VERO BEACH — Charitable planning professionals gathered together Tuesday morning at the Quail Valley River Club for the annual Pinnacle Award Breakfast, this year honoring attorney William J. (Bill) Stewart, Jr., a partner with Stewart, Evans, Stewart & Emmons, P.A.
The Pinnacle Award, presented by the Indian River Estate Planning Council and the Planned Giving Council of Indian River, was established in 2008 to honor best of the best in the field of charitable planning, and this year was certainly no exception.
The award was established to recognize excellence in charitable planning; honoring professional advisors for their outstanding voluntary service to local non-profit organizations in promoting charitable giving through estate and gift planning.
“If you look at the individuals who have received this award before, it’s quite an honor,” said Stewart of the tribute. “They are all people who I highly respect.”
Of his move to Vero Beach in 1971 Stewart said, “I was clerking in Federal Court in Miami and received an offer from John Gould which I couldn’t turn down.”
He established his own practice in 1979, quickly garnering the respect of clients and peers alike.
Through estate planning, Stewart has assisted clients to achieve their philanthropic goals, and has helped strengthen countless nonprofit organizations, including the Indian River Medical Center Foundation, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation, VNA & Hospice Foundation, Mardy Fish Foundation, American Cancer Society, Boys & Girls Club, Saint Edward’s School and the United Way.
Welcoming attendees, event chairman Richard Johnson also thanked the sponsors – Fidelity Investments, Gould Cooksey Fennell, Indian River Community Foundation, Offutt Barton Schlitt, and Vero Insurance, for underwriting the breakfast.
Jan Donlan, Indian River Medical Center Foundation president, nominated Stewart for the award and spoke about his accomplishments and contributions to the community.
Donlan joked that upon learning that Stewart was a member of the Order of the Coif, whose members represent the top 10 percent of their graduating law class, she thought, “How interesting that Bill has been recognized for his beautiful head of hair.”
She spoke of the numerous ways Stewart has assisted foundations to navigate their way through institutional funding saying, “Somehow he always makes the complicated uncomplicated. I’ve never seen him ruffled.”
As just one example of his expertise, she mentioned the assistance he provided to Helen and Dick Post in structuring the gift agreement and subsequent endowment of the Post Chapel and Meditation Garden at the Medical Center.
“We’re all better for the commitment of people like Bill.”
Law partner Ralph Evans spoke next, playing on the word Pinnacle with a Pinnacle golf ball and likening it to the time and effort Stewart provides his clients.
“The dynamics of the ball are distance and accuracy; it’s durable,” said Evans.
Quoting the proverb “He who rides the tiger can’t dismount,” Evans added, “Estate planning is a tough business. But people like Bill can go the distance.”
As he presented the Pinnacle Award to Stewart Vince Boyle, 2012 recipient quipped, “Distance and accuracy. I’ll remember that the next time we’re out playing golf!”
“For a lawyer to get three people who are not family or associates to stand up and say good things about you – it’s a good day,” said Stewart.
He spoke of the resolve of early supporters of the Indian River Medical Center Foundation (then Memorial Hospital Foundation) 70 years ago to establish a fund for an expanded community hospital saying, “People who have a cause and a passion about a cause can attract others who have a passion for that cause. Each nonprofit started with a nucleus of really dedicated people.”
Stewart dedicated his award them all, saying, “All those people deserve a huge round of support for what they have done for our community.”
Previous Pinnacle Awards have been presented to attorneys Robin A. Lloyd, Sr., Samuel A. Block and John E. Moore, III, and CPAs Rebecca B. Colton (posthumously) and J. Vincent Boyle.