Jane and Steve Jones PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

The giving spirit was alive and well at the Orchid Outreach Scholarship Awards Cocktail Party, as residents celebrated the recipients of their scholarship program and shared the communal joy of helping youth pursue their goals in life.

Steve and Jane Jones opened up their exquisite riverfront home to some 145 community donors and seven scholarship recipients. Nature provided a magnificent sunset, the crimson sun melting into the river, as everyone gathered poolside, where the presentation took place.

“We are thrilled to host this cocktail party for such a wonderful cause,” said Jane Jones.

“Honestly, the committee did all the work. Members of the Orchid Outreach committee brought all the food and flowers and are even serving the guests this evening.”

Maureen Baus heads up the dynamic group of 40 women, whose sole mission is to raise money for college scholarships for families of Orchid Island employees and first responders in Indian River County.

“We started this drive after 9/11, when some of the women in our community thought it would be a good idea to start a scholarship fund for the families of first responders in Indian River County,” Baus explained.

“Employees of Orchid Island were added to that. Through the Indian River State College Foundation, we grant scholarships that cover full tuition to part-time as well as full-time students attending Indian River State College. Our scholars can pursue an associate two-year degree or a bachelor’s four-year degree or a trade certificate. In addition to tuition, we provide funds for books and other program supplies and expenses.”

The 14 scholars awarded scholarships for Indian River State College this year were: Hadley Chamberlain, Casey Dean, Cari Dekker, Anthony Dekker, Kelly Ellis, Joanna Fontinella, Jurie Fontinella, Donte Hart, Danavyn Holiday, Noel Holley, Adrianna Larkey, Melissa Pereira-Quickel, Jacob Smith and Parker Smith.

Orchid Outreach also grants partial scholarships to full-time students attending any college in the nation, through the Scholarship Foundation of Indian River County. This year’s recipients are Kelley Hellyer, attending Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers and majoring in biology; and Cooper Cleveland, studying eSports Management at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology in Pennsylvania.

“We have two children at home, and I can guarantee that both of us would not be able to complete our education if it weren’t for the generosity of this group,” said Anthony Dekker, who with wife Cari are each first responders and scholarship recipients. “We are very grateful.”

“This is the second year I’ve received a scholarship, and it means everything to me,” said Melissa Pereira-Quickel, the daughter of Orchid Island employee Lori Pereira. “I’m so lucky my mother works for such a giving community.”

“The giving spirit of Orchid members is one of the reasons that Orchid Island is such a special place to live,” Baus said. “I’m happy to report that this year we surpassed our total from last year.”

Since its inception the Orchid Outreach scholarship program has donated more than $1.3 million combined to the Indian River State College Foundation and the Scholarship Foundation of Indian River County, and has helped 133 students realize their dreams of a college education.

Photos by Joshua Kodis