The Vero Beach Museum of Art Holmes Great Hall was filled to capacity last Wednesday evening as more than 300 guests gathered to celebrate ‘Philanthropy Through the Decades’ at the 2018 National Philanthropy Day Awards Celebration, presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Indian River Chapter. To ensure impartiality, winners were selected by the AFP Central Florida Chapter.

The event to honor the outstanding philanthropic achievements of individuals and businesses took guests on an evolutional journey of philanthropy through a historical timeline and video on the founding of 33 area nonprofits.

Referencing the Vero Beach Centennial celebration, emcee John Moore launched into his own humorous oral history of Vero Beach, quipping “it’s a little different from history as you might know it.”

The Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award was presented to Isabel Ernst, co-founder of Give Back for Special Equestrians, which since 2013 has provided more than $150,000 in therapeutic equine scholarships to individuals with special needs.

“The true reward is seeing first-hand, the life-changing therapy that we get to help facilitate every day,” said Ernst.

The Unsung Hero award was presented to Mary Ellen Replogle, nominated by The Arc of Indian River County, for her unwavering 43 years of support to special needs adults in the county.

“This community would not be what it is if people like you had not given your all, and it is appreciated,” said Replogle.

Trudie Rainone, recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser award, was nominated by the Alzheimer and Parkinson Association of IRC, for her generous leadership there as well as with numerous other local nonprofits.

“Everyone is so important here,” said Rainone, adding she wished she could cut up the award into a million pieces to share it. “We are truly blessed in Indian River County to have so many wonderful, wonderful people; we all do it together.”

The Outstanding Group Supporting Philanthropy award was presented to Dale Jacobs on behalf of the Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program, nominated by the Veterans Council of IRC. In 17 years, the all-volunteer group has contributed more than $4 million to meet un-met needs at local nonprofits.

“It’s really an award not for just a few of us. We have over 300 contributors annually to our fund and we have over 100 volunteers who participate in our events and our philanthropy evaluations,” said Jacobs, board president.

The Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist award was presented to Alma Lee Loy on behalf of the Vero Beach Country Club, nominated by Indian River State College Foundation. VBCC has donated close to $1.2 million to nonprofits since 2008, as well as scholarships to IRSC students.

“The Vero Beach Country Club kind of knocks themselves out to take care of every organization in this community that they can work into their schedule; they are so generous,” said Loy, a VBCC member since 1948.

Virginia ‘Ginny’ Powers was honored as the Outstanding Individual Philanthropist, nominated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County. Powers has contributed significant financial donations and volunteer hours since the very early days of BGC, and founded the Society of Angels to assist children with their studies and etiquette.

“I’ve enjoyed working with the Boys & Girls Club,” said Powers, crediting its growth to longtime board member Jay McNamara. She gave a shout out to her son Jeff Powers who recently founded Float Hope, which teaches children from the three Boys & Girls Clubs and from Gifford Youth Achievement Center how to swim.

“It’s just a roomful of love,” said Bev Smith, event co-chair with Jessica Schmitt, recognizing the award winners and the people doing great work with them, and thanking the numerous sponsors involved.

Other Nominees

Unsung Hero:

Charles Brashears, Langie Mannion, Sheila Marshall, Jim Mitchell, Rebecca Schlitt and Andy Williams.

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser:

Al DeRenzo, Nancy Johnson and Joan Woodhouse, and Karla Spooner and Judy Munn.

Outstanding Group Supporting Philanthropy:

Employees of the IRC Clerk of the Circuit Court, J.M. Hopwood Charitable Trust, Kashi Church Foundation and VNA Golf-A-Thon Volunteers.

Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist:

Agricultural Services International, Barker Air Conditioning & Heating, Corporate Air, Eye Clinic of Vero Beach and Optical Boutique, and Studio Gabriel Salon, Spa and Boutique.

Outstanding Individual Philanthropist: