Village On The Isle Raises $10,000 for American Cancer Society

Village On The Isle (VOTI), a nonprofit Life Plan Community in Venice, recently hosted its annual Relay for Life event - raising more than $10,000 for the American Cancer Society (ACS). In total, the community has donated more than $50,000 to the ACS through its fundraising efforts over the last five years.

“Our residents have a heart for serving others, and Relay for Life is one of the events they look forward to every year,” said Karen Madden, HR/Community Engagement Director at VOTI. “We continue to be impressed by their generosity and the time they put into planning all the events surrounding Relay for Life.”

Relay for Life is a community-driven fundraising event organized by the ACS at partner sites across the nation. Teams typically walk or run around a track to raise money for cancer research and patient support. VOTI hosts its own Relay for Life walk on campus and residents organize fundraisers from January until April - when the walk is held - to raise money for the ACS.

This year's fundraising events featured a diverse array of resident interests, including wine and cheese night, coffee and conversations, bingo and movie screenings, staff casual days, t-shirt sales and the popular “bake-less” bake sale, where residents donate the money they would spend on ingredients to make a dish for a bake sale.

The success of the initiative is credited to a dedicated committee of residents who plan and execute the months-long effort. This year’s organizers included:

• Holly Koss (cancer survivor)
• Jan Aker (cancer survivor)
• Jeanell Peek (cancer survivor)
• Marcia Neubauer (cancer survivor)
• Judy Roberts (cancer survivor)
• Peg Frerk
• Jean Mead

"To see our residents and staff come together to support the American Cancer Society - especially with so many survivors leading the charge - is really inspiring,” said Doug Feller, CEO of VOTI. “We’re incredibly proud of what our residents accomplished this year and are looking forward to next year’s event!”

All money raised will go directly to the American Cancer Society to support cancer research, patient support services, and advocacy efforts.

About Village On The Isle

Incorporated in 1979, Village On The Isle is a nonprofit Life Plan community affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The community is located less than half a mile from the Gulf of Mexico at 920 Tamiami Trail South in Venice, Fla. It offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing and gives residents an opportunity to live independently in apartments and cottages, then transition to higher levels of care with caregiver assistance as their needs warrant. For more information, visit www.VillageOnTheIsle.com.