Members of Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club Donate $40,000 for New K-9s at Walton County Sheriff’s Office

Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club’s Sassy Sisters is a club within their membership that offers a full social calendar to meet the diverse interests of ladies of all ages. The group offers frequent opportunities to meet others at social events, explore local and regional attractions on day and overnight trips and get involved in the community by volunteering and fundraising. The Project K-9 fundraising campaign began in November 2020, when the Sassy Sisters held an event at Vue on 30a entitled “Walton County Sheriff’s Office Presents: Our Courageous Canines.”

At this event, the group learned from Sheriff Atkinson and directly from K-9 handlers, Deputy John Avery and Deputy Damon Byrd, about how valuable of a resource a K-9 is to them on a daily basis. The deputies shared personal stories of what it’s like to have their K-9 by their side both at work and at home. The ladies were able to meet WCSO’s current K-9s; Jester and Colt, and watch them demonstrate their skills with both a narcotics search and a takedown on the beach.

The Sassy Sisters raised funds through member donations and contributions from the local community. The group partnered with Walton County resident, Andrea Rockefeller, whose career spans more than 30 years in law enforcement with her most memorable assignment being a K-9 handler. Rockefeller felt passionately towards the campaign and pledged to match the total amount raised by the Sassy Sisters. At the check presentation, Rockefeller revealed an additional $12,000 donation to the cause, helping the Sassy Sisters not only meet, but exceed their original goal.

“K-9s provide an invaluable asset to Walton County Sheriff’s Office and to the community. They are the eyes and ears of their handlers undergoing many hours of training and strenuous real-world scenarios to achieve certification and become sworn members of our agency. Their loyal and dedicated service is one to be admired,” said Corey Dobridnia, Public Information Officer, Walton County Sheriff’s Office. “The donation from Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club means providing additional K-9s to our team to help assist with multiple aspects of law enforcement including drug detection, suspect apprehension, and more. All of this to achieve one goal; to make our community a safer place for families.”

Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club is the only member-owned golf course and private beach club on the coast – located on scenic Highway 30A in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Hugging the sugar-white sandy beaches of South Walton, the club spans across more than 85 acres providing members and their guests access to golf, dining, and more. The club boasts an 18 hole, par 72 championship golf course, a beautiful beach club with private pool and beach access, plus dining – including the club’s signature restaurant located directly on the Gulf of Mexico, Vue on 30a. Learn more at staging-bgrmsantarosa-stage.kinsta.cloud.