Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation

Fellow members...

“I believe”. Those are two powerful words. When spoken in unison by passionate people, they have been a rallying cry to promote goodwill, end injustice, change governments and cure “incurable” diseases.

When we started the Foundation, our “stretch goal” for the remainder of 2010 was $50,000. As I write this on 12/28/10, we are at 80% of that goal. Our early contributing members, listed at left, have stated emphatically that they believe. They believe they can make a difference in our community. They believe it is their responsibility to help those less fortunate. And, they believe that the Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation will be a good shepherd of their hard-earned philanthropic dollars. Let me assure you, we take that responsibility very seriously.

Our most recent grant was to the Manasota Operation Troop Support. When Commodore Graser and I presented our donation to them, their Director shared a story with us. A local young woman with a one-year-old was struggling due to her husband being deployed overseas. She had just been diagnosed with uterine cancer and needed daycare, which she couldn’t afford, so she could go for her treatments. Our donation is being used to help this woman obtain daycare so she can get her medical treatment. This is how we’ll spend your contributions…the need must be specific, it must be local and the donation must make a real difference.

I have some disappointing news, however. We have nearly 550 memberships at the Venice Yacht Club. As I write this, less than 10% of those total memberships have made donations so we have a lot more progress to make. Our Donor Level is less than $5 a week so, please, consider joining us in this worthwhile cause.

In addition to donations, we are in need of volunteers. We need ideas and committees to plan and run our 2011 fundraisers both at the Club and elsewhere. We also have to build a website, design brochures, plan marketing and advertising campaigns, etc. The list is endless. Please contact me at by phone at 486-8546 or email at azumbano@verizon.net if you would like to help. Also, when you see one of our listed contributors at the Club, please take a moment to thank them for supporting those less fortunate and for elevating the image of the Venice Yacht Club within our community.

It’s very easy to donate. The Foundation has a dedicated mailbox at the Club. Just write a check and put Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation on the envelope, give it to the receptionist and it will find its way to us. Thanks for your support and, remember, we never stand taller than when we stoop down to help those who have fallen.

Anthony R Zumbano, Chairman Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation