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Special Events

Our special events include all events that we’re conducting just a little bit differently. Check out the events below. They’re really special to us, after all.

For the Love of Tiffany Timmons

Posted by on Apr 13, 2016 in Families In Need, Special Events | 0 comments

For the Love of Tiffany Timmons

Tiffany Timmons should be enjoying every minute of life. A young mom in her early 30s, Tiffany suffers from early onset Parkinson’s Disease including Dystonic Tremors and Myoclonus and Essential Tremors. With two young children and difficulties walking and talking, Tiffany and her family, including husband Brian, a Florida Highway Patrol officer, could use a little help and love from the community. Please come out to Big Apple Pizza and Pasta at 2311 South 35th Street (directly across from Indian River State College’s Main Campus) on Wednesday, May 4th from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., and share a slice of pizza and some much-needed support with Tiffany, Brian, and the whole Timmons family, along with your friends and neighbors throughout the community.  As always with a Van Duzer Foundation Fundraiser, 100% (yes, one hundred percent) of all sales, including all food, beverages, and even staff salaries and tips, will go to help the Timmons family. Tri-County Towing has donated an awesome specialized golf-cart to be given away to one lucky ticket-holder on the evening of the event. If you’d like a chance to take this home, stop by Big Apple Pizza between now and May 4th, and pick up tickets for the drawing, which will take place the evening of the event. Eight years after deciding to create a small, grassroots non-profit foundation to help individuals and families in St. Lucie County who were experiencing difficulties due to unforeseen tragedy or illness, the Van Duzer Foundation is still about helping one family or one individual with creativity, style, and caring. And while the Foundation may have taken a few side trips along the way, like creating the First Step program in Fort Pierce to give children a positive place to spend time, learn, and grow into positive and contributing members of the community, the Foundation has always been, at heart, a small, community organization which wants to have fun, share pizza, friendship, and good will with others, and provide an opportunity for others in the community to help out when one of its neighbors or friends is experiencing difficulty. To learn more about the Van Duzer Foundation or to donate, please visit www.thevanduzerfoundation.org or call...

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Breaking Down Barriers, One Commissioner at a Time

Posted by on Oct 22, 2015 in Current Events, Press Room, Projects, Special Events | 0 comments

Breaking Down Barriers, One Commissioner at a Time

Antonio Avriett (left), a member of the Boys & Girls Club, gets a high-five from St. Lucie County Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky while playing touch football Tuesday afternoon during The First Step in Fort Pierce. Members of the commission, Fort Pierce City Commission and Police Department, as well last the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, were on hand during a visit by Miami Dolphins safety Michael Thomas. (SAM WOLFE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS) The look on Sheriff Ken Mascara’s face said it all. Beaming from ear to ear, the sheriff was gang-tackled by a gaggle of four small kids, each grabbing at his legs, during an impromptu game of touch football Wednesday in northwest Fort Pierce. Credits: Article from...

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Kerri On…

Posted by on Oct 16, 2015 in Current Events, Families In Need, Helping Families, Special Events | 0 comments

Kerri On…

Winning is something that St.Lucie County School teacher Kerri Walukiewicz does really well. In 2005, she was named Teacher of the Year for the entire state of Florida. So when Kerri was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, she chose to do what she does best – Kerri On and teach others the importance of becoming a bone marrow donor. On October 28th, please come out and register as a bone marrow donor, share a hug and a slice of pizza with Kerri and her family, friends, and students. As always 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Kerri and her family, and who knows, you may be the matching donor who could help save Kerri’s life. 772 – 528 –...

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Honor Flight Benefit

Posted by on Jul 23, 2015 in Awards & Recognitions, Current Events, Helping Families, Special Events | 0 comments

Honor Flight Benefit

*Click image to enlarge Uncle Sam Wants YOU! They are known as the Greatest Generation because they are quiet heroes, men and women who sacrificed their lives to defend our freedom in a foreign land during what was called the war to end all wars – World War II. Over 16 million men and women served during World War II, and today, an estimated 855,000 are still alive, but they’re getting old and fragile. The median age of WWII veterans is 95, and an average of 500 WWII veterans die every day. Sadly, the memorial to honor their service was not completed and dedicated until 2004, and many WWII have never seen the memorial to their service. On Thursday, August 6th, from 4-10 p.m. at Big Apple Pizza in Fort Pierce, volunteers from Southeast Florida Honor Flight, the Van Duzer Foundation, the City of Port St. Lucie, the Board of St. Lucie County Commissioners and the City of Fort Pierce are working together to make sure all St. Lucie County WWII veterans have an opportunity to make that trip of a lifetime. Southeast Florida Honor Flight provides a free flight with all the trappings for WWII veterans, along with a volunteer guardian (who pays for his or her own trip), meals, medical professionals, and a guided VIP tour to the WWII Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, August 6th, from 4 – 10 p.m., the counters at Big Apple will be staffed by local celebrities and volunteers who will take your order, make, and serve your pizza, with one hundred percent of the cost of your food and drinks going to help Southeast Florida Honor Flight collect funds for the October 2015 mission, which is currently in jeopardy because of the loss of funding. In addition to one hundred percent of your order and tip helping fund this special Honor Flight, your donation up to $10,000 will be matched by local dermatologist and philanthropist, Dr. Shamsher Singh. On hand that evening will be Port St. Lucie Mayor Greg Oravec, Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson, several members of the St. Lucie County Commission, and a host of local luminaries and celebrities, so you never know who might serve your pizza that night. Or, you may choose to request a specific server in exchange for a substantial ‘gratuity’ to benefit Southeast Florida Honor Flight and the mission. There will be WWII veterans on hand to meet and chat with you, and it’s a perfect opportunity to thank these men and women for their heroic service and patriotism. In short, you can than them for your freedom. Eight years after deciding to create a small, grassroots non-profit foundation to help individuals and families in St. Lucie County who were experiencing difficulties due to unforeseen tragedy or illness, the Van Duzer Foundation is still about helping one family or one individual with creativity, style, and caring. And while the Foundation may have taken a few side trips along the way, like starting Boy Scout Troop 772 to help give young men in the community a positive place to spend time, learn, and grow into positive and contributing members of the community, the Foundation has always been, at heart, a small, community organization which wants to...

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