Jervey creates endowment to honor Vedder

VENICE — Philanthropist Bill Jervey has created an endowment at Gulf Coast Community Foundation to recognize the person who inspired his contributions to Venice, for the benefit of an organization in which both have been heavily involved.

Jervey presented a check for the net proceeds from the sale of his Daytona Beach condominium to Venice Area Beautification Inc. President David Ingram Monday. Ingram promptly handed it over to GCCF Vice President of Philanthropy Joe Carter, which will administer the Bob Vedder Beautification Endowment.

Jervey said his introduction to VABI was seeing a man working on the gardens it maintains downtown — Vedder. Through him, Jervey became an early donor, and he’s been a “great friend” of VABI from then on, he said.

“That really got me started in philanthropy,” he said.

Since then, he’s donated to a multitude of causes, including Venice’s library and the library at State College of Florida’s Venice campus, both of which bear his name, as does the main stage theater at Venice Theatre.

A $15,000 donation from Jervey to VABI’s Urban Forest project funded design work led to in-kind contributions of more than $500,000, board member Greg Vine said.

“You are an example of what to leave behind,” Ingram told Jervey.

“Venice is my child,” Jervey said. “Like any parent, I have probably overindulged my child, but it makes me feel great.”

Interest from the endowment will let VABI continue its work in perpetuity, he said.

He wanted the endowment to honor Vedder because “it’s fair to say he’s probably done the most for Venice of any human alive in the last 50 years,” Jervey said.

“Thank you, Bob, for all of the work that you have done,” he said.

Vedder, the former publisher of the Venice Gondolier, has raised funds for many local organizations, the Venice Art Center and Loveland among them.

Vedder’s legacy, Jervey said, will be having started the Rotary Futures College Resource Center at Venice High School, to help students with their post-secondary education, including finding financial assistance.

Vedder returned Jervey’s compliments, saying “Bill has made a huge difference to our community.”

“He’s given a lot,” Vedder said, adding that he helped VABI when it was “hurting.”

Vedder also gave credit to his wife, Sue, who was present at the ceremony.

“I’m lucky to have my wife, who puts up with all this,” he said.