“This year we celebrate our 10th anniversary as a giving circle,” said Cindy Binder, steering committee chair of The Circle, a philanthropic cadre of women who support the Vero Beach Museum of Art’s Community Impact programs. Members and prospective members gathered to kick off the upcoming season at a delightful afternoon tea at the Marsh Island Clubhouse.

Binder shared that the group has grown from an initial 61 members, who donated $15,250 to one VBMA Educational program, to last year’s 133 members, who donated $41,500 to three Community Impact programs. To date, the Circle has donated more than $275,000.

Circle members annually contribute $250 or more and, after volunteers conduct site visits and narrow down choices, recipients are chosen by members at a spring Cocktail Reception.

Robyn Orzel, VBMA director of development/associate executive director, gave a brief overview of this year’s funding opportunities.

“The biggest change that was made was in our school programs; we had a lot of school programs,” said Orzel. Programs have now been condensed into what is called Museum Explorations, with eight ‘tours’ developed by staff and docents in conjunction with the school district.

Other programs under consideration include a new Program for Veterans that is part of the Art for Health’s Sake initiative; an Art for Health’s Sake Internship, which could evolve into a teaching artist position; in-house training for everyone involved in Art for Health’s Sake; funding for Holidays at the Museum, the Children’s Art Festival and other exhibit-related family events; the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Association partnership and the Senior Resource Association partnership.

New members are welcome. For more information, call Robyn Orzel at 231-0707 ext. 106 or visit vbmuseum.org.