Providing Children Battling Cancer Reunion and Relaxation with their Families

How Can You Help?

Reach out today at sandcastlekidsinc@gmail.com

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Families since 2015

Sandcastle Kids, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, provides children who have endured a challenging battle with cancer a week vacation with their families on the beautiful beaches of Destin and South Walton, Florida.

Learn More

Our Process

Step 01

We work closely with Social Workers.

Step 02

A social worker finds families to apply.

Step 03

Applications are reviewed by the board.

Step 04

We search for a home for the selected dates.

Step 05

The vacation begins!

Without the help of our sponsors many families would miss out on this incredible opportunity for relaxation, healing and rest.

About Us

Meet Our Board of Directors

Shelley Joiner

Casey Joiner

Jim Mitchell

Corey Ledbetter

Farrar Barker

Allie Hershman

Maggie McCown

Make a Donation Today

From Our Social

Happy ☀️ Day friends! We’ve got exciting news 👏🏻 @sandcastle_kids is now the official sponsor of The Snack Cabinet for the oncology patients @studerchildrens hospital in Pensacola! Twice a year we are able to provide funds to keep this cabinet stocked for patients during their treatments. Thank YOU for making this possible!

#sandcastlekids #cancer #pediatriccancer #give #donate #501c3 #nonprofit #chemo

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Update from Mekhi’s trip to the beach! 😎🌴

#cancer #pediatriccancer #sandcastlekids #my360blue #vacation

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Update from Mekhi’s trip to the beach! 😎🌴

#cancer #pediatriccancer #sandcastlekids #my360blue #vacation ...

Mekhi is here and ready for his week at the beach! 👏🏻😎 Mekhi is seven years old and was diagnosed with Leukemia in January of this year. Leave him some well wishes below! We hope you have the best week with your family! 🎗️

#cancer #pediatriccancer #gogold #morethan4 #spring #travel #beach #family #30a #destin #childhoodcancer #florida #nonprofit #501c3 #charity #give #youcanhelp #donate

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We need your help! Tag some of your favorites in the comments bemoan ⬇️ We are in need of local photographers that would be willing to donate their time + talents for our family sessions! 📸

Interested? Send us a message for more information! #childhoodcancer

#pediatriccancer #sandcastlekids #destin #30a #photography #photographer #30aphotographer #destinphotographer #nonprofit #501c3

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The 2024 iPads have been delivered! A HUGE thank you to The Crouch Family for funding this entire initiative this year 👏🏻🤍 We are so grateful for your support!

(Not pictured…the 8️⃣ additional iPads, cases and screen protectors that were also provided because Shelley and Whitney need more arms 😅🐙)

#sandcastlekids #thankyou #ipad #apple #technology #chemo #cancer #pediatriccancer #give #donate #501c3 #charity #destin #30a #florida

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Our spring families will start arriving soon! We are so grateful for the owners and property managers @360_blue and all they do to accommodate our families! You are the BEST 👏🏻🙌🏻

📸 @360_blue

#my360blue #vacation #travel #springbreak #home #30a #destin #florida #cancer #pediatriccancer #gogold #nonprofit #morethan4 #501c3

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2024 iPads were purchased today! 👏🏻👏🏻 We can’t wait to get these into the hands of the kiddos @studerchildrens in Pensacola!

#ipad #technology #apple #cancer #pediatriccancer #childhoodcancer #bestbuy #sandcastlekids #travel #39a #vacation

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Is there anything better than a cancer FREE announcement?! We are THRILLED for you, Riley!! We are so happy that we could be a small part of your journey to remission! 💛

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Is there anything better than a cancer FREE announcement?! We are THRILLED for you, Riley!! We are so happy that we could be a small part of your journey to remission! 💛 ...

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Shelley Joiner

President, Board Member

Shelley grew up in Baton Rouge, LA and attended Louisiana State University. She graduated from the University of South Alabama in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She knew early on that she wanted to do something that involved working with children.

She moved to Santa Rosa Beach, FL in 2005 to be closer to her then fiancé, Casey, and began working at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center as an RN in the Newborn Nursery and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she worked for 12 years. In 2015, Shelley and Casey founded Sandcastle Kids. They had friends and acquaintances around them that were all walking through childhood cancer and felt a strong calling to do something to help.

“We wanted to share the beautiful place that we get to call home with those going through the unimaginable and create a week for them to be together and create beautiful memories.” Shelley resides in Santa Rosa Beach with her husband Casey and children Mason and Madelyn.

Casey Joiner

Vice President, Board Member

Since leaving North Georgia over a decade ago, my path has been one blessing and experience after another. I have held various positions that include Golf Professional, Project Manager, Director of Sales, and now Realtor. I have lived in beautiful resort areas such as Palm Springs, California and Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. I have had the opportunity to work for some of the world's top real estate and resort development companies. Destin has been home for me and my family for over 10 years now. Having lived in many desirable areas, I can honestly say that there is no more beautiful landscape or quality people than you will find on the Emerald Coast. I cannot imagine a better place to experience life with my amazing wife Shelley, and two kids Mason (8) and Madelyn (5). It is an absolute pleasure introducing people to our amazing real estate opportunities, but our growth with Sandcastle has been more rewarding than I ever could have predicted. I challenge everyone reading this to explore what we feel is a special opportunity.

Jim Mitchell

Treasurer, Board Member

James D. “Jim” Mitchell is a native and current resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Following graduation from Broadmoor High School, Jim earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and has spent his entire 33-year professional career in the accounting and finance fields. Now in his 26th year of employment with the St. James Parish School Board in Lutcher, Louisiana, Jim serves the board as CFO. Jim and his wife Karen recently celebrated 30 years of marriage and celebrate their two married daughters and their families daily. Both Jim and Karen are honored to be able to serve .

Cory Ledbetter

Board Member

Proudly able to call himself an Emerald Coast “local,” Corey and his family moved to the enchanting beaches of Northwest Florida when he was a young child. After countless vacations to the sugar white sand coastline, they knew it would be the ideal locale to raise their family. Upon graduation from Choctawhatchee High School in Ft Walton Bch, he made the move to Fayetteville to attend the University of Arkansas, pursuing a degree in advertising and public relations. Upon receiving his degree, he returned to the sunshine state to begin a career in the real estate auction industry. It was there that Corey developed experience as an office manager, marketing director, and vice president of operations; but as a self-proclaimed “people person,” he knew his heart was in sales. Today, Corey is a vital part of the Chris Abbott Group, turning a childhood friendship into a business relationship. Specializing in coastal properties from Destin to Rosemary Beach, Corey works tirelessly to help his clients achieve their real estate goals. Being a part of a full-service team, the Chris Abbott Group is able to serve both primary and secondary homebuyers, property investors, builders and developers, providing hands on assistance every step of the way. Corey sits on the boards of The City of Destin's local planning agency and the non-profit Sandcastle Kids. He is a licensed auctioneer, working numerous charity auctions per year. He loves performing karaoke, paddle boarding and enjoying the Destin Harbor area with his son, Warner.

Farrar Barker

Treasurer, Board Member

Farrar Barker is a business and corporate attorney at Barker Williams, PLLC, and an owner in Shoreline Title, LLC. Farrar's legal practice focuses on representing private, public and non- profit entities in a variety of transactional matters across a wide range of industries, including real estate, hospitality, technology, manufacturing and health care. Her husband Kelly and their two children moved to Santa Rosa Beach in 2012 to be closer to family. She loves that the heart of Sandcastle Kids, Inc. is bringing families to our beautiful beaches for a week to just be a family - to hopefully be able to take a deep breath, enjoy and re-connect with one another and escape for a week from the hard realities that many of these families have endured during their child’s illness.

Allie Hershman

Board Member

I graduated from the University of Southern Indiana in 2013 with a BA in Marketing, accepted a summer internship with acclaimed local artist Justin Gaffrey, and South Walton has been my home ever since. I have worked as a Sales Coordinator for Visit South Walton, an office manager at Sacred Heart, served as the Special Events/Marketing Coordinator for Rosemary Beach and most recently joined Casey Joiner's team at Scenic Sotheby's International Realty. I very quickly discovered Shelley and Casey's heart for this organization. It is undeniable - just give them a minute to tell you about where it all began! Having recently lost a grandmother to cancer and knowing her heart for children as well as my own, when asked about joining their team, it was a very easy "YES!" This area holds thousands of childhood memories for me and I am so grateful to a play a small role in bringing these precious families to the area. When away from work, I enjoy running, baking, and stopping by every antique store I can find! I can also be found at one of the many local beaches with my beloved four-legged companions, a miniature Australian Shepherd and a rescue dog from the Walton County Animal Shelter.

Maggie McCown

Board Member

Maggie grew up in Central Illinois and attended Illinois State University. She graduated with Bachelors of Science in Marketing while also competing on ISU's Women's Golf Team. After college, Maggie moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado before finally calling South Walton home in 2018 when she joined the Joiner Group at Scenic Sotheby's International Realty. Maggie was introduced to Sandcastle Kids through Casey and Shelley Joiner and quickly found ways to be involved by welcoming families as they arrived for their vacations and volunteering at the annual golf tournament. Maggie enjoys spending time with her husband, Mat, relaxing on the beach with friends and family, going to sporting events, trying new local restaurants and volunteering at Westonwood Ranch and the Cultural Arts Alliance.