Cross-Dressed for success: Tax Collector's employees strut the catwalk for a good cause

For those who think our local Tax Collector’s Office is full of a bunch of money-grabbing old fuddy duddies, think again.

“I am the most masculine man you would want to meet and people can’t believe I’m doing this, and I wouldn’t be if it weren’t benefiting the Boys & Girls Club. This is the only thing I would do it for,” said Chief Deputy Tax Collector Cory Godwin.

Saturday at 6 p.m. at the DeFuniak Springs Teen Center, the Tax Collector’s Employee Club will host a womanless beauty pageant to benefit the Boys & Girls Club Teen Center.

In addition to Godwin, beauties signed up to participate are: Trey Nick of Nick’s restaurant on the Bay in Freeport; Chief Deputy Tax Collector Cory Godwin; former candidate for Sheriff, Tom Baker; former County Commissioner and candidate Rosier Cuchens; Eric Aden; Chance Pitts; Timmy Carter; Rick Kirby; Tillman Mears; Dusty Beck; and Garrett Miller. 

During the evening, these guys will parade down the catwalk in front of judges and the audience dressed as women and be judged on stage presence, personality during the question and answer segment, attire, and talent. The winner will receive a crown. 

Godwin said this will be his time to strut his stuff on the catwalk and it will be his last. Godwin is on the executive board of the Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast.

In addition to serving on the board of the club, Godwin also mentors some of the local boys who make use of the facility. He relates poignant stories of some of the things he has seen since becoming involved.

“Some of the kids who come there have nothing, and in this economy, we’re having to provide basic necessities such as hygiene products and clothing for kids who can’t afford it. We had one kid we helped get a scholarship to Northwest Florida State College. He was the first kid in his family to graduate. Then, there’s another kid with no daddy who was making Ds and Fs and now is in the honor society. So, putting on a dress for a night and making a fool of myself will be worth every penny if it benefits those kids,” said Godwin.

Godwin’s wife has fitted him into a nice, black formal number, he said. He doesn’t know the size, but is pleased to report it fit.

Godwin will have his competition cut out for him, however, in veteran beauty pageant contestant Ro Cuchens.

“No, this is not my first pageant,” said Cuchens with a sheepish laugh.

He was a participant in one for the American Cancer Society a few years back, and won.

Judges will be County Judge David Green, Sheriff Mike Adkinson, and County Commissioner Kenneth Pridgen.

The audience will also have an opportunity to cast votes for their favorite by paying a small fee and the winner of those votes will receive the People’s Choice Award.

WZEP radio personality Art Dees will emcee.

“Our employees have been very involved in community service fundraising events since Mrs. Skipper took office in 2005,” said Kara Stallings, director of administration for the Tax Collector’s office. “We've annually participated in Relay for Life and American Heart Association activities and hold fundraisers in support of those fundraising campaigns.”

Stallings said last year was the first that employees began developing and organizing fundraisers for their two charities of choice: the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast DeFuniak Springs Teen Center and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. A Gospel Sing was held in February that raised $2,700 for St. Jude’s. It will be held again on Nov. 6 at DeFuniak Springs Community Center. Stallings said a local family benefited from that first St. Jude’s event. 

Looking for a new and different type of fundraiser, an employee thought of doing a womanless beauty pageant.

Admission to this family-friendly event for a good cause is $5 for ages 13 and up, $2 for ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and under.

Concessions will be available, including soft drinks, pulled pork sandwiches, pizza and popcorn.

The community is encouraged to attend an evening that promises to be highly entertaining while supporting our local teens and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. The facility is located at 435 State Highway 83N in DeFuniak Springs in the old Armory building.  

“We're blessed to have employees who are passionate about our community and want to help meet the needs of others. We're also blessed to have leaders in our organization who model this behavior as well as encourage us and support us in our involvement,” said Stallings.