A gold-painted toilet made its way from yard to yard throughout Nocatee in September, bringing plenty of laughs along the way — but behind the fun is a much more meaningful purpose.
The Golden Throne Challenge raised money for local children and families fighting childhood cancer, turning an unexpected front-yard surprise into an opportunity for neighbors to help neighbors.
The local effort began when Zach and Crissy Collins, owners of World’s Greatest Heating & Air, partnered with Cristy Butler, owner of Smart Soirée, to bring the Golden Throne Challenge to Nocatee for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Getting the throne ready became a family project. Zach and his 7-year-old daughter, Eden, worked together to transform an ordinary toilet into the now-recognizable Golden Throne.
For the Collins family, it was also a chance to include Eden in giving back to the community.
“Eden had been interested in doing a fundraiser, so this was something she and Zach could work on together,” Crissy Collins said. “They had fun creating it, but it also gave us an opportunity as parents to involve her in something that was helping other children and families.”
Once the Golden Throne was ready, it began its journey around Nocatee.
The concept is simple. A family discovers the Golden Throne in its yard and is invited to make a donation. They then choose another Nocatee neighbor, family or local business to be “throned” next. The toilet is picked up, delivered to its next destination and the process starts all over again.
What followed has been a community-wide experience.
The throne has traveled through neighborhoods across Nocatee, appeared at local businesses and even made a stop at Primrose School. Children have posed with it, families have shared photos on social media and neighbors have followed along to see where it will turn up next. Even a few family pets have joined in for pictures.
“We hoped people would have fun with it, but seeing how much the community has embraced it has been really special,” Collins said. “Every time it moves, another family becomes part of the story.”
And while a gold toilet appearing unexpectedly in a front yard is meant to make people smile, the purpose behind it remains at the center of the campaign.
One hundred percent of the donations raised through the local Golden Throne effort benefit V for Victory, which supports local families with children battling cancer. World’s Greatest Heating and Air plans to match the donations collected.
“Childhood cancer is incredibly serious, and there are families right here in our community facing circumstances most of us can’t imagine,” Collins said. “The Golden Throne is fun and gets people’s attention, but the reason behind it is what matters. If something that makes people laugh can also bring our community together to help these families, then it has accomplished exactly what we wanted it to.”
For the Collins family, involving their daughter has added another meaningful layer to the experience.
“As parents, we want our kids to grow up understanding that giving back isn’t just something we talk about,” Collins said. “It’s something we do. This was a fun way for Eden to be part of that with us and then watch the entire community join in.”
As September came to a close, the Golden Throne was still traveling, and the photos collected along the way tell a story bigger than the unusual gold fixture at the center of them.
They show children laughing, neighbors participating, businesses joining in and a community coming together around families who need its support.
“What has meant the most to us is watching people take something fun and make it meaningful,” Collins said. “That’s what community is supposed to look like — people showing up for one another.”
Golden Throne Challenge donations are made to:
Venmo: @GoldenThroneNOC
Cash App: $GoldenThroneNOC
