Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation

Greetings VYC members!

It looks like our VYCCF Chair, Sylvia Hollister, had her crystal ball spit shined last month! Her predictions for the 6th Annual Ride for a Better Community (February 19) were nothing short of spot on! She forecast we were on our way to reaching our goal of more than 200 riders. Check! We clocked in with 241. And while we were also on target to reach our goal of $80,000, we surpassed it with donations totaling just over $90,000, making our 2023 ride the best ever. Also, our Houdini-like Sylvia foresaw a “beautiful” morning, “warm and sunny with light trailing winds”—check and check!

Our first two grants of 2023 were awarded at the breakfast following the ride: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) received $8,000 and the Laurel Civic Association received $5,000. Thanks to the generosity of the Yacht Club and the entire Venice community, the Foundation is planning on grants totaling $130,000 this year. VYCCF, now a bona fide 501(c)(3) organization, is in the process of reviewing and making decisions on other grant applicants and we will keep you informed.

This ride is for everyone and while circulating at the breakfast one of our VYCCF members was so pleased to be able to say hello to our most senior rider Henry Price (89 years young) who exclaimed, “What a fun event--tomorrow, I start my training for next year.” Also, our youngest rider Shawn Morgan (4 years old) was smiling ear to ear and having a great time riding with dad (Dan Morgan). Yes, this is truly an event for everyone!

The Club’s Annual Ride for a Better Community is now an esteemed Venice tradition. The February Venice City Lifestyles magazine touted the race and its beneficial impact on the entire community! Indeed, the ride had Mayor Nick Pachota among the riders as well as several council members, scores of enthusiastic participants and our friends from Venice PD were out riding to support so many great organizations. A few of the groups the VYCCF supports: Family Promise of SSC, Southeastern Guide Dogs, Family Haven, Our Mother’s House, TWIG, Venice High School MJROTC, Special Ops Warrior Foundation, and many others.

Our top three teams this year were: Hoosier State of Mind, with Greg Welch as captain ($6,713); Mean Shaheen Biking Machine, captained by Tina Shaheen ($6,245); and Beleza Bikers with Stuart Birn ($5,050). Top three individual riders: Tina Shaheen ($4,040); Barbi Richardson ($3,000); and Shawn Kelly ($2,474).

Thanks to you all – YOU are the ones that made this such a huge success! Please mark your calendars and make reservations for Jazz Under the Stars on April 20, VYCCF’s annual spring event which further helps support these important groups making such a difference in so many lives.

Appreciatively, Barbi Richardson

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updated: April 2023 Currents