VERO BEACH — The CASTLE headquarters in Vero Beach provided the setting Jan. 8 for the annual meeting of the Indian River Community Foundation, during which the board of directors elected a new slate of officers to guide the organization.
Bob Puff, the Vice President of Sands Capital Management, was elected to his first term as chairman of the Indian River Community Foundation, which now holds nearly $18 million in assets all designated for charitable purposes.
Scott Alexander, president of Northern Trust, will serve as vice chairman alongside Lois Appleby, secretary, and Ted Michael, treasurer. Bill Frick will serve as an at-large member of the Executive Committee, with Becky Allen filling the role of immediate past chairman.
The Indian River Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded to improve the community through donor-driven philanthropy. The majority of the foundation’s assets are held in donor-advised funds from which fund holders recommend grants to any 501(c)3 organization.
The foundation awarded 533 grants totaling $3,055,642 in 2012.
During the annual meeting, The CASTLE Executive Director Teresa Garbarino-May and Director of Operations Doug Borrie made a presentation about how The CASTLE fulfills its mission to improve the quality of family life and prevent child abuse and neglect throughout the Treasure Coast.
“The CASTLE is among the many nonprofit organizations which have received grants from the Indian River Community Foundation over the past few years,” said outgoing chair Becky Allen.
“It was gratifying for our board members to visit the organization and hear firsthand how their work is changing the lives of so many children and families in our community,” Allen added.
Board member Buzz Wurzer also received special recognition during the meeting. Wurzer has led the marketing efforts of the foundation for several years.
Allen called Wurzer an “unsung hero” and applauded his unrelenting focus on finding new ways to rally philanthropists and nonprofit leaders around common interests to improve our community.
The new officers will lead the 15-member board of directors, which is also comprised of Ben Bailey, Drew Barton, Paul Becker, Kevin Given, Alma Lee Loy, Rick McDermott, Bob Morrison, Andrea Thurn, and Buzz Wurzer.
For more information, please contact Kerry Bartlett, Executive Director, at (772) 492-1407, or to view the organization’s annual report, please visit www.IRCommunityFoundation.com.
