VERO BEACH — Quail Valley River Club served as the backdrop for a luncheon in honor of the members of the Alma Lee Loy Legacy Society, a group of philanthropists who have made a commitment to the future of Indian River County through a planned gift administered by the Indian River Community Foundation.
In addition to the 10 members present, the luncheon featured special guest Debbie Wilkerson, President and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, one of the largest community foundations in the United States. She recognized the legacy society members for their vision and encouraged them to continue using their philanthropy to impact three areas: community issues they care about most passionately; ensuring sustainability for the nonprofit organizations that impact those issues; and inspiring younger generations to discover their own lifelong philanthropic passions.
Kerry Bartlett, Executive Director of the Indian River Community Foundation, said the luncheon was an opportunity to help the members of the Alma Lee Loy Legacy Society make connections with others who have also chosen to use the Indian River Community Foundation as a vehicle for executing their charitable giving beyond their lifetimes.
“Alma Lee Loy embodies all that we stand for at the Foundation – loyalty to Indian River County, vision and an abiding commitment to philanthropy – which is exactly what we promise our legacy society members,” Bartlett said. “We work individually with each one to learn exactly how they want charitable legacy to be fulfilled. This gives them confidence their wishes will be honored.”
Loy, who is often called the First Lady of Vero Beach, is a Board member of the Indian River Community Foundation and has chosen to use the foundation to carry out her own legacy plans.
“The needs of Indian River County 50 years ago are drastically different from the challenges we face today. Who knows what they will be like 50 years from now,” Loy said. “I want to give the Community Foundation flexibility to respond to those needs with the same dedication and integrity I use to govern my own actions.”
The Indian River Community Foundation began operating formally in 2008 and currently manages over $20 million in assets all restricted for charitable purposes. The Foundation’s mission is to build a stronger community through donor-driven philanthropy.
For more information, contact Bartlett at (772) 492-1407 or visit www.ircommunityfoundation.com.