Walkathon Benefits Veterans in Need

Indian River Colony Club Raises Money for Brevard Vets Impacted by Covid

Donn Weaver (Left), Chairman of the Brevard Veterans Council and Dean Schaaf (Right), President of Brevard Veterans Memorial Center, accept a check for veterans financially impacted by COVID-19 from Brian Whalen (Center) of Indian River Colony Club.

photo courtesy Brevard Veterans Council

Indian River Colony Club walker Yvonne Tetreault reaches for a water bottle from Marine Wives Club member Phyllis Gautreaux, during the IRCC walk-a-thon to benefit Brevard veterans financially impacted by COVID-19. 60 walkers from the community participated in the fundraiser.

photo by Terry Melloy

(VIERA, FL) November 18, 2020 –  Dozens of red, white and blue-clad walkers from Indian River Colony Club laced up their sneakers on November 7 and hit the pavement to raise money for veterans financially impacted by the coronavirus. Sponsored by the Residents Activity Council (RAC) at IRCC, the special walk-a-thon raised $1,722 for veterans who have lost jobs, housing or were otherwise affected by the pandemic. The 60 walkers chose a one, three or five mile walking route through the Viera 55+ neighborhood of predominantly military veterans. On November 11, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Brian Whalen presented the check from Indian River Colony Club to the Brevard Veterans Council, at the conclusion of the Veterans Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Center in Merritt Island. The funds raised at the walk-a-thon will be used to support several veterans in urgent financial stress due to employment loss and other impacts related to the Covid pandemic.

The Indian River Colony Club community of nearly 800 homes is a dedicated supporter of veterans causes. In 2019, they were presented with the Outstanding Military Service Award by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, for their ongoing efforts on behalf of veterans.

Chairman of the Brevard Veterans Council, Donn Weaver was pleased to accept the monetary assistance from Indian River Colony Club on behalf of several of Brevard’s neediest veterans.

“With the Covid 19 pandemic and related economic impact, our leadership has seen many cases where veterans now need a leg up to help them transition to better times,” said Weaver. “Indian River Colony Club members came through for a number of them at a great time —  during Veterans Day 2020.”

Viera’s very first neighborhood, Indian River Colony Club is known as “The Place Patriots Call Home.”  A haven for military veterans, the par-72 private golf course community has a patriotic culture and country club amenities for active adults aged 55 and over. Residents have dedicated their lives to military service and continue their efforts in retirement, with a host of ongoing efforts for the betterment of Brevard County veterans and the regional military community.

In addition to significant contributions made by the community’s charitable foundation, the 2019 Outstanding Military Service Award cited ongoing service and generosity toward veterans and military-related causes, including participation in and/or donations to veteran related organizations, including the Veterans Transitional Facility, Down the Road Thrift Shop, the Veterans Administration, the Cape Canaveral Ladies, the Cape Canaveral Cemetery, the USO (United Service Organizations), Honor Flight, Patrick Air Force Base, Veterans Treatment Court, Veterans Memorial Center, Wreaths Across America and more.

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