013126 QuailValleyCharities5K JoshuaKodis 010 — PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

Members of the Quail Valley Charities committee and the immensely capable Quail Valley team once again organized a multi-week series of events, auctions and raffles which will, in addition to member contributions and sponsorships, fund grants that will be awarded to local nonprofits for programs that support children and education.

“This is our 24th year and it has been a very successful year. We’ll be funding just over $1 million,” said Martha Redner, QVC executive director. “We have 45 nonprofit children’s programs that we’ll be funding in Indian River County. So with this funding, we will be at a little over $15.5 million since inception [2001].”

“I think our membership was more giving with their donations this year; we received a lot more donations than we ever had,” said Kristen Touchberry, QVC assistant director. “People give to us because they like that we take care of so many needs that are here locally, and they feel they can trust what we’re doing.”

Prior to the events, the committee undertook a thorough review of all grant applications and conducted interviews before selecting the 2026 programs that will receive grants. The Quail Valley Employee Scholarship Fund is included in the 45 grant recipients.

Events kicked off in mid-December with a Junior Golf Tournament at the Golf Club’s Covey Course, before the main fundraising events, which spanned a full three weeks in January. The first of those was the two-day Charity Cup Golf tournament at the Golf Club. Next, at the River Club, the four-day Tennis Tournament drew a record 176 participants from around the country.

There was also a record turnout for the Mah Jongg Game and additional passionate playing during the two Bridge competitions at the Riverhouse. New last year and enthusiastically embraced again this time was a fitness-based Barre and Bubbly event at the Boathouse. Other supporters wandered further afield for the annual Pheasant Tower Shoot at Blackwater Creek Ranch.

At the quickly sold-out Dining Under the Stars evening at the Pointe, Chef Charlie Valentin served up a remarkable five-course dinner to guests seated at long tables lit from above by twinkling lights. The sumptuous meal began with Poisson Cru (halibut ceviche in a coconut half), ended with a most unusual Bananas and Caviar dessert, and included three equally creative dishes in between.

The servings were paired with selections from the Orin Swift Winery, started by winemaker David Phinney and now owned by E. & J. Gallo. Among them, a Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, the first commercial American Chardonnay-based sparkling wine, and notably used by President Richard Nixon in the 1972 “Toast to Peace” in Beijing.

“Dave Finney is a very artistic individual and winemaker, which you’ll see throughout the evening with the labels I’ll be presenting. They’re true works of art,” said Christell Foote, Gallo winery sales district manager, referencing the atypical artistry of the bottles’ labels.

Despite a wintery chill that made it feel more like the frozen tundra than Florida, people turned out in droves for the 1-Mile Run, 5K Walk/Run and Kids Run. Participants were given words of encouragement from long distance runner Jack Fultz, winner of the 1976 Boston Marathon.

The last of the 2025-26 Quail Valley Charities events was a lovely Celebration Brunch at the Pointe, during which Wanda Lincoln, QVC chairperson, remarked that none of the successful events would have been possible without the contributions of all the hard-working Quail team members and the “really strong” Charities committee.

“The people all around this room and the people who are so interested in Quail Valley Charities, do so much of the work,” said Lincoln, adding that everyone involved is proud of what they do to help the children in our community.