Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation

Greetings to all!
On June 17, we had our first meeting since the shutdown occurred. It was heartwarming and wonderful to have perfect attendance; all members were present; a few by telephone. More good news, everyone has managed to stay well during these last trying months.

Blues Bistro remains on our schedule. Pease reserve a table with a group of friends, and have a musical night out. Look for more details in this issue of Currents. You will see your donations to VYCCF in action as we present a $5,000 grant to the CEO of Jewish Family and Children Services for their Operation Military Assistance Program. The remainder of our grants have been approved and will be dispersed between now and mid-November.

I am excited to announce that we have approved three new grants: Embracing Our Differences, Inc. received $1,000 to support their mission “to educate and inspire to create a better world through the transformative power of the arts.” Since 2005, hundreds of thousands of visitors and students visit these displays each spring in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The artwork is submitted and selected from students around the world! For more information on this exciting project, go to embacingourdifferences.org.

A grant of $800 was approved for Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Inc. It will provide one local child with a full membership in the 2020 Great Futures Academy Summer Program focused on 6 to 12 year-olds who are children of first-responders or most at risk for summer slide.

An exciting new program at Garden Elementary was given a $1,000 grant for its literacy initiatives. Garden has the highest percentage of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch from Laurel to Englewood. The goal is to instill a love of reading in students, especially those who may struggle with acquiring literacy skills. A Book Vending Machine is on campus, and a student from each classroom is chosen each month based on his/her citizenship skills to select a book. Visualize a snack vending machine, and there you have it. Garden has also opened a Bookstore for its students. The Bookstore offers students the opportunity to “browse” and purchase high interest books ranging from $1 to $5; funds donated will assist with maintaining the inventory. The school also has its very own Free Little Library on the playground built by one the school’s business partners. Students may take a book or donate a book. Wow! As a retired high school English educator, I am loving this!

I am also happy to welcome the newest member of our committee - Cheryl Cook. She and her husband, David, joined the club in April. They live in Osprey and enjoy sailing.

With sincere appreciation,
Noni Lavelle

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updated: Aug/Sept 2020 Currents