Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation

Your VYCCF is dedicated this year to expanding support of our active military and veterans, and to supporting our Signature Project, Feed the Hunger, Feed the Mind, partly focused on childhood literacy, the foundation of education, without which our children cannot reach their full potential. Studies have shown that children who enter school reading at grade-level have higher self-esteem, are more likely to attend college, and develop stronger language, math and social skills. In short, they are better prepared for life, to achieve their potential and become productive, valued members of our society.

We are considering grants to two childhood literacy programs for those at risk in our community. The Venice YMCA’s YReading program has 50 students enrolled in an after school reading program, with students primarily from Garden Elementary, but also Taylor Ranch and Laurel Nokomis. The YMCA recognizes that students’ ability to read at grade level is essential for development and therefore privately funds the program. The students served, based on teacher recommendations, are in the bottom quartiles of their class and many have difficult home situations. Students are provided transportation and supplies, and in groups of one volunteer to three or four students, complete homework with volunteer support and participate in phonics-based instruction. Students attend twice a week for about 1 ½ hour sessions. Program Director Melissa Abreu says that “Feedback from the schools, as well as test scores, has shown that the program is a success to these struggling students.” Our support, if approved by the VYCCF Committee, would permit this program to continue as well as send home books to students who are in need of materials at home.

The Library Foundation for Sarasota County’s Imagination Library supports childhood literacy by monthly providing age appropriate books to at risk children from birth to their 5th birthday, a total of 60 books. The Library Foundation is a private, non-profit organization, and is not affiliated with county government or the Sarasota County Library System. The Imagination Library, in partnership with the Dollywood Foundation, currently supports 300 children, about 60 in South County. Dolly Parton said “When I was growing up in the hills of East Tennessee, I knew my dreams would come true…. The seeds of these dreams are often found in books.” Our support, if approved by the Committee, would provide funding for 100 children in South County for the five-year program to help them make their dreams come true.

It is easy to support the VYCCF in its mission, with our focus on the active military and veterans grant category, and with our Signature Project, Feed the Hunger, Feed the Mind. You may contribute with a check, with a credit card on our page on the VYC website, or by charging your contribution to your member account at the VYC. Please find donor cards at the reception desk. If you see a member wearing a Captains Circle pin, please thank them for supporting our mission.

VYCCF Committee: Michael Nemser, Chair, Commodore Jim DeNiro, Joan Bowen, Kevin Collins, P/C Joe Dombrowski, P/C Merle Graser, Warren Major, Paul Nasipak, John O’Donnell, and P/C Melinda Short.