Ocala Style | September 2022 by Magnolia Media Company

SEPT ‘22 GivingBack

FRANK

ONDELUCA GuideThe CharitableToGiving

Starting Point Farm 43 Acres

Thoroughbred, dressage and/or breeding facility in Starting Point. 3 Barns - 51 stalls, eurocizer, round

State of the art equestrian facility with 4 recently updated CB barns - 96 stalls, each barn has wash racks, office/tack room, bathroom, and LED lighting. 8-Stall wooden barn. 3/4 +/Mile irrigated race track, covered eurocizer, round pen plus plenty of lush green paddocks. New 4-board fencing. 4 Bd/3 ba owner’s residence with open floor plan. Guest/staff housing. Just 8.5 miles to WEC.

Our today!Listthemselves.speakresultsforwithJoan Joan RealtorPletcher, 352.804.8989 Just Listed $4,630,000 Copper City Equine 100 +/- Acres $6,800,000 Just Listed

Just Listed

No deed restrictions! 3 Bedroom/2 bath home. Car enthusiasts will enjoy attached 2-car garage plus detached 3-car garage, 1 bay with A/C and full bath. There is also a 48’ x 50’ metal building which has many possibilities. Gated entrance with stone pillars. Perimeter fenced, with new 3 board fencing. Paddocks are suitable for building arena or jump fields. Property is located on two separate lots. Located just minutes to the Florida Horse Park and the Florida Greenways and Trails.

$1,095,000

11 + Acres in SE Ocala

Located close to the Florida Horse Park. Polo field, 80’ x 225’ riding arena, lush green paddocks, center aisle 10-stall barn with tack, feed room and hay storage area. Seven feed stalls. Covered shed rows are large enough to park your horse trailer and equipment. Two 1 bd/1 ba apartments. Graced with granddaddy oaks. Property is fenced with 4 board fencing. No deed restrictions so you are allowed to have horses, cattle, or chickens. This property is perfect for any discipline of horses.

28.47 +/- Acre Equestrian Farm

$1,300,000

What should you expect working with Joan Pletcher? or Text: 352.266.9100 | 352.804.8989

“The Ocala region is home to the most beautiful equestrian estates and horse farms in the United States and the natural beauty of the area, along with an amazing variety of equine-centered activities and venues, such as the phenomenal new World Equestrian Center, makes this a place that more and more people want to call home,” says Joan.

Expect an unparalleled combination of professionalism, integrity and relentless commitment to her client’s unique needs, interests, and desires.

Joan is a residential, equine property and land development REALTOR® since 1985 and a horsewoman herself so her clients have the benefit of experience and specialized expertise.

Just Reduced

Three stall barn with 3 large lush paddocks await your horses. The 3 bedroom/2 bath home features 1,950 SF of living area. Kitchen is open to family room with plenty of countertop area. Expansive living room with fireplace and large windows overlooking the farm. Bonus room. Sliding glass doors lead to back porch for watching the sunrises and sunsets. Property is perimeter fenced and graced with granddaddy oaks.

| joan@joanpletcher.com | joanpletcher.com

10 + Acres - Minutes to HITS and WEC

Call

Since1919 ON INSTAGRAM @KOONTZ.COM

he Ocala Style team was honored to again be asked to collaborate with the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County to publish a resource to showcase our community’s long list of good and important causes.

This special Guide to Charitable Giving edition is ﬁlled with information that can be of value when you are making decisions about how you can help improve the quality of life in our community.

Jennifer Hunt Murty Publisher

To make it easy to give, the Community Foundation will host Give4Marion, for the third time, on September 20th and 21st. Over a 33-hour period, with just a few clicks on your keyboard or cell phone, you can give to as many good causes as you’d like. Some of them may even be the beneﬁciary of a special “Power Hour” or “Matching Moment” opportunity.

One of the causes I’m passionate about is quality healthcare at our community hospital, AdventHealth Ocala, so I will contribute to the AdventHealth Ocala Foundation during the Give4Marion campaign.

It is also our hope that you will use it to explore how to connect with some of your favorite causes—or even ﬁnd a new one—because they all need community support.

There are more nonproﬁts in Ocala/Marion County than our monthly publication could ever cover one at a time. That is why we work so hard on this special resource guide and we hope you will keep it on hand for future reference.

AdventHealth Ocala (which many locals still refer to as Munroe) is the only hospital in our county that offers maternity services and I think we need to support having the best available care our community can offer a mother and child. In this issue, you’ll read about the hospital’s history and learn why it remains an important “first stop” into this world for many Marion County residents.

It was no small feat for the foundation staﬀ to invite area charities to participate in the guide and then update the information for about 100 of them. The agencies that are members of the foundation’s NonProﬁt Business Council are highlighted with additional information about their major programs, which can help even more when you are making decisions about giving.

Most of the nonproﬁts in this issue rely not only on ﬁnancial donations to sustain important programming, they also need volunteers willing to share their time and talent. Be sure to read about Lorraine Carroll, who, at 95 years of age, can’t wait to show up every Saturday as a volunteer at our wonderful Fort King National Historic Landmark. We hope her story inspires more volunteers to step forward and serve in rewarding ways.

Publisher’s Note

Just a short drive away . . .Intentionally Better BetterBetterBoatingBetterBeachesBiking Loonnggbooaat Keey ENJOY A BREAK AWAY. . . Discover the Tranquil Gulf Waters & Beautiful Pristine Beaches of Longboat Key. Florida’s Best West Coast Island, where Relaxing is Better, by NIGHT & DAY! Longboat Key ~ just a short drive away. Call for a Free Visitors PacketLongboatKeyChamber.com941.387.9000 Better Biking Better Boating Better Beaching BREAK AWAY TO THE BEACH... Enjoy the Tranquil Gulf Waters and White Sandy Beaches of Longboat Key. Florida’s Best West Coast Island, where Relaxing is Better, by NIGHT & DAY! Call for a Free Visitor’s Packetinfo@LBKchamber.com941.387.9000 Longboat Key Longboat Key - just a short drive away. ...INTENTIONALLY BETTER LongboatKeyChamber.com BradentonGulfIslands.com

24 SE 1st Avenue, Ocala (352) 840-0900 › hookedonharrys.com

CLIENT SERVICES GURU Cheryl Specht cheryl@magnoliamediaco.com

for the best Mexican food this side of the border! Enjoy all of your favorite traditional

Happy Hour Specials: 2-7p every day

Jackie McCleaf jackie@magnoliamediaco.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Greg Hamilton greg@magnoliamediaco.com

Magnolia Media Company, LLC (352) 732-0073

dishes in a

Specials: Mondays and Wednesdays, Margaritas are Saturdays, 2 for 1 Margaritas

$7 off bottles of wine

D istribution Rick Shaw

3790 E Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala (352) 694-1401 › 7 days 11a-10p

SR 200, Ocala (352) 291-2121 › 7 days 11a-11p

Located in the heart of downtown Ocala, Harry’s offers traditional Louisiana favorites like Shrimp and Scallop Orleans, Crawfish Etouffée, Jambalaya, Shrimp Creole, Blackened Red Fish, Louisiana Gumbo and Garden District Grouper. Other favorites, like French Baked Scallops and Bourbon Street Salmon, are complemented with grilled steaks, chicken, burgers, po’ boy sandwiches and salads. Their full bar features Harry’s Signature Cocktails, such as the Harry’s Hurricane, Bayou Bloody Mary or the Cool Goose Martini. They also feature wines by the glass and a wide selection of imported, domestic and craft beer.

ocalastyleocalastyle.comocalastylemagazineocalastyle

EDITOR IN CHIEF Susan Smiley-Height susan@magnoliamediaco.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Evelyn Anderson evelyn@magnoliamediaco.com

Publisher | Jennifer Hunt Murty jennifer@magnoliamediaco.com

Chicken Jolie Blonde

PO Box 188, Ocala, FL 34478

atmosphere.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amy Harbert amy@magnoliamediaco.com

CREATIVE CONSULTANT Nick Steele nick@magnoliamediaco.com

All Day Dine-in or take out available

$5 Super Premium & $6 Harry’s Signature Cocktails

$3 Draft Beer

Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille

El Toreo

JoAnn Guidry Belea Keeney Scott Mitchell Dave Schlenker Beth Whitehead Sales

Head to El Toreo Mexican friendly and festive

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

ILLUSTRATORS Jordan Shapot David Vallejo

Editorial

$4 House Wine & Premium Cocktails

Mon-Thu 11a-9p › Fri & Sat 11a-10p › Sun 11a-8p

Art

PHOTOGRAPHERS Bruce MAVENMeaganAckermanGumpertJohnJerniganPhoto+FilmDaveMillerAlanYoungblood

in this issue

Businessman Frank DeLuca deﬁnes philanthropist—one who promotes the welfare of others.

This Community Foundation for Ocala/ Marion County resource may be helpful when thinking about giving back to your community.

9 52 21

Volunteer Lorraine Carroll infuses Ocala’s Fort King National Historic Landmark with her love of the past.

Dave got shingles during a business trip— and only he could ﬁnd the humor in that.

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT Jason Steuber shares some favorite things.

GUIDE TO CHARITABLE GIVING

This 33-hour campaign helps raise funds and awareness for our local nonproﬁts.

SOCIAL SCENE

The Felburn Foundation, based in Ocala, has made a big impact locally and internationally.

CHAMPION OF THE COMMUNITY

SMALL BUT MIGHTY

HISTORY BUFF

GIVE4MARION

25 SCHLENKERISMS

People helping people is how nonproﬁts enhance the quality of life in our area.

ON THE COVER: Frank DeLuca Photo by: MAVEN photo + film This page: Top and Middle, by bruce ackerman bottom, by Alan Youngblood

See who was out and about at some recent area events.

BIRTHING A COMMUNITY

A VILLAGE VIEW

The history of Ocala’s community-owned hospital spans nearly 125 years and includes generations of families born there.

Easton Greene, Addison Greene, Avery Greene, Mikelann Renwick and Coleman Renwick

Tammy Beck and Frenchie Bisiaux

Rick and Peggy Bourne with their dog, Daisy

TSunsetSummerGames

September ‘22 9 INSIDER

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

David Eldredge and Lauren Proctor-Brown

FLORIDA HORSE PARK

he Ocala Polo Club’s summer series of night games, which runs through the end of the month, offered opportunities on July 30th for field-side tailgating and plenty of action with players and ponies on the course and spectators taking to the field to stomp divots.

Chloe Friendly

PROTEA WEDDINGS & EVENTS

10 INSIDERocalastyle.comRosewoodReunionF

Wallace and Wandea Clark

Patricia Daye, Kailyn Johns, Katrina Mitchell and Ronnie Mitchell

Tiﬀany Pittman, Mae McDonald and Bonnie Jones

or the ﬁrst time ever, descendants of the Rosewood massacre hosted their annual family reunion events in Ocala from July 22nd to 24th, at various venues. The formal banquet on the 23rd was both festive and reﬂective.

Photos by Bruce Ackerman

AFTERBEFORE a beautiful smile begins here cosmetic veneers smile zoom!makeoversbleachingTMJdisorder bite botoxsedationsleepproblemsapneadentistry+juvederm (352) chandrasmiles.com861-1500 TINA CHANDRA, D.D.S., LVIF, FIAPA Cosmetic, TMJ, Sleep Dentist ... a Physiologic Approach ASK ABOUT SNORING LASERS I love my new smile. Tyrell Scott Dentistry by Dr. Tina WilliamsRestoratiionsChandrabyDentalLabGilroy,CA

Invented PhotographsObservationsbyStevenBenson Through November 6 Appleton Museum, Artspace and Store Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. | AppletonMuseum.org FREE E N T R Y F O R C A R R E G I S T R A T I O N & B E E R F E S T T I C K E T FS O R C A R R E G I S T R A T I O N & B E E R F E S T T I C K E T S V I S I T O C A L A M A I N S T R E E T . O R VG I S I T O C A L A M A I N S T R E E T . O R G H I S T O R I C D O W N T O W N O C A L HA I S T O R I C D O W N T O W N O C A L A C R A F T B E E R | 1 5 0 C L A S S I C C A R S | K I D S Z O N E L I V E M U S I C | A W A R D - W I N N I N G B R W E R I E S | V I P A R E A Featuring National Recording Artists proudly sponsored by

Free PSaturdayFirst

Ruby Weaver and Ada Glancy

APPLETON MUSEUM OF ART Photos by Bruce Ackerman

Trey Shonk, Princess Belle, Luna Shonk and Drew Shonk

Riley Jones and Arianna Wright

rincess Belle, from Beauty and the Beast, was truly the belle of the ball on August 6th as guests, many in costume, enjoyed a day of festivities that showcased the Finding Beauty exhibit. The overﬂow crowd also heard photographer Steven Benson talk about his Invented Observations exhibition.

September ‘22 13

INSIDER

Kailey Quiroz and Princess BelleSteven Benson

Lorelai and Elliott Chauncey

DeLuca, who was raised in Orlando, says his ﬁrst act of charitable giving was when he was 17 years old.

“I was active in my high school Civitan Club, selling Claxton fruit cakes to raise money for local charities,” he recalls.

he deﬁnition of a philanthropist is a person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to worthy causes. Frank DeLuca is a shining example of someone with a philanthropic heart and spirit.

Champion of Communitythe

and honors, DeLuca’s name is connected to many of the major and sustaining charitable gifts that have enhanced the quality of life for thousands of people in our community.

It was also as a teenager that DeLuca started working as a weekend auto detailer for an automobile dealership owned

Many know him as the president/owner of DeLuca Toyota, which has grown from a 3-acre campus with 18 employees to a sprawling 24-acre complex with 186 team members, and which soon will celebrate its 45th anniversary. He also is known as the namesake of the Frank DeLuca YMCA Family Center. In addition to these accomplishments

The philanthropy of Frank DeLuca and DeLuca Toyota has helped enhance the quality of life in Ocala and Marion County.

Entrepreneurial Legacy

Sponsored

As a true accredited sanctuary, the intake of an animal by Forest Animal Rescue in Silver Springs means providing a lifetime of care for those that are non-releasable, such as their resident tigers, African servals, bears, wolves, spider monkeys, capuchins,

CHECKING ACCOUNTS Membership is open to anyone in Alachua, Marion, Lake, and Sumter counties.2 1. Credit approval and initial $50 opening deposit required. Member must elect to receive eDocuments. 2. Credit approval and initial $5 deposit required. Insured by the NCUA. READY, SET, GO! Open an account at campuscu.com/star-powered Call 352-237-9060 and press 5 Curbside Service available at your local CAMPUS Service Center. Visit campuscu.com to find a CAMPUS Service Center in your community. “CAMPUSispartofmywinninggameplan. Makeitpartofyours,too!” Steve Spurrier Head Ball Coach, CAMPUS Member NO MINIMUMS, NO FEES1 FREE ONLINE AND MOBILE BANKING with mobile deposit MANAGE YOUR CARD with the CAMPUS Card Control App INSTANT-ISSUE DEBIT CARDS

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on nonproﬁts around the world, and right here at home. Many have had to amend programs as they work to recover from losses of donations, grants and personnel.

Local nonproﬁts often work in concert to help people in need.

This issue is ﬁlled with information about area nonproﬁts, including who they are and how they help people. The economic impact

In many cases, nonproﬁt organizations become part of the “village” that helps ﬁll in gaps when mainstream resources, such as a job and health insurance, don’t exist or just aren’t enough.

of these agencies is critical in maintaining a strong local economy overall. And many of these agencies thrive through the eﬀorts of thousands of volunteers, whose donations of time and talent are nearly inestimable.

And when we look at some real-life scenarios, the thought of not having vibrant nonprofits at work in our community is a sobering one.

September ‘22 31

he adage that it takes a village to raise a child—with a whole community helping them to grow and thrive—can also apply when someone needs help to recover from a traumatic or life-changing event.

By Susan Smiley-Height

$14,195 Medication Total $8,323 Co-pay$30 Food, ShepherdInterfaithTransitionalutilities$1,494housing$1,548Budgetingclass$2,800EmergencyServicesSt.TheresaCatholicChurch’sLightHouseinBelleviewUnitedWayofMarion Interfaith Emergency Services

Case Study - Kayla

community in which the local nonprofit agencies work so well together,” offers Chief Executive Officer Karla Grimsley-Greenway. “Because we share so many of the same clients that make up the population with the highest level of vulnerability, it takes all of us doing our respective part to truly make a difference. None of us, alone, have the capacity to meet the various needs of some of the families we help. As time progresses the needs tend to be more complex and often go deeper than a bag of groceries canAnd,remedy.”sheadds, “If Interfaith couldn’t call on our partner agencies to help many of our clients, and vice-versa, much of what we do would be in vain. It doesn’t do any good to give a family some groceries if they don’t have the electricity to prepare the meals or to give them access to a doctor if they can’t afford the medicine he or she prescribes.”

For example, when Kayla was discharged from a local hospital and needed prescription medicine and routine visits with healthcare providers, but could not aﬀord either, Interfaith Emergency Services stepped in to provide $8,323 for six months for her medication and paid her $30 co-pays so she could be seen at the Heart of Florida Health Center.

disabilities and blessedfeelsMarion30,000approximatelytheServicesEmergencybasis,Onunder-employed.theanannualInterfaithtoucheslivesofpeopleinCounty.“Interfaithextremelytoworkina

Over a six-month period, Kayla received assistance that totaled $14,195, which helped her regain her health and improve her quality of life.

Kayla also needed help with food, rent and utilities. She received assistance from Shepherd’s LightHouse in Belleview, which has a transitional housing program, at a cost of $1,548 for three months, and a beneﬁt of $249 per month from the social services arm of St. Theresa Catholic Church, also in Belleview. To help her better manage and sustain her budget, Kayla was referred to the Strong Families program through United Way of Marion County, which cost $2,800 for the program.

Interfaith Emergency Services is one of the lead agencies in Marion County. It was founded in 1983, when the religious pastoral community saw a need to provide emergency assistance to individuals and families in crisis. Interfaith, as it is oft en called, is entirely funded by donations and does not receive any government funding. The agency provides basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, medications, hygiene items and more to enhance the quality of life and ease the burden for those in ﬁ nancial distress. Clients are those experiencing homelessness, senior citizens, veterans, people with

32 ocalastyle.com

“Breaking down these scenarios creates a real eye opener for those who think nonprofits don’t have costs to doing good,” explains Lauren DeIorio, President and Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County. “Every sector of society is important. While it is easier for people to understand the for-profit sector and how it works, the nonprofit sector is sometimes viewed as unimportant. It is almost like there is an expectation of nonprofit organizations to provide their services without people truly thinking about where their revenue comes from—which is only done by asking for funding from donors—to cover program and operational costs.”

eransHelpingVeteransVet-provided a shower chair ($60) so Dolly could remain in her home.

After Dolly lost her mobility due to diabetes, she was provided a throughchairwheel-($220)Wheels of Faith in Marion Oaks.

And while such studies are important gauges, the fact remains that scenarios like those shared here unfold across Marion County every day of the year and it is all of us—and especially our crucial nonproﬁts—lifting each other up that constitutes that “village” of hope for those in need of help.

nomic impact study that will show exactly how much nonproﬁts contribute to our community.

$18,490 MedicationTotal $8,106 Brother’s$350/perUtilitiesmonthKeeperCo-pays$150 Brother’sServicesInterfaithKeeperEmergency Food $300/perpantrymonth EmergencyInterfaithServicesWheelchair$220WheelsofFaithShowerChair$60VeteranshelpingVeteransMealsonWheels$23/perweekMarionSeniorServices Marion ServicesMarion$120/perTransitweekSenior Case Study - Family of 3

Another example of how our local nonproﬁts helped a family is the story of husband and wife Jim and Dolly, and their son Daniel.

“For example, the study will show the number of people employed by nonprofits in Marion County,” she notes. “It will show how those direct nonprofit jobs create additional indirect jobs and how nonprofit wages create wages in other sectors—basically, how our nonprofit sector drives the economy.”

She said the foundation is ﬁnalizing an eco-

receiving services.

September ‘22 33

The total amount of aid the family received over a six-month period was $18,490.10.

The couple had been using the food pantry ($300 per month) and received assistance paying utility bills (averaging $350 per month) through Brother’s Keeper, the social services ministry of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church.

The couple also received prescribed medication assistance, at $8,106 for six months, as well as assistance paying copays for medical treatment, at $150 for six months, through Interfaith. It was through conversations with Interfaith volunteers that it was discovered that Daniel, 45, is intellectually and developmentally disabled and requires assistance with activities of daily living. Daniel was referred to the Transitions Life Center (TLC) for a day program called THRIVE, at $90 for two days each week. It also was discovered that Daniel has not been receiving any state assistance and the navigator for TLC assisted Jim and Dolly in ﬁling the necessary paperwork so their son could begin

Due to Dolly being wheelchair bound, Interfaith referred the family to Marion Senior Services so they could receive meals on wheels ($22.85 per week) and Daniel was eligible for Marion Transit Services, a program of Marion Senior Services, at $120 per week, so he can attend TLC’s THRIVE program twice a week.

@OcalaFoundation OcalaFoundation.org @OcalaFoundation @OcalaFoundation (352)622-5020 @OcalaFoundation @OcalaFoundation

34 ocalastyle.com

Welcome to the 2022 Guide to Charitable Giving

The council expects that in the coming years, our area nonproﬁt groups will experience many challenges as they strive to meet the needs of our growing community. In response to those

Lauren DeIorio

We extend an open invitation for membership in the council to all designated 501(c)(3) nonproﬁts in Marion County. Joining the council and participating in the programming is not only a great way to stay abreast of the latest in best practices in nonproﬁt management but also enjoy perks such as expanded listings in the guide.

or several years, the Guide to Charitable Giving has served as a valuable resource for people in Marion County who are looking for ways to explore their passion for giving back to their community. The resource, brought to you by the NonProﬁt Business Council, a program of the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, in partnership with Ocala Style, includes lists of more than 100 nonproﬁt organizations as well as articles throughout these pages to provide inspiration and promote thoughtful giving.

As you read this year’s Guide to Charitable Giving and familiarize yourself with the wide array of local nonprofits, think of the many ways you can get involved. The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County is here to act as a guide and connect you to causes and community initiatives where you can make a Whetherdifference.youchoose to financially support a cause, volunteer your time, or both, together we can build a stronger community one passion at a time. And the best part is the joy and satisfaction you get in return, along with the knowledge that you are helping your neighbors build a strong foundation for the future.

challenges, the council hopes to provide support promoting the positive impact of nonproﬁts in our community, strengthening their capacity in areas of leadership, fundraising, board development and staﬀ development.

President & Executive Director, Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County

One way could be through the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next. A transfer of wealth study published ﬁve years ago is being updated for the state of Florida. Preliminary results show that in the next 10 years, $884 billion will transfer from one generation to the next in Florida. Traditionally, wealth transfer has been thought of as an option for only high net-worth donors and families. Today, however, many more families of various incomes are in position to contribute, even modestly, to the betterment of their community.

September ‘22 35

But our community plays an even larger role in guaranteeing the good work of nonproﬁt organizations continues well into the future by being intentional about giving their support.

With this in mind, I would ask every citizen of Marion County this question: What would happen if we committed just 5% of the wealth we intend to transfer to our heirs to organizations that are working tirelessly to improve our community? The result would be healthy, happy and vibrant hometown for us all.

How, you may ask?

To learn more about the foundation, go to ocalafoundation.org To make a donation, visit give4marion.org

out stalls, feeding and other items associated with horse and farm care.

Our mission is to educate and assist pet owners regarding estate planning for their pets. Our vision is for a time that all pet owners will have a plan that documents who will care for their pets in the event of an emergency, death or disability so pets will no longer go into shelters or be killed because they have lost their owner. And if someone has no one to serve as caregiver, a Perpetual Care Life Care Center will be able to provide them with a loving forever home through adoption, extended homes or at our life care facility.

We are a nonproﬁt organization dedicated to the care and protection of animals in Marion County. Our mission is to prevent cruelty, suﬀering and overpopulation of animals. By encouraging fostering, we can hopefully reduce preventable euthanasia in kill shelters.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Humane Education: 22,000 children are inspired yearly. An inspired child is a compassionate adult. Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR): In house and outsourced surgeries on community cats. Happy Paws: Pet food pantry and emergency services.

36 CHARITYocalastyle.comGUIDE

Sheltering Hands, Inc

Our mission is to better the world one cat at a time. We strive to provide cats a perfect home and oﬀer high-quality low-cost spay neuter surgery.

We are a nonproﬁt wild animal sanctuary and educational facility dedicated to the lifetime care of non-releasable wild animals and the rehabilitation and release of wild black bears. We teach others best practices in caring for captive wild animals in hopes we will eventually no longer need to provide these services.

Leslie Hinson, President 10397 N US Hwy 27, Ocala FL 34482 352-840-0663 › shelteringhands.org › leslie@shelteringhands.org

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Love for a Lifetime: Matches humans age 75 and older with a cat age 8 and older. We provide medical care at our facility for the cat and medical food as needed. We will take the cat back should the person no longer be able to care for them. There is no fee for this program. Adoption: Cats and kittens are available for adoption at PetSmart in Lady Lake. All cats are up to date on vaccinations and are microchipped and spay/neutered. Low Cost Spay/ Neuter: Our surgical center oﬀers surgery, pain medications, ﬂea control, rabies and FVRCP vaccinations for $50.

Forest Animal Rescue

Horses N Heroes of Marion County, Inc.

Animals

“Hotwheels” rescued by the Humane Society of Marion County

We provide an equine-based outreach program for girls ages 7 to 18 from low-income families through a place to ride and work with retired show or rescue horses, focusing on leadership, horsemanship, life skills, professionalism, kindness and empowerment.

Humane Society of Marion County

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Horsemanship: Girls learn to groom, tack, feed and care for an assigned horse. Horse Riding: Once the girls learn to care for the horse, they learn to ride, focusing on hunter and equitation styles. Farm Work: Girls work together to take care of the farm with duties such as mucking

Virginia Kilmer, Executive Director/CEO/Founder PO Box_773548, Ocala, FL 34477 Physical: 1200 NW 73rd Ter, Ocala, FL 34482 888-355-7091 › perpetualcare.org › info@perpetualcare.org

Horse Protection Association of Florida

Mindy Morrow, Executive Director 12680 N US Hwy 441, Citra, FL 32113 561-441-6275 › horsesnheroes.org › mindyhorsesnheroes@icloud.com

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Temporary pet care when someone enters the hospital and goes into a nursing facility and they have no one to care for their pets. Providing File of Life packets and emergency alert cards for pets to pet owners. Life Care Center for orphaned pets.

At any point in time we have between 40 and 60 horses, donkeys and mules in our care. Although we are a horse rescue organization, we also oﬀer equine facilitated learning programs Our purpose is to provide the best life we can for the horses we rescue, whether it is through adoption or providing them a safe sanctuary for the rest of their life.

Eddie Leedy, Executive Director/CEO 701 NW 14th Road Ocala, FL 34475 352-873-7387 › theHSMC.org eleedy@humanesocietyofmarioncounty.com›

MAJOR PROGAMS: Lead From Within: This equine facilitated learning program, which focuses on teaching leadership skills, is designed for law enforcement agencies, crisis intervention teams, victim advocates, educators, private corporations, other 501 (c)(3) organizations and the general community. Guardian Pony: This is an outreach to school children to provide safe education regarding horses, done through videos shown in the school setting. Spirit Walk: This is experiential learning through one-on-one involvement with a mini horse.

Christine Massinger, President/Executive Director 20690 NW 130th Ave., Micanopy FL 32667 352-466-4366 › hpaf.org › christine@hpaf.org

Perpetual Care

Lisa Stoner, Vice President/Co-Founder 640 NE 170th Court, Silver Springs, FL 34388 352-625-7377 › ForestAnimalRescue.org › Lisa@ForestAnimalRescue.org

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Animal-Related: Provide lifetime care and educate the public about the issues facing wild animals in captivity; which includes public education to help reduce human-wildlife conﬂicts. Postsecondary Education: We provide full-time training to hundreds of students from all over the world in proper husbandry methods and they learn to understand the issues facing wild animals in captivity and how to educate others to help reduce these problems.

Artsptomlinson@aihom.orginHealthOcala

We are dedicated to making a difference to the lives of animals in need by finding loving homes for unwanted cats and dogs, reuniting lost pets with loved ones, supporting individuals or families willing to foster, donating to ethical animal charitable organizations, offsetting the cost of pet medical care for needy families and educating our community about animal welfare.

Fine Arts For Ocala (FAFO) was started in 1966 by community members who wanted to bring art to Marion County. It was incorporated in 1972 and has

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Community Clinic and Resource Center: Low-cost veterinary services for underprivileged pets. Project Feed: Provides food for underprivileged pets, rescue groups, humane societies and municipal shelters. Trap, Neuter, Return: Sterilization and veterinary services for community and feral cats.

Marion Cultural Alliance, Inc. (MCA)

Jaye Baillie, APR, Executive Director

4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. FL 352-236-285134470 › ocalacivictheatre.com

Metro brings the healing power of art, whether that be visual art, dance or music to serve Marion County by enhancing health and well-being, creating community and reducing despair.

The MCA mission is to champion arts, artists and arts organizations; convene people to appreciate art, learn about art and build support for art; and create a thriving arts presence in Ocala/Marion County. The alliance envisions a county in which the economy is fueled, the community is strengthened and lives are enriched through cultural and artistic excellence.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Support: Activities, initiatives and programs relating to the arts, historical and scientiﬁc museums through an annual, competitive grant process that has funded $425,000 to local arts and cultural organizations. Operate Brick City Center for the Arts: Provide 12 unique exhibits featuring the work of local artists. Throughout the year, provide workshops, lectures and programming for artists and the general public. Grant Funding: To arts organizations and artists. Professional Development: For artists.

Rosie Miller, Director

Ocala Civic Theatre (OCT)

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Every two weeks we supply and pack food for the Pets on Wheels Program for the senior citizens of Marion County (on a volunteer basis). Several times a year we donate to ethical animal charitable organizations in need.

SPCA of Marion County, Inc.

352-369-1500 › mcaocala.org › jaye.bailIie@mcaocala.com

507 NE 33rd Ave., Ocala FL 34471 352-728-5444 › aihom.org

Arts

Ourrmiller@ocalacivictheatre.compurposeistoenhance the

Voices of Change Animal League (VOCAL)

MAX will further develop the downtown Ocala cultural campus by providing studios, instructional spaces and exhibition opportunities for visual artists in a collaborative hub that encourages professional development. MAX is designed to further visual artists’ creativity and professionalism; to be a collaborative resource hub for artists, educators and art enthusiasts; and to dramatically expand the cultural presence in Ocala.

23 SW Broadway St., Ocala FL 34471

Arts in Health Ocala Metro

Patricia Tomlinson, Executive Director

Our mission is to solve the homeless pet problem through prevention, community outreach, adoption and collaboration. We serve underprivileged pets and the people who love them through low-cost veterinary care, spay-neuter and specialty surgeries and resources to help them keep their pets in the homes they have rather than adding to an overburdened shelter population.

Melanie Wittitow, Executive Director/CEO 11100 SW 93rd Court Road, Ste. 10-115, Ocala, FL 34481 spcaofmarioncounty.weebly.com › melvitt@cﬂ.rr.com

P.O. Box 6229 Ocala, FL 34478

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Symphony Under the Stars: Established in 1988. The Mother’s Day concert at the Ocala Golf Club features the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and has continually been voted as one of the favorite events in our community. The Ocala Arts Festival: On the fourth weekend in October, the festival comes to downtown Ocala, featuring artists, music, food trucks, beer, wine, artwork from Marion County students, talented young people performing and hands-on art activities. It is now in its 55th year.

September ‘22 37 CHARITY GUIDE

Magnolia Art Xchange (MAX)

since been supporting art education through scholarships and community programs as well as supporting local art-based organizations.

Linda Norman, Board President and Co-Founder 6393 SW 52nd St., Ocala Fl 34474 352-289-0800 › vocalforpets.org › linda.norman@vocalforpets.org

Fine Arts For Ocala, Inc., Maggie(FAFO)Weakley, Administrative Coordinator

MAJOR PROGRAMS: MAX oﬀers studio and communal spaces for resident and member artists, teachers, professional advisers and students—all open for the community’s interaction. Public workshops, classes and events are designed to enrich the ever-present visual artists’ work and growth. Art enthusiasts can personally connect with artists and their art, and support the artists by purchasing their art.

Jesse J. Daugherty, Interim Director 531 NE 1st Ave. Ocala, FL 34470 352-629-8414 › MAXOcala.org › info.maxocala@gmail.com

352-867-0355 › fafo.org › fafoocala@gmail.com

Kathryn Messenger, Discovery Center Manager

learning environment that encourages high expectations for success through development-appropriate instruction that allows for individual diﬀerences and learning styles.

Mandi Moore, President/Founder

38 CHARITYocalastyle.comGUIDE

Mary Beth Anderson, Director 3681 NE 7th St., Ocala, FL 34470 352-694-4466 › crossroadsocala.com

creativity and quality of performances, to experience growth in our membership, to expand our audience, to increase volunteerism and to meet the needs of our audiences by staying in touch with the community’s desires.

ﬁnance and budgeting, to name a few.

Cornerstone School

The foundation’s mission is to support the City of Ocala Discovery Center through fundraising for exhibits, programs and scholarships, and to provide volunteer services for center events.

Ingrid Wasserfall, Head of School 2313 SE Lake Weir Ave., Ocala, FL 34471 352-351-8840 › thecornerstoneschool.org › ingrid@thecornerstoneschool.org In an ever-changing world, our mission is to prepare students for success with a comprehensive educational program of an innovative curriculum, inspirational teaching that develops a passion for learning and the Cornerstone values of acceptance, integrity and mutual respect.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Hands-on Exhibits: Quarterly changing exhibits open to the public. Afterschool Programs: 10-week classes in the

Christopher R. Knife, VP for Development/CEO 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL 34474-4415 352-873-5808 › CF.edu/foundation › foundation@cf.edu

College of Central Florida Foundation, Inc.

info@advancingacademicsinc.comWeseektocreateachallenging

Crossroads Academy, Inc.

Ourm.anderson@crossroadsacademyocala.commissionisshapinglearningforthe next generation. We are a private school serving students in grades 3-12 with learning diﬀerences, including mild autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia and auditory processing disorders.

Reilly Arts Center

11050 SE 37th Ave. Road, Belleview, FL 34420 352-448-9919 › advancingacademicsinc.org

Pamela Calero Wardell, Executive Director 500 NE 9th St. Ocala, FL 34470 352-239-5888 › reillyartscenter.com › pamela@reillyartscenter.com

701 NE Sanchez Ave., Ocala, FL 34471 352-401-3900 › mydiscoverycenter.org discovery@ocalaﬂ.org

The Reilly Arts Center exists to meaningfully impact our community through the arts, which means creating a change that is tangible and positive in peoples’ lives whether they are on stage, volunteering, in the audience or in the classroom. The center is the home of the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, manages the historic Marion Theatre and is the originator of the Ocala Symphony Community Music Conservatory. The Reilly is available for rent, with discounts available for nonproﬁt organizations.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Academic coaching: Students meet with coaches to ensure they are successfully moving toward their goals. For example, we model the use of organizational skills, study techniques, test taking strategies and the importance of responsibility and follow through. We oﬀer hourly tutoring for students who need one-on-one support but are not part of our full-time program. Mercy Reins Equine Program: We use horses to help students who have trouble focusing or suﬀer from anxiety and for motivation to work hard. Students take riding lessons and spend time with the horses while grooming them. Life skills: We teach sewing, cooking, wood working, basic entrepreneurship,

Education

MAJOR PROGRAMS: We use three Lindamood-Bell programs with elementary and middle school students to positively impact their ability to comprehend, decode and spell. Using special techniques, we help them carve out new pathways in the brain to improve reading, spelling, vocabulary, recall and word recognition. The LiPS program targets decoding. Seeing Stars takes the skills learned in the LiPS program and focuses on speed and accuracy to improve fluency. High school students are positively impacted through woodshop classes that create beautiful and intricate projects that implement all aspects of woodworking from wood burning to lathe turning. The outdoor education program teaches students survival skills, archery, fishing, knot tying and more. This is the first year we have had a music program, which quickly expanded into more of a music therapy program.

Advancing Academics INC

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Education, pre-school – 8th grade; Cambridge International program; STEM program; arts.

The College of Central Florida Foundation’s mission is to identify, solicit and acquire restricted and unrestricted resources to support the college in providing educational services to Citrus, Levy and Marion counties.

Discovery Science Center and Outdoor Foundation, Inc.

Linda Hall, Executive Director/CEO

conﬁdent, responsible, reﬂective, world,ofthereadypeopledevelopsthisCambridge,UniversityPartandinnovativeengaged.oftheofpathwayyoungwhoaretotackledemandstomorrow’swho

Florida Recovery Schools of Central Florida

Our mission is to prepare our children for life, to honor and glorify God in a Christ-centered environment of academic excellence. We provide an exceptional quality, balanced curriculum for grades PK3-8th which includes the ﬁne arts, technology, Spanish, physical education, team sports and Christian education.

Our mission is to provide leadership and foster partnerships to optimize a quality early learning environment for children through childcare, voluntary prekindergarten and parent education. Children and families in our community have access to quality early learning programs that nurture their learning potential and prepare them for educational success.

Friends of Dunnellon Public Library

fall and spring for ages 2-12 with varying topics. Education Outreach: Traveling science night and hands-on animal programs that serve local school populations as well as ﬁeld trip programs held in the facility for schools and daycares.

The mission is to cooperate with and support Freedom Public Library in the development and promotion of library services, resources and facilities for the community and to encourage and receive gifts, endowments and bequests to the library, and to provide supplemental ﬁnancial assistance to the library.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Book sales: Including pop up sales, bake sales, lobby sales and bundle tables. Purchasing equipment: Including digital platforms for the upcoming needs felt with the library community. Funding: Youth and adult programs, both fun and educational.

4410 SE 3rd Ave., Ocala, FL 34480 352- 387- 3090 › gcsocala.com › tgerds@gcsocala.com

Our mission is to create opportunity so the children we serve can achieve their full potential. We operate early learning centers oﬀering full-day, high-quality early education for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, including Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Academic Program-Grade Results: Nationally recognized academic platform. We can help students graduate with 13 credits. Case Management: We assist students and families in connecting with needed supports and resources. Recovery Support: We assist each student develop their own wellness plan.

We are an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting our local and county library services through fundraising in our bookstore and volunteering at library events and programs.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Head Start: Head Start/Early Head Start is a free program that provides comprehensive early learning services to children from low-income families. We operate 30 centers in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Lake, Levy, Marion, and Nassau counties, serving pregnant women and children from birth through age 5. A home-based Early Head Start program option is also available. School Readiness: Episcopal Children’s Services serves as the school readiness services provider for six counties in Northeast Florida.

September ‘22 39 CHARITY GUIDE

Judy Leacock, Executive Director/CEO

Grace Christian School

Connie Stophel, Executive Director/CEO 8649 Baypine Road, Ste. 300, Bldg. 7, Jacksonville, FL 32256 904-726-1500 › ecs4kids.org › connie.stophel@ecs4kids.org

Friends of Freedom Public Library

Episcopal Children’s Services

Thomas Gerds, Executive Director/CEO

5870 SW 95th St., Ocala FL 34476 352-438-2580 › foﬂibrary.org freedomlibraryfriends@gmail.com

PO Box 1434 Dunnellon,FL 34432 352-438-2530 › hall3118@bellsouth.net

Alayjah Burgess at the Marion County Public Library

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Collect used books and staﬀ regular weekday hours and some Saturday hours for a bookstore in the library. Hold special expanded book sales in the library meeting room several times a year, then proceeds are made available to the library for needs the county budget does not cover. Indirectly fund programs that educate and entertain, provide free meals, explain Medicare beneﬁts and prepare income taxes.

Our mission is to provide a safe and supportive learning environment to meet the individual educational needs of adolescents in recovery. We support adolescents ages 14-19 to achieve their academic goals while thriving in their recovery from substance use disorder.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Florida School Readiness: Families eligible for temporary aid receive ﬁnancial assistance so children birth through age 12 receive high-quality childcare. Florida Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK): All Marion County 4-year-olds are eligible to attend a high-quality prekindergarten program free with a contracted VPK provider to prepare for success in kindergarten and beyond. Help Me Grow Marion: Free developmental and behavioral screenings for children birth through age 8, resources for families and referrals to local and state community services with follow-up and care coordination.

PROGRAMS:MAJOR becomehelpscurriculumAnInternational:Cambridgeacademicthatstudents

Anna Reed, Executive Director 5805 SW 115th St. Road, Ocala, FL 34476 407-476-7512 › ﬂoridarecoveryschoolsofcentralﬂorida.org › recoveryschool407@gmail.com

Early Learning Coalition of Marion County

Wendy Williams, Community Relations Advocate 2300 SW 17th Road, Ocala, FL 34471 352-369-2315 › ELC-Marion.org › wwilliams@ELC-Marion.org

Our mission is to improve people’s lives and the community in which they live. We help improve academics and provide educational opportunities, and provide information and referral for connection to social services, seminars and advocacy for the underserved and community.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Tutoring grades K-6 for at-risk students. Mentoring students and adults. Scholarships for non-traditional students.

We provide students the opportunity to deepen their relationship with God, excel academically and commit to a life of service to others. TCHS is a college preparatory high school with standards that reﬂect our Catholic Christian values.

Our mission is to enrich quality of life for adults in Ocala and Marion County by helping them build and improve literacy skills.

academic support one-on-one and in small groups and have individualized learning plans. English for Speakers of Other Languages: We oﬀer English classes to native speakers of languages other than English. We serve students from more than 20 countries who range in ability from basic literacy to advanced grammar and pronunciation.

Pace Center for Girls, Marion

Public Education Foundation

Our mission is to provide a focal point for improving the understanding of springs ecology and foster the development of science-based education and management actions needed to restore and protect springs throughout Florida. We oﬀer ecological monitoring and restoration recommendations, public education about springs and aquifers, student internships and hands-on volunteer opportunities.

of Marion County

Trinity Catholic High School

R.J. Jenkins, Acting Executive Director 120 SW 5th St., Ocala, FL 34471 352-690-7323 › marionliteracy.org › arge.jenkins@gmail.com

40 CHARITYocalastyle.comGUIDE

Marion County Literacy Council

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Education: Accredited academic facilities for female ages 11-18. Counseling: Each girl receives counseling services every two weeks at a minimum. Culture of Positive Outcomes: Pace’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion empowers every girl to ﬁnd and use their voice to create a positive impact in their community and the world. Lifting a generation of voices for change; change that will create a world where all girls and young women have power, in a just and equitable society.

Carole C Savage-Hagans, APRC, Executive Director 328 NE 1st Ave., Ocala FL 34470 352-369-0571 › pacecenter.org › carole.savage@pacecenter.org

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Take Stock in Children: Scholarship and mentoring program for at-risk, low-income youth. Tools 4 Teaching: Free teacher resource store to equip teachers with the supplies needed for students to be successful in their classroom. Grants for Great Ideas: Support for teacher innovation in the areas of STEM education, literacy, assisting low-performing students and career and technical education.

Dr. Robert Knight, Executive Director/CEO 23695 US 27 High Springs, FL 32643 386-454-9369 › ﬂoridaspringsinstitute.org bknight@ﬂoridaspringsinstitute.org

R.A.M.A.L. Educational and Social Services, Inc.

Lou Pereira, President 2600 SW 42nd St., Ocala, FL 34471 352-622-9025 › trinitycatholichs.org › lpereira@tchs.us

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Adult Basic Education: Helps those 16 and older learn to read and write proficiently. Volunteer tutors work one-on-one with students. Outcomes may be holistic (improving general reading skills, building vocabulary) or more specific (obtaining a driver license, registering to vote, filling out a tioninstruc-receiveStudentscyEquivalen-GeneraltostudentsPreparesopment:Devel-EducationGeneralscription).ationsinstruc-standingunder-application,jobonpre-passtheExam.and

are capable of shaping a better world for the future. Christian Education: Supported by, and carried out in partnership with, Christ the King Anglican Church. The character-building aspect of this program is based on the biblical tenets of the Fruits of the Spirit. Students at all grade levels receive religious instruction weekly and take part in a weekly church service. Co-curricular courses: Spanish, chorus, band, art, physical ﬁtness, IT/computer and STEM; extracurricular team sports include volleyball, basketball, ﬂag football and track.

Our mission is to ﬁnancially and materially support Marion County Public Schools, its students and teachers.

Dr. Barbara J. Brooks, CEO/Founder 1636 SW 31st Ave., Ocala, FL 34474 352-873-1319 › ramalservices.org › barbarabrooksf@aol.com

MAJOR PROGRAMS: SpringsWatch: Citizen scientist volunteers measure water quality and ecological parameters monthly at 11 springs systems across the state. Springs Field School: This week-long class is a hybrid of online lectures and in-person events, including a paddling excursion with water quality parameter demonstrations. Springs Academy: Provides monthly lectures from an expert in the ﬁeld, covering a variety of topics, at no cost to participants.

Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute

Pace provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy.

Meghan Magamoll, Executive Director 1239 NW 4th St., Ocala, FL 34475 352-672-4167 › pefmc.org › meghan.magamoll@marion.k12.ﬂ.us

Frank DeLuca YMCA Family Center

AdventHealth Ocala Foundation

Health

307 SW 14th St., Ocala, FL 34471 352-690-5623 › adventhealth.com/hospital/adventhealth-ocala/generosityheals › jenna.krager@adventhealth.com

Our mission is to provide accessible services to the underserved and uninsured residents of Marion County, through a patient-centered, community-based clinic. We oﬀer primary medical care including health education, diabetes management and monitoring, and chronic disease, and see patients without regard to their ability to pay.

Maria Torres, Interim CEO/Executive Director 2553 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34470 352.732.6599 › myfhc.org › Maria.Torres@myhfhc.org

Estella Byrd Whitman Wellness Center

Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation

Our mission is to improve the overall health of Marion County residents by providing quality primary medical, dental and mental health services to all residents, but in particular to those residents who would not otherwise be able to access the services

September ‘22 41 CHARITY GUIDE

We exist to support women through the journey of breast cancer and help them regain the feeling of being whole and natural once again.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Swim lessons, youth sports and group exercise.

Carolyn Adams, ARNP, Executive Director/CEO 819 NW 7th St., Ocala, FL 34475 352-875-2226 › estellawellness.com › artcarol46@embarqmail.com

3200 SE 17th St. Ocala, FL 34471 352-368-9622 › ymcacf.org › kgarcia@cfymca.org

Lori Timmreck, President

Our mission is extending the healing ministry of Christ. Our vision is to inspire a culture of philanthropy that impacts the well-being of our community.

Jenna Krager, Foundation Executive Director

Lynn Rasys, Executive Director/CEO 5985 Silver Falls Run, Suite 210, Bradenton, FL 34211 850-459-7905 › fcsf.org › lrasys@ﬂcancer.com

PO Box 4996, Ocala, FL 34478 352-208-0467 › aayangels@gmail.com

Faithfully Guided Health Center, LLC

Kelli Garcia, Executive Director

All About You Angels, Inc.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Scholarships: Provide 30-100% discounted services for all health center services. Diabetes Program: Live – 6 month social health group/shared medical appointment for diabetes participants.

Heart of Florida Health Center

Our purpose is to improve lives of all in Central Florida by connecting individuals, families and communities with opportunities based on Christian values that strengthen spirit, mind and body.

Service Line and Impact Fundraising: Working with individual donors on major gifts, annual gifts and partnerships for our service lines or patient assistance funds.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Patient Grants: Up to $2,000 per calendar year for adult patients currently receiving cancer treatment who meet ﬁnancial qualiﬁcations. The current budget for Marion County grant awards is a minimum of $30,000. Volunteers: Provide Patient Support volunteers to cancer centers to provide compassionate care to patients in infusion rooms. Legacy of Hope: Support for cancer patients in need through planned giving

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Grateful Patient Fundraising: Working with physicians and clinicians to identify patients who were grateful for the care they received and are looking for ways to give back to programs and services of the hospital that will positively impact future patients. Employee Giving: Allows employees to give back to hospital programs, services and equipment, or to our Caring Hearts fund, which provides employees with ﬁnancial assistance in their greatest time of need.

Jamie Schoﬁeld, M.A., CAMT, Co-Founder/CEO 40 SW 1st Ave., Ocala, FL 34471 352-512-0631 › fghealthcenter.com › jamie@faithfullyguided.com

The foundation provides financial support to qualified adult cancer patients in Florida for expenses such as rent or mortgage, car payments and car insurance, and utility bills. By giving patients peace of mind in knowing bills are being paid while they are undergoing treatment, the foundation allows them to concentrate on fighting cancer.

Our mission is to give abundant life by providing access to health services that promote whole person healing and wellness.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Care of discharged patients from the hospital. Diabetes Education and Empowerment Program. Access Florida: assisting individuals to obtain food stamps, Medicaid and small loans. Community referrals, feeding the homeless, wound care and home visits.

The H.U.G.S organization encourages Heartfelt Unconditional Giving, focusing on the goal of meeting the financial needs of the community’s patients and families facing a cancer diagnosis. This is accomplished by providing immediate temporary relief while assisting in the discovery of long-term financial solutions through the collaborative efforts of the Cancer Alliance of Marion County.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: HUGS Patient Assistance: Financial assistance to cancer patients in Marion County who are receiving cancer treatments. Fundraising: Annual community “HUG” event honoring a local cancer patient (survivor or in-memory of) and/or a local cancer organization. Cancer Alliance of Marion County: The Leadership Committee consists of representatives from local agencies such as American Cancer Society, Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute, HCA – Ocala Health, AdventHealth Ocala, Tobacco Free Florida Partnership, Hospice of Marion County, Sabal Direct Primary Care, Heart of Florida and We Care, Marion County Medical Society, Langley Health, Department of Health, Crippen and Company, and Rural Women’s Health Project.

Our mission is to provide exceptional compassionate end-oflife care to our community. Our vision is to enhance quality of life through innovative care and services.

Hospice of Marion County

Rick Bourne, CEO/Executive Director 3231 SW 34th Ave., Ocala, FL 34474 352-873-7400 › hospiceofmarion.com › rbourne@hospiceofmarion.com

H.U.G.S. Charities

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Hospice Care: Comprehensive, compassionate care for those in the final stages of life. Palliative Care: We offer supportive care and assist with the relief of suffering whether physical, emotional or psychosocial as we work with the patient’s doctor to attain a better quality of life for the patient. Bereavement Services: Grief support services to hospice families as well as members of the community who have suffered loss. Individual and group sessions for adults, teens and children.

Audrey Hall, Secretary PO Box 801, Ocala FL 34478 352-854-6715 › ocalalionsclub.org › pdgaudrey@ocalalionsclub.org

Ocala Lions Club Charities Foundation, Inc.

John Podkomorski, Executive Director PO Box 5753, Ocala, FL 34471 352-368-2405 › namiocala.org › executivecirector@namiocala.org

Our mission is to improve the quality of life of anyone who is living with or aﬀected by mental illness by providing support, education and advocacy.

SMA Healthcare, Inc.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Marion County

Phoenix House Florida

Leo Smith, Executive Director/CEO PO BOX 34, Ocala, FL 34478 lsinv@cox.net › hugscharities.org

Ocala Royal Dames for Cancer Research, Inc.

We transform lives through substance abuse, mental health and primary care services. SMA envisions a community where all have access to the healthcare services needed to ﬁnd hope, healing and recovery.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Adult and pediatric primary medical care, dental, behavioral health, case management and maternity.

Jennifer Secor, CFRE, Executive Director, SMA Foundation, Inc. 5446 SW. 60th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474 800-539-4228 › smahealthcare.org › jsecor@smahealthcare.org

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Adult residential substance use treatment, partial hospitalization services for adults, adult outpatient substance use treatment, adolescent/teen outpatient substance use treatment, counseling services, prevention and education services.

employment partnerships with local companies.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: University of Florida Cancer Research: Start-up funding for new approaches/treatment for cancer; $50,000 to $75,000 per year depending upon grant proposals submitted and monies available for funding the research. Moﬃtt Cancer Center: Start-up funding for new approaches/treatment for cancer; $50,000 to $75,000 per year, depending upon proposals submitted and monies available. College of Central Florida: Provides money for three to four community education programs per year on cancer treatments and early detection.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Mental health and substance abuse treatment services to include crisis, residential, outpatient, primary care, eCare, prevention, justice, opioid response, community outreach and enrichment. A crisis and response center provides 24/7 emergency screening and admission to mental health crisis stabilization, drug abuse detoxiﬁcations and/or referral to other services. SMA oﬀers residential addiction treatment for adolescents and adults, crisis shelter for adolescents and supportive housing for adults.

We are passionate about healing individuals, families and communities challenged by substance use disorders and related mental health conditions. We provide individualized, holistic drug and alcohol addiction treatment. With short-term and long-term care options, we treat those struggling with addiction wherever they need to be—at home or a treatment facility.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Peer-led education programs for adults living with mental health conditions and their families, significant others and friends. Courses are offered free and are taught by specially trained individuals and family members with a lived experience. Support groups are peer-led and offer participants an opportunity to share experiences and gain support from other attendees. The ORA Clubhouse offers free programs to individuals living with mental health conditions presenting life skills and job skill training to facilitated re-entry into society through supported

due to ﬁnancial limitations and/or lack of health insurance.

Maria Alvarez, Executive Director/CEO 510 Vanderburg Drive, Ste. 301, Brandon, FL 33511 813- 881-1000 › phoenixﬂ.org › malvarez@phoenixﬂ.org

42 CHARITYocalastyle.comGUIDE

Dr. Patricia Sokol, President PO Box 6163, Ocala, FL 34478 352-622-7363 › ocalaroyaldames.org › patricia@katyavineyards.com

Our mission is to ensure a strong local/regional eﬀort in the ﬁght against cancer through funding, research and education.

The club is dedicated to the proposition that collectively we can do more than we can as individuals. Our focus is on the preservation and enhancement of sight and hearing.

2800 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala, FL 34471 352-387-2210 › mcarc.com › mclaughlin.sean@mcarc.com

2760 SE 17th St., Suite 300, Ocala, FL 34471 352-368-3788 › cilncf.org › tdelisle@cilncf.org

Central Florida Community Action Agency, Inc.

603 E Fort King St., Ocala, FL 34471 (561) 509-5776, ext. 1225 › believeinsanta.com › keith@believeinsanta.com

Keith Carson, President/CEO

Our mission is to provide safe and eﬀective programs to strengthen youth and families.

Human Services

Caroline Ruﬀ-Looney, CEO

ARC Marion, Inc.

411 N. Main St., Suite 210, Gainesville, FL 32601 352-373-7667 › cfcaa.org › cruﬀ_looney@cfcaa.org

Our mission is to promote economic mobility by helping people living in poverty achieve self-suﬃciency. Our purpose is to reduce poverty and help low-income individuals and families become self-suﬃcient in Alachua, Levy and Marion counties. We are committed to helping people strengthen their lives through community partnerships.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Healthy Families: The home visitation program for expecting parents and parents of newborns through age 5 improves childhood outcomes and increases family self-suﬃciency by empowering parents through education and community support. Parents voluntarily participate so they can learn to recognize and respond to their babies’ changing developmental needs, use positive discipline techniques, cope with the day-to-day stress of parenting in healthy ways and set and achieve short- and long-term goals. Circle

2310 NE 24th St., Ocala, FL 34470 352-622-6135 › arnettehouse.org › cpettitt@arnettehouse.org

2091 NE 35th St., Ocala, FL 34479 352.732.1355 › chsﬂ.org › andry.Sweet@chsﬂ.org

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Emergency Youth Shelter: For ages 10-17. Services include safe shelter, food, hygiene products, clothing (if necessary), counseling, education and recreation. Long Term Group Homes for Child Welfare. For ages 13-17. Supportive living environment with life skills training that assist youth in obtaining independence and self-reliance. Community Counseling: For ages 6-17 years of age. Counseling is provided by master’s level counselors within the youth’s school, in the community or on Arnette House property.

Jason Halstead, Executive Director

Arnette House, Inc.

Brother’s Keeper

320 NW 10th St., Ocala, FL 34475 352-622-3846 › bkocala.org › jason@bkocala.org

Tony Delisle, Executive Director/CEO

365 days a year—more than 54,000 meals annually. Holiday Assistance: Helps families with food for Thanksgiving and food and toys for children at Christmas. In 2022, we assisted 250 families and 450+ children during the holidays.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Residential Habilitation/Group Homes: Provide a safe and supportive environment for adults with disabilities to reside. Each individual requires a different level of support and staff are there to guide, mentor and assist with all areas of daily living while promoting independence in a family atmosphere. Adult Day Training: Support and training for adults to live their life as independently as possible, with the goal of being active and valued members of the communities where they live, work and play. Transportation: Our fleet and drivers provide transportation to and from a client’s home so they can get where they need to go in the community.

Brother’s Keeper is the social service outreach ministry of Blessed Trinity Church. The men, women and children we serve are our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. We are committed to assisting the poor and needy without regard to race, creed, sex or ethnicity.

Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida

Children’s Home Society/Healthy Families

Our mission is building bridges to success for children. Our vision is a world where children realize their full potential.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST): Activities include device loans, demonstrations, reutilization, training; information and assistance; and a financing program. FAAST serves Floridians who have disabilities and their family members, service providers, educators, therapists, employers, health and rehabilitation professionals, assistive technology vendors, procurement officials and others. Employment Services: Vocational evaluations, job readiness, on-the-job training, job coaching, placement and retention services, in concert with the Florida Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Employers receive information about hiring incentives including the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Disabled Access Credit. Service and training are provided to help with accommodations and problem solving. ADA Paratransit Screenings: Support services for riders with disabilities wanting to utilize fixed route and paratransit services as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act. We provide screening, eligibility determination and travel training services in Alachua and Marion counties.

Our mission is to empower people with disabilities to achieve their goals for independence.

We create opportunities for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ocala and Marion County to live, work and play to the fullest of their capabilities.

The foundation is a public service all-volunteer organization focused on improving life. Without any expectation of compensation, the foundation is dedicated to serving children in need. We put people before proﬁts, regardless of race, creed, color or sexual orientation.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Emergency Assistance: We assist more than 7,000 clients a year with food, clothing, utility payments, rent, prescriptions and more. Soup Kitchen: The kitchen, at 235 NW 2nd St., serves free lunches to the homeless and poor

Cheri Pettitt, CEO

September ‘22 43 CHARITY GUIDE

Believe in Santa Foundation, Inc.

Sean McLaughlin, CEO

Andry Sweet, Executive Director/CEO

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Hospital Visitations: Work with medical staﬀ to provide patients and their families encouraging visits and life enrichment promoting an attitude of wellness. Literacy: Reading With Horses - Library and school presentations. Through the power of books and storytelling, Gentle

Filipino-American Association, Inc.

Lory Coﬀey, President P.O. Box 1347, Ocala, FL, 34478 352-615-8810 › faaincocala.org › faainc.oﬂ@gmail.com

Our support groups shall thrive in any community that has institutions of incarceration to assist families by working to create an awareness of their needs, educating the community and advocating on their behalf.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Adult and Seniors: Programs that build conﬁdence, safety and independence, including independent living skills, orientation and mobility, braille reading and writing, assistive technology and aids, vocational rehabilitation and job readiness, enrichment classes, support groups and more. Teen Transition: School-to-work program helps ages 14-22 continue their academic achievement. Teen clients develop the independent living skills, advanced orientation and mobility, and other skills necessary to transition from high school to college – or the workforce – and live independently. Training includes independent living skills, orientation and mobility, braille reading and writing, assistive technology and aids, vocational rehabilitation and job readiness, enrichment classes, support groups and more. Babies and Children: Provides early intervention for blind or visually impaired babies, children and their families. Parent/infant programming builds crucial development skills, including mobility, motor, sensory and cognitive learning, so children become kindergarten-ready. Programming for ages 5-13 oﬀers a diverse curriculum to supplement school learning. We build independent living skills through orientation and mobility training, braille reading and writing, access technology, foster personal development and enhance academic performance.

1202 SW 17th St, Suite 201, #309, Ocala, FL 34471 352-304-9288 › TheRockProgram.org › blessingtherock@gmail.com

Jorge Garcia-Bengochea, Executive Director 2775 NW 49th Ave., Suite 205, Ocala, FL 34482 352-226-9009 › GentleCarouselTherapyHorses.com minihorsetherapy@att.net

Creative Services, Inc.

Judy Wilson, Executive Director/CEO PO Box 2193, Ocala, FL 34478 352-351-4009 › ocaladvshelter.org › jwilson@ocalacsi.com

Our mission is to ease human suﬀering following disasters, violence, traumatic events, medical challenges and loss.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Domestic Violence Shelter: Available 24 hours. Crisis Hotlines: Two lines, 24 hours a day. Outreach: To three rural underserved populations.

Rondo Fernandez, Founder/President

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Socio-cultural: Cultural festivals such as Philippine Independence Celebration. Civic and educational: Student academic recognition, community education and support. Religious and spiritual: San Lorenzo Fiesta, Simbang Gabi and Healthy Living Development.

of Parents: Share best practice with parents and help build a support system. Counseling Services: Provide clinical services for all age groups

Creative Services, Inc. aids, comforts and empowers victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Our vision is a community that has eliminated domestic violence and sexual assault through social change. We provide counseling, information and referrals, court advocacy, nurses exams and an attorney.

Jacalyn Brown, Founder/CEO 1629 NW 4th St., Ocala, FL 34475 352-361-1206 › flipflopsg1.com › flipflopsg1@yahoo.com

We provide essential need items to underprivileged youth in our community, giving them hope for the future by providing them with power in the present.

Empowered of Central Florida, DBA The Rock Program

44 CHARITYocalastyle.comGUIDE

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Secret Santa and Angel Tree: Providing gifts for children of incarcerated individuals for Christmas. Intake assessment: To determine needs and referrals. Support: Group meetings.

Florida Center for the Blind

Our mission is to build skills, conﬁdence and independence for individuals facing blindness and visual impairment and educate the community to prevent vision loss.

Anissa Pieriboni, President/CEO 1411 NE 22nd Ave., Ocala, FL 34470 352-873-4700 › ﬂblind.org › apieriboni@ﬂblind.org

Our mission is to promote and preserve Filipino-American cultural heritage through education and community awareness programs, and to establish and develop community, civic, religious and social service programs furthering our

“bayanihan” spirit and harmonious cooperation with various ethnic communities.

FLIP FLOP Support Groups

MAJOR PROGRAMS: The Rock Program: With dedicated classroom spaces staﬀed by volunteers, the faith-based program serves middle and high school students by providing them food, clothing, shoes, school supplies, hygiene items, feminine care products and other resources free of charge. Empowered Wrestling Club: The faith-based wrestling club gives students ages 7-18 the opportunity to get involved in the sport of wrestling. EWC encourages participation from all students, including those from low-income families. The club focuses on character building as well as wrestling by providing coaching staﬀ to engage, equip and empower.

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses

Hope Outreach Help Center

Melissa R. Casto, Executive Director PO Box 830455, Ocala, FL 34483 352-547-4817 › hishouseforher.org › melissa@hishouseforher.org

His House for Her, Inc.

Our mission is to share the love of Jesus by providing trauma-informed practices in a supportive housing environment to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of at-risk women in recovery.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: We oﬀer 24/7 supervised supportive residential housing for women in recovery from addiction, trauma and life-controlling issues. Our recovery program consists of three phases with after-care planning. During a woman’s stay, which can be from 12 to 15 months, our goal is to remove the barriers that keep her from healing, becoming whole and transforming her life. Our program serves adult women from various places, such as those being released from incarceration, homeless women or women who have lost custody of their children through the Department of Children and Families and are working reuniﬁcation plans in dependency court, women involved with drug court or other justice-involved programs and those coming from treatment facilities who need additional drug or alcohol recovery.

Interfaith Emergency Services

Diane Schoﬁeld, Executive Director/CEO 6017 SE Robinson Road, Belleview, FL 34420 352- 347-4663 › handsofmercyeverywhere.org Ourdiane@handsofmercyeverywhere.orgmissionistoprovideaChristian-based child caring agency for teenage girls and pregnant or parenting teens in the foster care system. We and our community work together to provide teen girls with needed resources and support as we lovingly transition them into adulthood

Hands of Mercy Everywhere

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Food Pantry: Grocery assistance to individuals and families in need. Homeless Shelter: Emer-

Karla Grimsley-Greenway, Chief Executive Oﬃcer 435 NW 2nd St., Ocala, FL 34475 352-629-8868 › iesmarion.org › karla@iesmarion.org

John Cooper, Executive Director/CEO 901 Industrial Drive, Suite 200, Wildwood, FL 34785 352-873-6332 › kidscentralinc.org › john.cooper@kidscentralinc.org

Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection

Our mission is protecting children, supporting families, engaging communities.

Kids Central

2800 NE 14th St., Ocala, FL 34470 352-873-4739 › kimberlyscenter.org › dawn@kimberlyscenter.org

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Child Protection Team: Assists law enforcement and the Department of Children and Families with child abuse investigations in Marion County. Children’s Trauma Therapy: For children and families. Providers are master’s degree level and highly trained in best treatment modalities for helping children heal from trauma. Child Abuse Prevention: Provides the Child Safety Matters and Teen Safety Matters curriculum throughout Marion County Public Schools

gency shelter and case-management for women, children and families. Food 4 Kids Program: Weekend feeding program in partnership with local schools to provide meals to children at risk of hunger. Other: Free clothing boutique, prescription medication assistance, mental health counseling, patient advocacy, work boot assistance, government identiﬁcation card assistance and permanent supportive housing for individuals with disabilities.

September ‘22 45 CHARITY GUIDE

Rose Vidal, President/Director

Karla Grimsley-Greenway with James “Red” Sanborn.

Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses promote library participation and reading skills. Veterans and Senior Home Visitations: Special moments of storytelling and resident memories accompanied with music, photographs and stuﬀed toy horses.

One in four children will experience abuse or neglect. Kimberly’s Center exists to respond to, protect and restore these children so they can get the help, hope and healing they need. The board and staﬀ work with community partners to conduct child friendly investigative and treatment services. In 2018, the staﬀ expanded into the work of primary prevention.

Our mission is to help the poor in Marion County with food, clothes, gas, dog food, bread, items for households and more.

18350 N US Hwy 301, Citra, FL 32113 352-575-0789 › hopeoutreachhelpcenter.com › rosev@rosevidal.com

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Residential opportunity for teen mothers and homeless teen girls who are at risk of being sex traﬃcked. Maternity assistance.

We are a community of faith called by God to provide emergency assistance without judgement to all persons in Marion County. Interfaith serves those of low income or people in ﬁnancial crisis by providing basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, medication and housing. We strive to relieve the suﬀering of those lacking the basic essentials for life.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Child Welfare - Management and services: Out of Home Care – Foster care/adoption: Prevention – Kinship care/prevention services: Diversion – Family support services.

Dawn Westgate, Executive Director

Dana Parker, Executive Director

which teaches children and teens ﬁve basic safety rules to protect themselves from abuse, bullying and online dangers.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: We restore hope to women who are returning citizens and their families to a life of self-suﬃciency through job search, employment readiness, mentoring, entrepreneurship classes (the basics of how to start, run and grow a business), life skill classes (transition skills, money management, communication), housing (in the process of securing), mental health and substance abuse recovery (referrals), a clothing boutique, feeding the homeless and providing personal care packages.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Journey INC: A life skills program set in 12-week sessions throughout the year: Aﬃrming Potential, Putting Your Past in Its Place, Boundaries and Faith & Finances. Pre-class meal, mentorship and children’s program provided. Clearinghouse: A help center where trained volunteers listen to a person in need, then clarify, verify and connect the person to resources within the church, community and beyond. Gap Ministries: Fill in where we lack resources in our community without duplication of services. Centsible Furnishings: Upscale, resale shop at aﬀordable prices.

New Direction Reentry Center of Marion, Inc.

3482 NW 10th St., Ocala, FL 34475 352- 438-5990 › McChildrensAlliance.org

Ourexecutivedirector@mcchildrensalliance.orgmissionistoimprovethelivesof

Marion County Children’s Alliance, Inc.

Ocala Housing Authority

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8): Subsidizes low-income families’ rental obligations, which allows them to rent houses outside of traditional public housing.

Our mission is to oﬀer the beneﬁts of therapeutic horseback riding to persons of all ages and capabilities who are physically, mentally or emotionally challenged.

1101 SW 20th Court, Ocala, FL 34471 352-620-3501 › marionseniorservices.org

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Traditional Therapeutic Riding: Serves individuals with physical, intellectual and emotional challenges (cerebral palsy, stroke or brain injuries, autism spectrum disorder and more). Clients often show improvement in flexibility, balance, posture and muscle strength. It has also been proven to affect psychological, cognitive, behavioral and communication functions. Relationships formed between horse and client often lead to increased confidence, patience, self-esteem, independence and acceptance. Equine Experience: Therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning and life skills activities serving foster children and disadvantaged youth. Equine facilitated learning, working closely with care providers, case managers and counselors on areas to include horsemanship skills, coping skills with stress, socialization, problem solving, self-image, communication skills, social interactions, confidence, emotional regulation and ability to follow directions. Freedom Reins: Works cooperatively with organizations including the Wounded Warriors Project, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Veterans Helping Veterans, veterans’ hospitals and others to offer equine-assisted activities and horseback riding for veterans and their families.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Meals on Wheels: For homebound clients and also at six congregate meal sites that provides a nutritious meal and socialization, health education and recreation activities for seniors still able to leave their homes. Transportation: In vans and mini-buses on an individual basis for citizens

Marion Senior Services

Marion County children. Our vision is to serve as their voice through identifying and facilitating solutions that meet the critical needs of children, strengthening and engaging leaders to improve the lives of children and connecting community partners and donors.

46 CHARITYocalastyle.comGUIDE

Dr. Gwendolyn B. Dawson, CEO 1629 NW 4th St., Ocala, FL 34475 352-369-2636 › ocalahousing.org › gdawson@ocalahousing.org

Jennifer Martinez, Executive Director/CEO

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Community Council Against Substance Abuse: Working together to reduce the impact of alcohol, marijuana and other drugs on our youth using the following strategies: Drive for Life, Natural High, Friday Night Done Right, Know the Law, Hidden in Plain Sight, Red Ribbon Week, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and You Are Not Alone. CCASA hosts the Opioid & Addiction Task Force. Supporting Kids Involving Parents: To create opportunities for engagement with families, increase youth’s capacity to excel academically and provide mentoring as a tool for navigating everyday life. Family Violence Prevention Workgroup: To end family violence by coordinating community resources and services to assist families in crisis.

Our mission is to mobilize local churches to transform lives and communities in the name of Christ.

Laresa Scott, CEO/Founder 1500 W State Road 40, Suite 1100, Ocala, FL 34482 352-509-7344 › newdirectionreentry.org › ndirection20108@gmail.com

Ourjmartinez@marionseniorservices.orgmissionissupportingtheelderly, disabled and disadvantaged residents of Marion County and their families with dignity, respect and compassion to maintain independent living status. We are the lead agency for the Department of Elder Aﬀairs in administering various programs to assist the frail and elderly by providing adult day care, in-home and in-facility respite, home delivered meals, emergency alert response, personal care, homemaking, nutrition education, case management and emergency energy assistance. MSS, operating as Marion Transit Services, provides paratransit transportation.

Marion Therapeutic Riding Association

Our mission is to provide for our clients’ physical needs and help them build long-term sustainability through empowerment, coaching and ongoing support.

15797 S Hwy 441, Summerfield, FL 34491 352- 245-8774 › loveincflorida.org › dparker@loveincheartofflorida.org

Love INC of the Heart of Florida

Beth McCall, Executive Director

We are committed to providing safe, decent, sanitary and aﬀordable housing to residents of Marion County; to provide economic opportunities and housing free from discrimination; and to build dynamic communities that will foster personal growth and self-suﬃciency.

who have no other means of getting to essential appointments, grocery shopping, etc. Most vehicles are wheelchair and lift equipped. In-Home Support: Non-medical assistance in a client’s home with long-term care activities such as homemaking, personal care, meals and more.

Pamela Morrison, Executive Director/CEO 6850 SE 41st Court, Ocala, FL 34480 352- 732-7300 › mtraocala.org › execdirector@mtraocala.org

Public Housing: Subsidized housing to eligible families, which are owned, managed and maintained by the authority. Homebuyer’s Club: Designed to empower homebuyers with knowledge of all aspects of purchasing and maintaining a home.

Stacey Collier, Executive Director/CEO

Pam McBride, Director

Karen Vega, Executive Director/CEO

MAJOR PROGRAM: Transitional/Supportive Housing: Women and their children can live in a furnished apartment for up 18 months as they receive support and work toward independence.

3319 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34470 352-291-1117 › restartministriesorg.com ›

Saving Mercy Corporation

Tiﬀany Bagasan, Executive Director/CEO 33 Banyan Course, Ocala, FL 34472 352-426-8664 › sharetheloveocala.com › director@sharetheloveocala.com

Our mission is to facilitate the best outcomes for individuals with autism and related neuro-immune disorders. We oﬀer educational programs, services and referrals to individuals, families and caregivers.

Project Hope of Marion County, Inc.

Open Arms Village

7634 SW 60th Ave., Ocala, FL 34476 352-462-0168 › oasn.info › kvega@oasn.info

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Safe housing, food and basic needs, and intense case management and counseling services at no cost. Weekday feeding program for neighbors and homeless friends.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Personal Advocacy: Develop faith, capacity and accountability with a 16-step framework for quality lifestyle. Real-World Skills: Financial literacy, employability skills, navigating education and work and career options. Resilience: Five

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Royal Family Kids Camp: Overnight summer camp for kids in foster care ages 7-11: Teen Reach Adventure Camp (TRAC): Overnight summer camp for teens in foster care ages 12-16. TRAClife: Year-around mentoring for teens from TRAC.

1839 NE 8th Road, Ocala, FL 34470 352-304-6229 › openarmsvillageocala.org › oav.director@yahoo.com

Our mission is to create life-changing moments for children and teens who have experienced relational trauma through summer camps and/or mentoring. We provide summer camps for children and teens who have been neglected, abused or abandoned.

830 NE 28th St., Unit 201, Ocala, FL 34470 352-624-4673 › projecthopeocala.org

Restart Ministries Organization

September ‘22 47 CHARITY GUIDE

April McDonald, Executive Director

3601 W Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34475 352-629-6902 › savingmercy.org › stacey@savingmercy.org

Hope Villas

Pillars for Success—Faith, conﬁdence, discipline, consistency and honesty.

Werestartministriesorg@gmail.comprovidetransitionalservices to reunite women previously incarcerated to families, re-ignite hope, restore dignity, abolish recidivism and promote access to employment, education, housing and sustainability for improved quality of life.

Outreach Autism Services Network, Inc.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Homeless prevention: Intervention to prevent eviction for tenants residing off-site in the community. Transitional housing: Providing units to individuals and families while helping them become self-sufficient and/or find permanent housing. Affordable housing: We are working to provide a new development of permanent supportive housing and affordable housing. Site construction to begin soon on 144 units as well as a client services center for resources.

Our mission is to provide housing and case management services to at-risk and vulnerable homeless in a faith-based environment.

Our mission is to combat homelessness by providing transitional housing to men in need and support services to equip them to become independent, productive members of our community. The residents are provided a safe, drug free environment and the opportunity to rebuild their lives.

Share The Love Ocala

Christine Founder/ExecutiveMcPhee, Director

Ourapril@projecthopeocala.orgmissionisresponding to Christ’s call in shepherding homeless families to self-suﬃciency. We provide faith-based, transitional and supportive housing for homeless women with children.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Normalcy: Provide funds so children may participate in activities with their peers. Tree of Angels: Provide gifts for each child in the program (currently 2,300). Fund everyday needs: Such as clothing, furniture and more.

Our mission is to help people navigate life’s storms by rescuing, empowering and renewing their lives, lighting the way to become self-suﬃcient productive people in society and creating a safe atmosphere of faith, family and friends.

Our purpose is to provide a safe, caring and enriching community for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

Our mission is uniting local resources to help our neighbors. We provide direct services and support programming focused in education, ﬁnancial stability and health.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Healing Homes: Trauma-informed training and support for foster and adoptive families. Kid-2Kid Foster Closet: Clothing, diapers and baby gear for foster/ adoptive families. Hope Family Camp: Therapeutic camp for foster/adoptive families.

Sue Carpenter, Executive Director/CEO PO Box 4062, Ocala, FL 34478-4062 352-484- 0319 › voices4childrenﬂ.org › sue@voices4childrenﬂ.org

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Therapeutic Horseback Riding: Helps improve strength, coordination, balance, conﬁdence, self-esteem and increased attention span. Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning: Helps improve conﬁdence, self-esteem, emotional well-being, learning and achievement. Special Olympics: Programs for people with intellectual disabilities.

Shepherd’s LightHouse, Inc.

5930 SE Robinson Road, Belleview, FL 34420 352-347-6575 › theshepherdslighthouse.org › yeast7306@aol.com

Our mission is to help provide for the unmet needs of children who have been placed in the custody of the state and have a guardian ad litem assigned to them

625 NE 12th Ave., Ocala, FL 34470 352-405-5005 › thepearlproject.org › joy@thepearlproject.org

Joy Zedler, Executive Director/CEO

Betty Gray, Executive Director

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Shelter for homeless mothers and children. Six aﬀordable housing apartments. Outreach to our community including food drives and community events to help the homeless.

Transitions Life Center (TLC)

Stirrups ‘n Strides Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.

Lucy Johnson, Executive Director/CEO

The Pearl Project

3360 NW Gainesville Road, Ocala, FL 34475 352- 877-8999 › tlcocala.org › lucy@tlcocala.org

Yolanda East, Executive Director/CEO

We help vulnerable children discover their value by educating, encouraging and equipping families, professionals and communities to being hope and healing.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: THRIVE: Specialized day program for adults, 18 and over, with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Enterprises: Vocational training experiences that provide purposeful learning and enrichment. Navigation Services: Free to families in our community caring for an individual(s) with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). The TLC navigator can assist with locating services, supports and I-budget applications (Med Waiver/CDC+) for individuals with I/DD.

Robert Haight, Vice President of Resource Development 1401 NE Second St., Ocala, FL 34470 352-732-9696 Ext. 211 › uwmc.org › squintel@uwmc.org

48 CHARITYocalastyle.comGUIDE

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Dignity Center: We partner with local manufacturers who outsource work to our facility. Dignity Roasters: We roast, package, ship and sell coﬀee as a way to train our clients in food handling. Church in the Garden: A monthly outreach to the distressed community.

Our mission is to provide therapeutic horseback riding, carriage driving, equine assisted therapy and Special Olympics to anyone with physical, mental and emotional challenges, and to improve the quality of life for these individuals with the opportunity for emotional, educational and physical growth through horsemanship, competition and the healing power of the horse.

4246 W Hwy 318, Citra, FL 32113 352-427-3569 › stirrupsnstrides.com › execdir@stirrupsnstrides.com

United Way of Marion County

Wendy Kebrdle, Executive Director 98 NE 9th St., Ocala, Fl 34471 352-727- 0239 › weargloves.org › wendy@weargloves.org

Wear Gloves INC

Our mission is to allow those in need to earn what they need. We provide employment and education opportunities for the distressed in Marion County.

Voices for Children of North Central Florida, Inc.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: We solicit contributions of cell phones from any/all possible sources where cellular devices might be donated or, if lost, be donated by the recovering agency. Cleared phones are provided to law enforcement agencies and/ or shelters for those advocates to distribute to victims as they determine the need. Phones are provided free of charge.

Ourchampionsforchampionsinc@gmail.commissionistoenrichfamilylives and values by providing and facilitating programs and services for people with unique abilities and needs.

324 SE 24th St., Ocala, FL 34471

The Charitable Recycling Foundation, Inc. (911 Cell Phone Bank)

Champions For Champions, Inc.

James Mosieur, Executive Director/CEO

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Arts: We offer programs six days a week. Music therapy and dance, fine arts and crafts provide relaxation and help individuals with mental and physical health while they learn different skills and sell their art projects.

Public/Social Benefit

Gerri Gerthe, President

Circle Up Center for Practical Peacebuilding, Inc.

Lauren Delorio and Renee Arnett during last year’s annual Give4Marion fundraiser at the organization’s oﬃce.

Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion

240 SE 17th St., Suite C, Ocala, FL 34471 1-866-996-2182 › championsforchampions.org

MAJOR PROGRAMS: S.E.L.F. (Social-Emotional Life Focused Renewal) Renewal: This is a 12-module program with a focus on emotions of self and others, processes for responsible decision making, tools for transforming conflict and learning how to have a positive influence on others through effective communication and empathy. From Conflict to Connection: This workshop is helpful for team building in organizations and workplaces. Circle Facilitation Training: Three levels of interactive workshops, starting with the basics of the circle process and how the circle can be used in daily life as well as in team and community building. The next step provides understanding and tools to help transform conflict

352-622-5020 › ocalafoundation.org › lauren@ocalafoundation.org

The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County works to bring passion to purpose by connecting nonprofit organizations to donors in the community. Our goal is to build a better community for everyone in Marion County by strengthening secular and faith-based nonprofit organizations in the areas of animals, arts, education, health, human services, public benefit and veterans’ organizations. Our organization seeks to provide nonprofit organizations with resources in the areas of financial counseling, public relations and marketing assistance, and video production. We provide monthly professional development via the NonProfit Business Council, grant research and application assistance, and a yearly fundraiser.

We promote best peacebuilding practices and teach practical skills for creating connection, building community and transforming conﬂict.

230 NE 25th Ave., Suite 300, Ocala, FL 34470 352-325-7761 › circleupcenter.org › info@circleupcenter.org

Karin Dean, Co-Director and President

2750 E Silver Springs Blvd., Unit 300, Ocala, FL 34470 352-512- 0204 911 › cellphonebank.org › jmosieur@911cellphonebank.org

LaurenCountyDeIorio, Executive Director/CEO

and facilitate healing. The ﬁnal step provides instruction on facilitating challenging conversations and restorative circles.

Maria C Roman, Founder/CEO

Our mission is empowering our youth to help each other through sharing, caring and giving back through community service projects.

Florida Kids Helping Kids

3560 SE 137th Lane, Summerﬁeld, FL 34491 352-703-5437 › fkhk.org › ﬂoridakhk@gmail.com

We provide emergency phone communication to law enforcement agencies and shelters for distribution to abuse victims, including domestic violence, human traﬃcking and sexual traﬃcking, to assist in their recovery process.

Culinary arts teaches members how to prepare meals that are healthy, nutritious and appetizing. Toastmasters Gavel Club: Participants are taught how to communicate and speak to the public properly. For each session, we have an assigned speaker, evaluators, timer and audience. Community Outreach: Giving back to community is part of our core values. Champions are encouraged to volunteer and get involved in supporting causes sponsored by other community organizations that promote the health and well-being of citizens.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Give4Marion: Annual fundraiser for Marion County nonprofits. NonProfit Business Council: Professional association of nonprofit organizations. Estate Planning Council of Marion County: Professional association of local attorneys, financial planners and tax advisers. Back to School Community Giveback, serving over 6,000 students.

September ‘22 49 CHARITY GUIDE

50 CHARITYocalastyle.comGUIDE

Kali Brianne Stauss Lourenco, President/Executive Director/CEO

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Unified Champion Schools: Promotes social inclusion by bringing together young people with and without disabilities on sports teams through inclusive student clubs, together in schools or community wide initiatives and by fostering youth leadership. Also offers competitive team formats in a program for all grades emphasizing our partnership with the Florida State High School Athletic Association wherein we have athletes competing along with students without disabilities (Unified Partners) and possibly qualify for a varsity letter. Young Athletes: An innovative sports play program for children ages 2-7 designed to introduce students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to sports, improving cognitive and physical skills, balance, movement, striking and hand-eye coordination as well as social skill development and, for many, introduction to the resources and support available within Special Olympics Florida families, agencies and schools. Health & Fitness: Despite severe need and higher health risks, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often denied health services and die on average 16 years sooner than the general population. Special Olympics Health is creating a world where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have every opportunity to be healthy. Staying physically active is an important part of training for sport and maintaining and improving overall health.

PO Box 5954, Ocala, FL 34478 352-427-7932 › ocala.jl.org › info@ocala.jl.org

Our mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training.

Junior League of Ocala

Our mission is to receive and administer funds for scientiﬁc, educational and charitable purposes.

PO Box 1987, Ocala, FL 34478 352-369-3582 › marionso.com/mcso-foundation Thepresident@mcsofoundation.orgmissionistofundequipment, supplies and activities of the 600+ volunteers within the Marion County Sheriﬀ ’s Oﬃce and support projects that are not funded through the county budget.

Special Olympics Florida

Kiwanis Club of Ocala

Gary Simons, Executive Director/CEO PO Box 104, Ocala, FL 34478 gsimons@savagekrim.com

world one child and one community at a time.

PO Box 682, Ocala FL 34478 352-361-9098 › ocalakiwanis.org › jmaguire5@cox.net

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Marion County Diaper Bank: Starting the 2022-2023 year we will be founding a diaper bank to help mothers and children in need. City of Ocala Recreation & Parks: We make annual donations through fundraising eﬀorts. Marion County School Board: We volunteer and serve through volunteer opportunities and providing supplies and assistance as needed.

Ocala Rotary Foundation, Inc.

Sherry Wheelock, Executive Director/CEO 1915 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont, FL 34711 352-243-9536 › specialolympicsﬂorida.org › sherrywheelock@soﬂ.org

We are part of a global organization dedicate to improving the

MAJOR PROGRAMS: We support 34 units within the MCSO, including Citizens on Patrol, Neighborhood Watch, Juvenile Services, Sheriﬀ ’s Youth Ranch, Rainbow River Watch, Lake Weir Watch, volunteer mounted unit, K-9 purchases, Community Emergency Response Teams, Emergency Operations Center, Citizens Academy, funeral escort services, chaplain, Marion Emergency Radio Team, pipe and drum band, Deputy Explorer Program, Rape Aggression Defense Training and Sheriﬀ ’s special projects.

Our mission is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical ﬁtness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other athletes and the community.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: County Fair: A portion of proceeds is being set aside to purchase land to host events and hopefully build apartments for graduating students. Our youth are working on a program they believe will help stop homelessness before it begins. Their concept is a template for housing for high school students who must be working full-time and work with a financial planner and realtor to establish a savings plan to take them from renting to buying a home. Once the plan is fully developed, the youth will bring it before the Marion County Board of Commissioners with the hopes that if they can’t raise the funds to build it someone within our community will take this on as a project. This teaches planning, working with the community and research skills. Summer programs: We provide free meals for kids in need and offer team building skills as we work on a float for a parade, which teaches math, science and leadership skills. Shopping for a Sibling: We collect used toys and set up a pop-up toy store where kids shop for each other for free We offer emergency help at Christmas.

Jim Maguire, President

Marion County Sheriﬀ ’s Oﬃce Foundation, BobInc.Morgan, President

Julie Sanderson, Executive Director/CEO

13795 SW 36th Ave. Road, Ocala, FL 34473 352-717-5004 › newdaycf.com › lawendellprice91@gmail.com

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Donating medical service dogs: Dogs are custom trained, then donated with a lifetime of follow-up/ assistance. We pay all travel expenses for recipients to come to our headquarters for two weeks of pairing. Borden Institute of Higher Learning: Provides a college accredited/VA approved apprenticeship program that gives students the opportunity to learn our industry. The institute will teach animal-related courses providing various career opportunities. Borden Veterinary Hospital: New onsite veterinary hospital cares for 50 to 100 dogs in training and assists in the care and well-being of 400 working teams across the country.

Our mission is to achieve camaraderie among all veterans’ organizations in Marion County and promote the general aims

1576 Bella Cruz Drive, Suite 429, The Villages, FL, 32159 352-626-2305 › patriotservicedogs.org › julie@patriotservicedogs.org

Veterans Helping Veterans USA Inc.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Direct social services: Assistance to homeless veterans with emergency shelter, food and personal items. Veterans and their families may receive limited ﬁnancial assistance, household goods, food, personal items, clothing, medical equipment, gas vouchers, utility bill payments, emergency rent assistance, employment referrals and employment expenses (uniforms, licenses work-related tools and equipment) and scholarship programs for short-term training in health care, security and child care by paying for tuition and occupational license. Heroes Shouldn’t Be Homeless: Provide opportunity for home ownership with rent-to-own program. Veteran Treatment Court: Assisting the court in a diversion program for veterans who commit relatively minor crimes.

352-789-5016 › medicalservicedogs.org › carol@medicalservicedogs.org

Carol Borden, Executive Director/CEO

Religion

Hank Whittier, Executive Director/CEO

2730 E Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL 34470 352-433-2320 › vhvusa.org › eddie.sencer@vhvusa.org

2730 E Silver Springs Blvd., Unit 100, Ocala, FL 34470 352-843-2357 › facebook.com/mcvetcouncil › craig.ham@p8riot.us

Col. (Ret.) R. Craig Ham, President

Our mission is to assist veterans and their families who need social services and information to improve their lives and help them maintain their independence. Prevention and early intervention programs assist veterans before they are in crisis.

3251 NE 180th Ave., Williston, FL 32696

and common goals of members of the council. We provide information about services and promote awareness of legislative issues important to veterans and their families.

September ‘22 51 CHARITY GUIDE

Patriot Service Dogs

Lawendell Price Sr., Executive Director/CEO

We are a national organization that provides donors, advocates and volunteers to impact communities through the charitable purpose of raising, training and donating medical service dogs to do tasks for disabled individuals that they are no longer able to do themselves, thus lessening the burden on caregivers and families. It is a goal to also pioneer education and scientiﬁc study for the advancement of service dog training, raising public awareness of the laws regarding disabilities, thus eliminating prejudice and discrimination.

Veterans Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc.

Marion County Veterans Council, Inc.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: WOOF: Inside Lowell Correctional Institution. We train inmates to train dogs. Patriot Service Dogs Summer School: Allows local families to help in the training process and socialize the pups in training. Team Training: Ten days of training with the veterans and their dogs.

MAJOR PROGRAMS: Feeding Families Initiative: Our goal is to provide 30 families with a two-week supply of food each month. Women’s Empowerment Support Group: A caring, loving and supportive group that encourages you to nurture yourself and other women. Men’s Family Relations Support Group: We welcome undisclosed thoughts and feelings that may impact relationships within the family. Share experiences to gain insight and support. Both support groups have mental health beneﬁts, such as clearer thinking, improvement in relationships and a sense of calm and inner peace.

New Day Christian Fellowship, Inc.

Roger Lippincott

Our mission is to do good to all people when opportunities arise as we are directed in Galatians 6:10—As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men; to win the lost to Christ through demonstration of love toward one another as John 13:35 declares—By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another; to live lives of genuine holiness and to proclaim the full Gospel of Jesus Christ as the bridge to transformation for all lives.

We train quality service dogs for military veterans struggling with mobility, PTSD and MST, using the skills and dedication of women incarcerated in Florida’s largest women’s correctional facility. This allows us to serve veterans and uplift incarcerated women with life and job skills.

By JoAnn Guidry | Photography by Bruce Ackerman

Nonagenarian Lorraine Carroll infuses Ocala’s Fort King National Historic Landmark with her love of history, eagerly sharing it with others.

History Buff

very Saturday, Lorraine Carroll is up at her usual 6:30am, has a cup of coﬀee and a light breakfast, gets dressed and then, late mid-morning, makes the 25-minute drive to the Fort King National Historic Landmark (FKNHL).

As it turned out, that decision was a good one for many reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic did not permit hospital volunteers, but Carroll could still volunteer at the historic landmark.

September ‘22 53

Wearing her oﬃcial forest green uniform blouse, accessorized with a large pinned-on Chief Osceola button and complemented by stylish black slacks, Carroll settles into her Visitor Center post. From noon to 3pm, she greets visitors with a charming smile and a twinkle in her eyes, eager to educate them about the landmark, located at 3925 E. Fort King St.

Beyond just handing out brochures, she will slide oﬀ her chair mid-sentence to enthusiastically point out some of her favorite artifacts in the building. Oh, by the way, Carroll is 95.

home in Ocala, so we came to check out the area,” shares Carroll, now a great-grandmother. “We liked Ocala right away, bought a home and moved here 30 years ago. Bob and I were married 55 years. He died in 2002, but I still live in the house we bought.”

“We had Chicago friends who had a vacation

“Now, I just volunteer at Fort King and that has really worked out for me,” says Carroll, smiling. “I just love it here, being surrounded by all this history and getting to meet so many interesting people. We have people visit just not from the Ocala area and around Florida, but even from other countries. My favorite was a

“I’ve always loved history,” says Carroll, whose parents emigrated from Austria to Chicago in 1900. She was the youngest of 12 siblings. “Growing up, I was the only girl in history class, so I had to show up the boys. And I did.”

Married at 20, Carroll and her late husband, Bob, had two sons, Drew and David. When the Carrolls began to think of retirement, they knew they wanted to get out of the Chicago winters.

Already volunteering at a local hospital, Carroll attended a Mother’s Day luncheon at a local Elk’s Lodge seven years ago. One of the featured speakers was a FKNHL representative, who let those in attendance know of volunteering opportunities at the“Isite.signed up right away,” says Carroll. “I liked volunteering at the hospital, but I couldn’t pass up a chance to volunteer at a historic site. That just seemed like something I was meant to do.”

When she isn’t volunteering, Carroll loves ﬁnding a bargain at garage sales and having lunch with her church group friends. She is an avid reader and, of course, her favorite books to read are history books.

In 1844, Marion County was created, and Fort King became its first county seat, with its buildings used for offices and a courthouse. In November 1845, the first term of the circuit court was held at Fort King and the site was used as a courthouse

During treaty talks between the U.S. government and the Seminoles, Osceola, a Seminole leader and war chief, opposed the forced relocation of his people. As relations between the parties fell apart, the U.S. government banned the sale of guns and ammunition to the Seminoles and Osceola was locked up at Fort King. Osceola signed a peace treaty to secure his release but, in December 1835, he and his followers attacked Fort King. Combined with Seminole Chief Micanopy’s concurrent attack on the forces of Maj. Francis L. Dade, the seven-year Second Seminole War began.

“Our volunteers play such a big role in what we do here at the site,” she says. “Since I’ve been here, Lorraine has taught me a lot and I learn a lot from watching her interact with visitors. She loves what she does, and she makes it a great experience for our visitors.”

In May 1836, the Army abandoned Fort King and the Seminoles burned it to the ground. A year later, Fort King was rebuilt, and the Army launched an all-out assault on the Seminoles until the war’s end in 1842. The surviving Seminoles relocated to the Florida Everglades and are known today as the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

HISTORIC FORT KING

54 ocalastyle.com

Brad Baker, the Outdoor/Historical Archaeologist, agrees: “Lorraine cares so much about Fort King and she is so welcoming to visitors. We are always looking for more good volunteers.”

family from Scotland.”

Jointly owned by the City of Ocala and Marion County, the Fort King National Historic Landmark is operated by the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department. Originally built in 1827,

The City of Ocala’s Outdoor/Historical Resource Program Coordinator Kathleen Ramirez, a former teacher now in her ﬁrst year at the Fort King site, knows the value of volunteers like Carroll.

Fort King was named after Col. William King, who led the 4th Infantry of the U.S. Army.

“What surprises me of the dress that I wear is it’s a heavy double material. And all the U.S. Army uniforms are made of heavy wool material, not suitable for Florida’s climate at all,” oﬀers Carroll, who adds with a chuckle, “It’s probably a good thing that we have the reenactment in December when it’s not so hot. But even if it was summer, we’d do it anyhow because we love history.”

November 12th – Cast Iron Cooking

year, which are open to the public. The park and the trail are open daily, from sunrise to sunset, free of “Ourcharge.biggest event is the annual reenactment in December. This year the two-day festival is December 3rd-4th. It has historic-themed crafts, games, workshops, activities, living historians and vendors. We will be breaking ground soon on a blacksmith shop,” notes Ramirez. “The highlight is the reenactment of the event that began the Second Seminole War. From the actors and costumes, everything is so authentic, it’s like stepping back in time.”

September ‘22 55

And, no surprise, Carroll dresses up in authentic 1800s garb for such events.

Today, the 42-acre landmark includes that exact replica of Fort King, which is open to the public for self-guided tours. Visitors can also tour the site via a .7-mile walking trail, featuring the Daughters of the American Revolution soldier’s cemetery, the David Laﬀey Heritage Garden and Seep Spring. The Visitor Center and Archaeology Resource Center displays focus on the history of the Seminole Wars and include artifacts found at the site. Throughout the property, signage guides visitors through the history of Fort King. There also are events and programs throughout the

The programs take place from 10 to 11:30am and are free to attend. September 17th – Irrigation SeptemberSystems

Historic Homesteading/ Historic Cooking & Crafting Classes

30th – Invasive Plants

until September 1846.

The classes are oﬀered from 10am to noon and the fee is $15 per person. Register at Class/ Register@ocalaﬂ.org/recpark

To learn more, call (352) 368-5533 or go to fortkingocala.com/fortking. org or fb.com/fortkingocala

Classrooms in the Garden

Upcoming programs at the Fort King National Historic Landmark

The last remaining original buildings of Fort King burned down in the 1920s. After several archaeological surveys were conducted in the next three decades, the county acquired key parcels of the site. On February 24th, 2004, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton designated Fort King as a National Historic Landmark. Ten years later, the Fort King National Historic Landmark opened to the public, and the reconstructed fort opened in the fall of 2017.

September 10th – Cross Stitch

weet Water Rescue and Rehab is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit animal welfare organization and farm sanctuary located in Williston, Florida. We rescue all types of animals, including horses, donkeys, bulls, pigs, rabbits, dogs and cats. We pro vide lifesaving rehabilitation services and a safe en vironment for them to flourish. And then we either place them in loving homes or give them a forever home as sanctuary animals here on the farm.

WE NEED YOUR HELP, TO HELP THESE DESERVING ANIMALS AND SO MANY OTHERS

Donate POSweetMailwww.sweetwaterrescueandrehab.comOnline:aDonation:WaterRescueandRehabBox115,Williston,Florida32696

Regular people, just like you, can lend a hand in a truly meaningful way and help us help the animals, just by making a donation. So please consider mak ing a donation today to help our mission.

Sweet Water also hosts educational and enrichment activities for children and adult visitors to allow them a chance to gain a better understanding of how animals view us and how to properly care for them.

There are currently over a hundred residents on the farm, many who have been mistreated or neglected in one way or another—most who have no other place to go and who might otherwise be destroyed.

Fundraising is consistently the hardest part of operating a not for profit like Sweet Water and we are currently engaged in a campaign to raise the much-needed funds to replace our failing fencing and ensure we have safe conditions and appropriate accomodations for our residents.

“Munroe” hospital has had several names and continues to be the “portal” through which many Ocalans begin life, with more than 2,400 babies delivered each year.

By Susan Smiley-Height

Bir ing A Community

A third move brought the hospital to a new building on Orange Street, now Southwest 1st Avenue.

n 1898, the impetus for building a hospital in Ocala was a man being run over by a horse and wagon on a downtown street. Historical notes indicate that Ben Rheinauer, the owner of a dry goods store, was one of the ﬁrst people to come to the aid of the injured man, along with Dr. E. Van Hood and Dr. La Foss. The man was treated at Dr. Van Hood’s oﬃce but Rheinauer expressed the opinion that Ocala needed a hospital.

1901

In 1901, the hospital moved to a three-story building at Adams and Orange streets, now Northwest Second Street and First Avenue, the notes explain.

roe Memorial Hospital in honor of T.T. Munroe, an Ocala banker who led the eﬀort to expand the hospital near its current site on Southwest 1st Avenue.Through these incarnations, the hospital became a ﬁxture of the community, notably as a place where expectant mothers could deliver their babies.In1965, the Florida Legislature created the Marion County Hospital District (MCHD) as a governmental agency to oversee healthcare for the residents of Marion County. The MCHD is governed by a seven-member board of trustees appointed by the Marion County Board of County Commissioners. The MCHD owned Munroe Memorial as a public hospital.

In 1980, it was renamed Munroe Regional Medical Center (MRMC) to reﬂect its wider service area. In 2014, the district ceased operating MRMC and Community Health Systems (CHS) took over operations. CHS later sold the lease to Adventist Health System. In 2019, the facility name became AdventHealth Ocala. The MCHD remains responsible for investing the lease proceeds on behalf of the citizens of Marion County and uses a portion of the earnings to fund public

The hospital moved to buildingthree-storyanotheratwhatisnow2ndStreetand1stAvenue.

A third move was made in 1915, to a new building on South Orange Street and, in 1927, a 73-bed hospital was built and was named Mun-

1898

Rheinauer, Van Hood, Dr. S.P. Eagleton, Dr. A.L. Izlar, C.H. Campbell and C.L. Bittinger, editor of the Ocala Evening Star newspaper, joined forces in planning for such a venue.

Marion General Hospital began on the third floor of a downtown building owned by the publisher of the Ocala Evening Star newspaper.

1915

The Rev. J.C. Porter, publisher of the newspaper, owned a three-story building at the corner of Fort King and Osceola. He oﬀered the empty top ﬂoor for use as a temporary home for Marion General Hospital, at no charge.

“One has left Florida and the other is heading to college and not looking back,” she adds. “But many Ocalans were the same way, including my husband. We did not have that connection, either, at that age, but we love raising a family in a town that has so much of our family history. Some of our daughters’ best friends are the daughters of our school friends growing up in Ocala. That is special to us and may be special to them one day.”

“Katherine ‘Katie’ was born in 1999 at MRMC. Caroline was born there in 2003,” Amy explains. “We were living in Gainesville in 2003 but we wanted to stay with our Ocala doctor, who delivered Katie, and, certainly, have Caroline born in the same hospital where Katie and I were born. It was important to us. My family has a deep history in Ocala and that includes Munroe. I love telling people our daughters were born in the same hospital as me. I still have a hard time calling it Advent because it will always be Munroe to me.”

On the same property, voters approved a bond issue to build a 73-bed hospital, which was renamed Munroe Memorial Hospital in honor of T.T. Munroe, an Ocala banker who led the effort to expand the hospital.

Among those are Amy, Katherine and Caroline Schlenker. Amy’s parents, Edsel and Betty Jane Rowan, moved to Ocala in 1955.

health

After Amy married fellow Forest High School student Dave Schlenker, who became a noted local journalist and still writes in the pages of this magazine, they welcomed two daughters—both

“My dad was the Marion County Agricultural Extension agent for decades and my mom was a schoolteacher who taught generations of Ocalans,” Amy notes. “I am the youngest of three. My sister Pam was born in Tallahassee and my brother Russell was born at Munroe in the late 1950s. I was born at Munroe in 1967.”

As for whether their daughters might become mothers in the same hospital, Amy oﬀers, “I don’t know.”

Hospital expansion.three-phaseinitiatedandcontinuedadmissiontogrowadministratorsa

The name was changed to Munroe Regional Medical Center to encompass the hospital’s expanded service area.

Late early1950s-1960s

born at MRMC, even though the couple did not even live in Ocala for the second birth.

Theprojects.AdventHealth

Ocala campus is a sprawling complex that oﬀers a wide range of healthcare programs, including mother and baby care. It remains the only local hospital where expectant moms deliver their babies, as many as 2,400 a year.And that is where we come to recognize that this venerable institution of healthcare has, in fact, served as a proverbial portal of entry for thousands and thousands of local residents over its nearly 125 years.

1927 1980

2012

When asked how an inanimate object—a building—can remain connected to so many personal histories of people in Ocala, Amy notes, “Many of our life events were at Munroe, be they happy or sad. Munroe means a lot to our family.”

2000s

In a far cry, literally, from the old-timey “father’s labor room,” next to the delivery room, where an intercom system allowed new dads to hear their baby’s ﬁrst cry and to learn the gender, receiving maternity care at AdventHealth Ocala now is truly state-of-the-art. That includes services ranging from pregnancy education and support classes to labor and delivery to postpartum support. There is even a Birth Day Experi-

2009

ter, Cheryl Gladdin Knight, was also born there, I believe in 1965.”

2014

Community Health Systems takes over operations of MRMC under a 40-year lease with the Marion County Hospital District. Provisions include almost $440 million in cash, capital improvements and renovations. The county continues to own the hospital and land.

The family/hospital connections for Steﬀany Gladdin go even further back.

“I love the fact that my family has multiple generations who were born in the same hospital,” Steﬀany oﬀers. “It is such an important part of our established roots in this community. We all grew up here and still live in the area today. Ocala has grown and changed tremendously in our lifetime. But these institutions that have been here for generations help us keep that ‘small town’ feel.”These Ocalans have treasured memories of “their” community hospital. And no doubt all the new generations being born here will develop those as well.

Marion County voters reject a tax to help raise $65 million to keep MRMC funded. The hospital's board of trustees consider selling or leasing the hospital.

“I was born at Munroe in 1967 and then each of our children were born there, Drew in 1994, Ansley in 1998, Tucker in 2001 and Ashton and Payton in 2002,” she says. “I always found it special to have our kids in the same hospital where I wasSheborn.”says her husband, Andy, has lived in Ocala since he was 2 years old.

“So, even though he wasn’t born here, Ocala was where we both called home and we wanted our kids to grow up in the same way we did,” she explains. “Munroe was very much the hometown hospital.”

April Copeland shares similar sentiments.

The downturn.economicfinanciallyCounty,ownedhospital,byMarionstrugglesinthe

And, in May 2000, Steﬀany and Joey’s daughter Ryleigh was born there.

The public hospital grew into a nationally recognized healthcare facility.

“My dad, Jack Harward, was born at Munroe in May 1944. My brother Scott Harward was born there in July 1966. I was born there in July 1969,” she shares. “My husband, Joey Gladdin, was born there in July 1968 and I believe his sis-

ence, which includes a Birth Designer, to assist mom through her journey and special touches to create a celebration.”“one-of-a-kind

2018

Adventist subsidiary Florida Hospital takes over the lease and renames the venue Florida Hospital Ocala. 2018

Right: George Waren Clayton, ﬁrst baby born at AdventHealth Ocala in 2022.

The hospital name is changed to AdventHealth Ocala.

CHS agrees to sell the lease to operate MRMC to Adventist Health System.

2019

But going all the way back over its many years as our community hospital, wasn’t it always a special celebration when a new Ocalan entered the world.

Any and all road trips with my wife, JK.

Rashad Jones

My wife and I found that road trips bring out our best times together and most meaningful chats, given we’re both away from our oﬃces on these rare occasions. On a recent journey to California, we discovered the wonderful Las Brisas restaurant in Laguna Beach.

Jason is director of the College of Central Florida’s Appleton Museum of Art. His background includes more than 20 years of curatorial and project management experience with American Alliance of Museums-accredited museums. He is an award-winning Asian Art historian.

SHARES THE THINGS HE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Chelsea Coﬀee Company’sMochaIced Morning (and afternoon) meetings run smoother with a cool mochacuppa.

Jason Steuber

Salty and sweet is a hit for movie nights and I have many Appleton kernel converts due to Giggles’ great customized “thank you” popcorn bags.

Ocala BBQ life is quite awesome, especially when I can run to Big Lee’s for lunch and have takeout for dinner.

3 1

Big Lee’s BBQ Brisket

Giggles Gourmet PopcornCaramelCompany’sPopcorn

Dribbles, leaks, accidents - whatever you call it, We can help! APPROVED 1920 SW 20th Place Suite 202 Ocala FL 34471 Rebuild your pelvic floor muscles and take back control of your Bladder • A non-invasive procedure with no recovery time • Remain fully clothed during treatment • Restores bladder and pelvic muscle control without time-consuming exercises • A comfortable procedure that lets you relax during the 28 minute treatments Treatment for Bladder Incontenence Call us today chandrawellnesscenter1.com352-861-0224 95%OUTSTANDINGRESULTS

#Dadication fatherhood.gov

visit TheERExperts.com

From stopping a heart attack in its track to treating a stroke at the first sign of symptoms, our team is ready for every emergency. And, with three locations in Marion County, AdventHealth makes it convenient to access expert emergency care 24/7. So when minutes matter most, you never have to delay getting the care that can save you or your loved one’s life. find an AdventHealth ER near you,

Every Minute Matters Know where to go in an emergency. To