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.
One Day To Give – What’s In Your Bag?
Summer time means no more pencils, no more books, and no more teachers….well, you know. But it also means no more free and reduced school breakfasts or lunches that over sixty percent of St. Lucie County students receive. Sadly, it’s also the time of year when the shelves of local food pantries are closest to empty all year long. To help ensure that no child goes hungry in St. Lucie County during those lean summer months, the Van Duzer Foundation has teamed up with the St. Lucie County Fire District for the fifth year in a row to coordinate One Day to Give on Wednesday, April 29th. Together, they want to know, “What’s in your bag?” The premise is simple. Please check your home cupboards for canned foods, non-perishable items, peanut butter, dried beans and rice, cereals, canned tuna, and powdered milk. If you’ve got an extra can or two, please consider dropping it off at your nearest St. Lucie County Fire Station. If you’re at the grocery store, take advantage of that Buy One, Get One (BOGO) sale and pick up one for you and one to share with a family that will be struggling this summer. On April 29th, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., fire engines and emergency vehicles from each of St. Lucie Fire District’s seventeen stations will be making one extra call. They’ll be stopping by the Van Duzer Foundation’s headquarters at Big Apple Pizza and Pasta in Fort Pierce across from Indian River State College to drop off hope in the form of collected food items. Volunteers and staff from Mustard Seed Ministries Ministries, which has been serving the community for 28 years, will be on hand to help weigh, count, and inventory the donations from each fire station, and children and families in the community will benefit because the shelves of the emergency food pantry at Mustard Seed Ministries will be restocked by you – the community, and the heroes who put their lives on the line for us every day. If your church, club, business (large or small), or organization wants to get in on the community spirit of One Day to Give, please call Mustard Seed Ministries today at 772-465-6021 to arrange for collection bags or boxes to be dropped to your door. Then, all you have to do is start collecting, enjoy that BOGO, and experience what it feels like to help make a better, stronger community. So, what’s in your bag,...
read moreEight Crosses Charity Event
The Van Duzer Foundation Raised $10,181.91 for the 8 Crosses Charity Event! Eight members of the Independent Haitian Assembly of God church in Fort Pierce died this week as they traveled home from a Palm Sunday revival held on the west side of the State. In addition to those killed in the horrific crash, ten members of the church were injured, some critically. As the sun rose following the crash and in the days that have since passed, residents, churches and businesses of St. Lucie County, joined with many others from across the State with a strong desire to help the families affected by this Holy Week tragedy. Wednesday, April 15th, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Van Duzer Foundation, long known for its assistance for St. Lucie County families suffering from unforeseen tragedy and crisis, will be hosting an event titled “Eight Crosses”, which will be an evening of remembrance and celebration for the lives of the eight individuals who lost their lives. One hundred percent of all food and beverage sales, tips, and even staff salaries from the evening will be donated to assist the families involved in the crash. St. Lucie County Commissioner Tod Mowery and Pastor Esperant Lexine of the Independent Haitian Assembly of God, will administer all donations received to the families affected based upon an equitable distribution. Also partnering with the Van Duzer Foundation and Big Apple Pizza will be the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Lucie County Fire District, the Fort Pierce Police Department, the Port St. Lucie Police Department, Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson, Port St. Lucie Mayor Greg Oravec, members of the St. Lucie County Commission, and a number of other individuals and organizations, all of whom have expressed a strong desire to assist in this time of grief and loss. In addition to raising much-needed funds for the families in crisis, the Eight Crosses event at Big Apple Pizza on Wednesday, April 15th will provide an opportunity for members of the community to share hugs, support, and companionship with those who are struggling. If you’re interested in volunteering or participating, please contact Scott Van Duzer at the Van Duzer Foundation at 772-528-3467. In the meantime, it is asked that you keep the families of those who passed, along with those injured in your thoughts and prayers....
read moreBoots on the Ground
BOOTS ON THE GROUND Saturday March 15th 8:00 am Join the fun and community as Neighborhood BibleWay Church & Boy Scout Troop 772 “Cleanup Ft. Pierce” Were Comfortable Shoes & Meet Us At 523 North 13th Street for a couple of hours of Companionship, Cleanup, and Community For more information call 772.528.3467...
read moreTwo Kids, One Disease, One Big Community Hug
Event Date: Date: Wednesday – February 26th Time: 4-10 p.m. Where: Big Apple Pizza 2311 S. 35th St., Fort Pierce (across from IRSC) Elice Sena and Julian Fraga have something in common, but it’s not something good. Both children are in the battle of a lifetime against the meanest monster ever – cancer. Just eight years old, Elice loves school and reading almost as much as she loves spending time with her younger brother and sister. Her mom calls Elice, “Our first blessing.” Julian Fraga is the youngest of three siblings, and he loves school and art. Unfortunately, Elice and Julian can’t go to school and enjoy class with their school chums; they’re too busy with chemotherapy, blood work, and trying to stay positive despite the brutal treatments they’re on to help them get better. These two little kids are fighting a big battle, and they could use one big community-wide hug of support and love. Wednesday, February 26th, the Van Duzer Foundation, along with Elice and Julian’s teachers and classmates at Westgate K-8 school, will be hosting an evening of fun and pizza to help raise funds and spirits for Elice and Julian. From 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., every slice of pizza, soda, sub, salad, wing, and garlic knot sold at Big Apple Pizza will mean a donation to help Elice and Julian’s families get over some pretty tough times. Not only will one hundred percent of your purchase that evening go to help these two kids and their families, everyone cooking and serving your food that evening will be donating their salaries and tips to help these families. Plus, Traxx Entertainment will be on hand to keep the party going, and Chuck and Lori’s Entertainment will provide bounce houses for the little ones. One Blood will also be on hand, gratefully accepting blood donations and helping register volunteers who would like to help save lives through blood or bone marrow donations. It will be an evening of fun, family, friendship, and a real community hug to show support to these two families who are going through so much. As always, even if you can’t make a donation or swing a slice or soda, you’re encouraged to come out and share a smile and some words of encouragement for Elice and Julian and their families. For nearly six years, the Van Duzer Foundation has found unique ways for everyone to positively impact the community and has raised and donated over $800,000 to St. Lucie County residents in need. If you’d like to find out more about the Foundation, please visit www.thevanduzerfoundation.org, or find the Van Duzer Foundation on Facebook and Twitter....
read moreNY Yankees’ Derek Jeter Signs Uniform of Deceased LPA player Christian Medina
NEWS CHANNEL 5 – Madeline Medina, mother of Christian Medina, receives signed Derek Jeter jersey – To View Video Click Here – To Download Article Click Here By Jon Santucci – Originally published 02:41 p.m., December 22, 2013 – Updated 03:01 p.m., December 22, 2013 – To View Click Here FORT PIERCE New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was Christian Medina’s favorite baseball player, so much so he even named his dog Jeter. Now, Jeter has done something to honor Medina, the Lincoln Park Academy catcher who died after a car accident in October. Jeter signed the final Lincoln Park Academy jersey Medina played in and inscribed it with the words, “Block everything at all costs.” Medina used to the write the phrase on the inside of all his baseball belts his mother Madeline Medina said. “It means everything in the world to me,” she said on Sunday. Derek Jeter was my son’s idol. If you see my son’s room, the only things you’ll see are Yankees and Derek Jeter. He wanted to be like him in his demeanor and attitude. Him signing that, you cannot imagine how it makes me feel. “It makes me feel so beautiful inside.” Jeter signed the jersey in New York City on Saturday and it is expected to arrive in Fort Pierce on Tuesday. The signing was set up by Scott Van Duzer, president and founder of the Van Duzer Foundation, who wanted to do something to give Madeline Medina a positive memory of her son Christian. “When she first came in my store (Big Apple Pizza in Fort Pierce), I had never met her, but I knew the story of her son,” Van Duzer said. “That look of pure heartbreak stayed in my heart and I just wanted to do something for her. We were talking about how her son loves baseball and loves the Yankees, so I asked her for her son’s jersey. “She was hesitant at first, but I told her I would take good care of it.” Van Duzer said he worked through Steiner Sports, the memorabilia company that Jeter works with, to have the Yankees’ captain sign the jersey. “I just want her to have a happier memory,” Van Duzer said. “Nothing can bring her son back, but Derek Jeter signing this jersey, hopefully it can be a happy memory from a terrible situation.”...
read moreThe Van Duzer Search
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