serve the patrons and youth of Northwest Florida, both via concert events and educational outreach.”

Sinfonia Gulf Coast is entering its tenth season of innovative musical programming, designed to entertain, educate and inspire the community. Since it's founding, the nonprofit orchestra has presented more than 300 concerts and events, has collaborated with numerous nonprofits and businesses throughout the community and has reached more than 37,000 children through its Sinfonia Guest Artists in the Schools program/music education outreach initiatives.  

For more information on Sinfonia Gulf Coast's 2015-2016 season concerts and events, please visit www.SinfoniaGulfCoast.org, call (850) 460-8800 or e-mail info@sinfoniagulfcoast.org.

Twenty years ago the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) began an earnest mission to bring art programs, cultural events, art education and lively entertainment to the sleepy beach town of Destin, Florida. Fast forward from 1995 to 2015, and the milestone 20th anniversary of the organization founded on the cultural, educational and spiritual beliefs of Destin matriarch, Mattie Kelly. The anniversary year provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the organization, while presenting vision for the future. 

Events all year showcase the 20th anniversary including the new Bluegrass music concert presented recently, “Bluegrass at the Beach” Sept. 12 featuring the award-winning and chart-topping band, Blue Highway. Such signature events as Concerts in the Village, Festival of the Arts and Sound of the Season are coming up as the celebration continues. 

MKAF will use their gift to strengthen their All Kinds of Art outreach programs to empower youth through arts and cultural experiences.  The foundation has grown over the past 20 years to include community outreach and children’s educational art programs, along with an extensive calendar of concerts, performances and other events celebrating a wide variety of artistic pursuits.

Learn more at MattieKellyArtsFoundation.org, call 850.650.2226 or visit Facebook.com/mattiekellyartsfoundation.

Destin Commons, one of Northwest Florida’s premier open-air lifestyle shopping and dining destinations, features more than 100 stores and restaurants offering shopping, dining and entertainment. The center is located at the corner of US Highway 98 and the Mid Bay Bridge Road. For additional information, please call (850) 337-8700 or visit www.DestinCommons.com. Join the conversation at Facebook.com/DestinCommons.