A Tradition Of Giving In Seaside

Seaside was built on the belief that community matters. From the way an employee greets a guest to the thoughtful details that make a vacation unforgettable, our town is rooted in the belief that service is more than a transaction, it’s an act of care. We understand that genuine hospitality is about making people feel seen, valued, and connected. That spirit of hospitality has become an integral part of Seaside’s identity.

That same spirit extends far beyond our storefronts and restaurants. What centers it all is a deep commitment to community, to lifting up neighbors, supporting schools, protecting our coast, and investing in the future. In Seaside, generosity isn’t an afterthought. It’s the foundation. From scholarships for students to healthcare access, from animal welfare to coastal restoration, our Merchants, the heartbeat of Seaside, have always been giving back.

A Community Built on Care

The Seaside Style® has always believed that style and service go hand in hand. Their charitable reach extends to organizations such as the Point Washington Medical Clinic (PWMC), the Walton County Animal Shelter, Food for Thought Outreach, and Alaqua Animal Refuge. Each partnership reflects a core belief that hospitality means extending care to both people and animals who need it most.

In addition to these core partnerships, The Seaside Style® also empowers customers to join in giving back through their in-store donation boxes. Guests are invited to contribute in exchange for a collectible “Bud the Dachshund” sticker, with proceeds directed toward timely needs. Sometimes this means helping a local family in crisis, other times providing hurricane relief for neighbors, or, most recently, raising funds for Camp Mystic flood recovery. It’s a simple but powerful way to turn a shopping trip into a moment of impact, proof that generosity here is shared between merchants and our guests.

Investing in the Next Generation

The Dawson Group (Pickle’s Burgers & Shakes, Shrimp Shack, Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs, It’s Heavenly, Dawson’s Yogurt & Fudge Works) carries this legacy forward through its Pay for Grades program, launched in 2023 by owners Ashley and Clark Beecher alongside Courtney and Baron Fields. The initiative rewards student employees for academic achievement, paying out more than $14,000 to date. High schoolers and college students alike have benefited, with parents praising the program for encouraging both responsibility and education. “It’s our way of recognizing the hard work of our team, many of whom are with us year-round,” Ashley shared.

The Dawson Group also participates in local charitable golf tournaments, including Tee It Up for Autism and the Tom Glavine Field of Dreams fundraiser for Seaside Neighborhood School, showing that their support for the next generation goes far beyond the classroom.

Standing Together for Health and Wellness

Seaside’s merchants have long been champions of the Point Washington Medical Clinic (PWMC), which provides free medical care to uninsured and underinsured residents. Bud & Alley’s has hosted fundraising dinners, The Art of Simple helped shape PWMC’s Harvest Moon events into a beloved annual tradition, and Central Square Records, The Seaside Style®, and Ruskin Place homeowners have all contributed to the cause. Their support ensures that healthcare remains accessible to those who need it most.

For Seaside, supporting PWMC is more than philanthropy, it’s a promise that no neighbor will be overlooked.

Many Seaside merchants connect their giving directly to what they create and sell.

Poeta repurposes lightly flawed or retired bags and donates them globally through Project Hope and Convoy of Hope, most recently sending shipments to Haiti and Africa.

Mended empowers survivors of trafficking in South Asia by training them in block printing, providing above-market wages, and sustainable livelihoods. Every table linen or textile purchased here in Seaside carries a story of resilience and restoration.

Duckies and Mercantile support Westonwood Ranch, a 50-acre Freeport facility offering job training, equine therapy, and independence-building programs for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Artful Eye is a proud partner of Project Eyesight, which provides free prescription glasses and eye care in underserved U.S. communities, giving the priceless gift of vision.

Kismet ties its mission directly to the coast. With the launch of its vibrant Tansy line, 10% of net proceeds are donated to coastal restoration efforts, ensuring Seaside’s shoreline remains as beautiful as the products it inspires.

Drome proves that impact can reach far beyond the kitchen. Through their nonprofit work with Empowering Young Warriors Asia, they’ve supported children in need in the Philippines and Cambodia, while also partnering with local organizations in Auburn to uplift families and single mothers.

Every donation, every partnership, every scholarship is an extension of the same hospitality that defines Seaside, the kind that welcomes you at the door, remembers your story, and looks for ways to make life a little brighter. Here, generosity isn’t separate from service; it is service.

And when you shop, dine, and gather in Seaside, you don’t just experience that hospitality, you become part of it, carrying forward a tradition of care and giving back.