Sunny 105 honors heroes, raises funds for Sea Glass Initiative
Sunny 105 honors heroes, raises funds for Sea Glass Initiative
Gulf Shores based Sunny 105.7 Radio recently paid tribute to seven extraordinary locals who demonstrated remarkable courage and compassion in moments of crisis while raising funds for The Sea Glass Initiative non-profit during its inaugural Heroes of the Gulf Coast celebration.
Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by The Port at Zeke’s and participated in a silent auction that raised $10,000 to help Initiative in its mission to battle homelessness in Baldwin County.
“There are many incredible local people who live, work and play here in the Gulf Coast. We wanted to bring an event that would lift the human spirit by celebrating some of these extraordinary people, while also supporting a local non profit doing so much for our community,” said Mary Williams, Co-Owner of Sunny 105.7.
• Military Hero – Presented by New Horizon Insurance; Ret. U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Munyon was recognized for his distinguished service, including personal defense and tactical training, life-saving actions, and an unwavering commitment to the safety of others.
• Youth Advocate Hero – Presented by Brett Robinson; Tim Harry, Children’s Rescue Initiative & Silent Knight Rescue, was honored for his tireless efforts rescuing thousands of children from labor and sex trafficking, and for founding Silent Knight Rescue to recover missing children along the Gulf Coast.
• Public Safety (Police) Hero – Presented by Columbia Southern; Officer Gabe Trujillo, Gulf Shores Police Department, was commended for his quick thinking and life-saving response while on duty, arriving and acting before EMTs could reach the scene.
• Medical Hero – Presented by Baldwin Health; Dr. Ryan Forbess, Orange Beach Family Medicine was celebrated for administering critical, life-saving care to a teenage shark attack victim while vacationing, exemplifying commitment to care beyond the clinic.
• Beach Rescue Hero – Presented by Anchor Pawn; Deputy Sydney Wentworth, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, was honored for her bravery in rescuing swimmers in distress off Fort Morgan, tragically losing her partner, Deputy Bill Smith, in the process.
• Public Safety (Fire) Hero – Presented by Beachball Properties; Firefighter/Paramedic TJ Winston, Orange Beach Fire Rescue was recognized for his compassionate and composed care during a multi-vehicle accident, providing calm support in a chaotic moment.
• Good Samaritan Heroes – Presented by Seacrest Furniture & Coastal Boat & RV Sales; Jim and Jack Muhle wer applauded for their humanitarian response to Hurricane Helene, loading a trailer with essential supplies and heading to North Carolina with their own construction equipment to help however they could.
“Sea glass is the magic of transforming something broken into something new, and that’s what we strive to do every day with people’s lives, ” said Michelle Hillman, executive director of The Sea Glass Initiative.