Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation

Greetings to all and we hope this finds you well and safely in your homes!

Although we are postponing some of our fundraising events, we are so blessed that the Ride For A Better Community was held and raised over $48,000! This allowed us to issue five $5,000 grants in late March to assist those organizations already feeling the impact and increasing needs of this viral pandemic.

These grants were for the following charities: All Faiths Food Bank, which swung into action with its "summer" lunch program at remote locations and distribution points. Schools have closed, ending our children's access to the school lunch program for at least one nutritious meal daily.

Family Promise of South Sarasota County, which lost its housing sources due to church closures and must rent motel/hotel space for a growing population of homeless families.

Family Haven of Catholic Charities, which is battling to sustain or rescue families caught in the immediate cycle of loss of wages, sudden homelessness, and illness without medical insurance.

Our Mother's House in Venice, which had to close its day-care staffed by volunteers and its early learning program for the children of the single mothers housed there while the availability of its traditional sources of paper and baby products are dwindling.

Sky Family YMCA of Venice, which had to close many of its services, but is courageously maintaining the services of its Camp and Early Learning Center to care for children of working families. They have expanded to include the children of first-responders and medical personnel, as they are pressed to care for us.

Since this first wave of grants, a few more have reached out to us, and we are certain we will hear from others as well. Typically, we distribute the grants throughout the calendar year, but this year the need is right now. Everyone needs assistance sooner rather than later! We are in close contact with our charities, hoping to assist as we are able.

This is a time for action! The unprecedented COVID-19 Virus has upended our lives! The Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation traditionally supports local charities that focus on fighting hunger, homelessness, and abuse, as well as fostering child literacy and programs for returning veterans. We have done so since the VYCCF’s inception in 2010, granting over $750,000 to that mission!

Finally, we are going to pull on your heartstrings. Surprise, surprise! Many people exist in circumstances most of us have never known. Please, if necessary, reread this column, and dig deep down in your coffers, and send a donation to VYCCF so we may continue to be part of the lifeline to those in need in our community. Any amount will be greatly appreciated!

With sincere appreciation,
Noni Lavelle and Don Healy

Please follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VeniceYachctClubCharitableFoundation/

updated: May 2020 Currents