Philanthropy
"Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8
VBCBA is committed to giving back to the community of its financial resources. Since 2004, VBCBA has donated over $236,000 to local Christian nonprofits.
In December 2022, VBCBA disbursed funds to the following organizations (pictured at right):
(Seated): Jacqueline Herron Whitfield of Safe Families for Children; Joe Moore of IRC Sports Ministry; Tara Wright of The Buggy Bunch; Bonnie Martinelli of Care Net; Angel Pietsch of Little Birthday Angels; Diane Ludwig of Women's Refuge; Michael Davis of Dynamic Life Recovery Community; Captain Kelvin Garcia of The Salvation Army; (Standing): Trevor Loomis of IRC Habitat for Humanity; Father Michael Goldberg representing Feed the Lambs; Libby Sanderson of Youth for Christ; Chris Glading of Risk Takers for Christ; Michael Keen of 4Kids Treasure Coast; Sam Hjalmeby representing CrossLife Counseling. Also receiving funds but not pictured: Victory Kids.
In addition to donating funds, VBCBA supports local ministries in other ways throughout the year:
RISK TAKERS FOR CHRIST
At our January 2023 luncheon, members donated gift cards to purchase bottles of water, along with gift cards for giveaways, to benefit Risk Takers for Christ's Living H20 Initiative.
Pictured at right is Dale Glading of Risk Takers for Christ with VBCBA Secretary Mike Cianci.
LITTLE BIRTHDAY ANGELS
At our December 2022 Celebration of Giving Luncheon, in addition to distributing money to local ministries, we conducted a teen gift drive to benefit Little Birthday Angels.
Pictured at Right: Angel Pietsch of Little Birthday Angels with VBCBA President Maureen Nicolace and Treasurer Danny Howes.
THE SALVATION ARMY
In November 2022, VBCBA members donated nonperishable food to benefit The Salvation Army's food pantry.
Pictured at Right: Capt. Kelvin Garcia of The Salvation Army with VBCBA secretary Mike Cianci.
FEED THE LAMBS
VBCBA collected school supplies during their August luncheon to benefit the families served by Feed the Lambs Enrichment Program.
Pictured at right: VBCBA Vice President Steve Schwartz with Kenya May and Father Michael Goldberg of Feed the Lambs.
DASIE HOPE CENTER
VBCBA collected school supplies during their July 2022 luncheon to benefit the families served by Dasie Hope Center.
Pictured at Right: The VBCBA Board with some of the donated supplies. From left: Secretary Mike Cianci, Treasurer Danny Howes, Vice President Steve Schwartz, and President Maureen Nicolace.
OUR FOUNDATIONAL SCRIPTURE FOR GIVING:
"But just as you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us, see that you also excel in this grace of giving. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality. As it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." 2 Corinthians 8: 7-15