Looking poised and self-assured despite their young ages, a dozen of the more than 150 children enrolled in the Gifford Youth Activity Center after-school program were the official greeters last Monday evening at a dinner underwritten by Polo Grill owner John Marx.
“We’re just so pleased to have everyone here; it’s our pleasure,” said Marx, of the event which thanked top GYAC donors and board members. “My good friend and mentor Carter Hopkins asked me several years ago and we’ve been doing it year after year. I think it’s one of the best causes in Vero Beach.”
Hopkins is Chairman Emeritus of the Gifford Youth Activity Center Foundation Board of Trustees; the funding portion of the organization founded by Dan K. Richardson, Dr. A. Ronald Hudson and the late Dr. William Nigh. The GYAC opened its doors in 1998, working through its parent organization, the Progressive Civic League, before becoming a separate nonprofit entity in 2002.
“We really should call it the Gifford Youth Achievement Center,” said Scott Alexander, President of Northern Trust Bank and current GYAC board chairman.
“Thanks to the many donors we have, we are able to put these great programs together during the school year and the summer to help these children achieve academic success. Angelia [Angelia Perry, GYAC Executive Director] has her hands on the tiller and she’s doing a wonderful job; she’s terrific.”
Approximately 300 students participated in after-school and summer camp programs in 2013 thanks to financial support provided by individuals, corporations and foundations.
Partnerships with various entities enable the organization to take a holistic approach toward developing a well-rounded education for at-risk children with programs that include cultural and recreational sports aspects.
The GYAC has the support of 40 community partners, including the School District of Indian River County, The Learning Alliance/Moonshot Academy, Science Institute of Discovery, Regional Life Science Foundation, Vero Beach Museum of Art and Riverside Children’s Theatre, Mardy Fish Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Youth Guidance.
“My friend Bill Glavin told me, ‘You’ve got to come over and take a look at this place. It’s doing great things.’ That was seven or eight years ago,” said Norm Rickard, who put their financial planning system together, and serves on both the GYAC board and the GYAC Foundation board. “It’s going really well. These kids are really something.”
Success stories are the rule, with eager young minds sopping up knowledge and gaining the confidence needed to succeed in the classroom and as well as in environs such as this one, where the children thanked their benefactors with firm handshakes and happy smiles.
In addition to the little ones, there were also eight high school seniors who joined the gathering. They have each been enrolled since 9th grade in the TRIO/KAPS Upward Bound Program, a nationwide federally-funded program, directed locally through Indian River State College. The program was instituted 50 years ago through the Higher Education Act signed by then President Lyndon Johnson to help high school students prepare for secondary degrees.
“This is always such a lovely event. Polo is really so nice to do this every year,” said Sissy Hennessy, as guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres out on the Portales de Vero patio before heading in for dinner, which featured Polo Grill’s famed blue cheese wedge followed by veal marsala.