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 Fort Pierce Yacht Club |
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The Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation, Inc. ("Foundation”) was organized in 2019 as the charitable arm of the Fort Pierce Yacht Club. A 501 (C) (3) charity, the FPYC Foundation has as its purpose:
a. stewardship of the Indian River Lagoon through the financial support of scholarship programs to conduct marine sciences and related research; activities and programs directed toward “clean water"; and programs directed toward the improvement of the water's recreational value; and
b. operation of activities and programs which further the understanding and knowledge of sailing, boating, and the use of watercraft of all types
c. programs which support the Fort Pierce Yacht Club’s community mission
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Charitable ContributionsWhy we do what we do... |
The Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation Board of Trustees presented checks to local Fort Pierce organizations during the Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundations 2025 Awards Ceremony on May 6th, 2025. The Fort Pierce Yacht Club (FPYC) was established in 1980 as an ALL VOLUNTEER organization. There are no paid staff members, all the work is done by volunteer members. The FPYC Foundation was established in 2019 as the charitable arm of the FPYC. This year, through the Foundation’s Poker Run on the Water charity fundraiser held in April and the Members Giving Campaign, a total of $41,500 was raised, an increase from last year’s $25,000. These funds directly benefit local nonprofits with missions focused on youth development, water-related initiatives, and preserving the unique and historical character of the area.
FPYC Foundation Chairperson Robynn Holland addresses the 2025 recipients and members of the FPYC during the Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundations 2025 Awards Ceremony on May 6th, 2025. | The Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation recognized several outstanding organizations in our community during the awards ceremony. 1. Boys and Girls Club of St. Lucie County - providing swimming lessons to individuals who participate in clubs located in Fort Pierce 2. E.N.D. IT! - supporting arts-based after-school and summer camp for middle and high school students to prevent at-risk behaviors in pre-teens and teens. 3. Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch - providing support to Semester by the Sea, in memory of Dr. Dennis Hanisak 4. Fort Pierce Police Department Courageous Kids Program - providing support and guidance for the youth of the community 5. Fort Pierce Police Department Explorers Program - providing area youth with a practical hands-on approach to experience law enforcement career possibilities 6. Manatee Center - dedicated to environmental awareness and education of the Indian River Lagoon 7. Notre Dame Catholic Church Food Kitchen - providing meals for those in need in the community 8. Original Florida Highwaymen Museum - celebrating the unique landscape artists of the Lincoln Park area of Fort Pierce 9. Project LIFT, Fort Pierce - rebuilding the lives of young men and women 10. Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Foundation - providing scholarships for summer sailing camps that teach valuable life skills as well as boating skills, and supports the general TCYSF program 11. Stella Maris Environmental Research’s Wesley Island Eco Camp - providing youth in Fort Pierce an opportunity to spend time on the water and learn about the eco system of the Indian River Lagoon 12. Joint Award: Fort Pierce Police Department Courageous Kids Program and the Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Foundation - a collaborative effort to provide sailing opportunities and life changing experiences on the water |
Fundraising Goal 2025:$45,000(there's still time. If you'd like to make a donation to theFort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation, pleaseemail the foundation chairperson) |
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Two major undertakings by the Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation are:CHART YOUR COURSE and the POKER RUN on the WATER |
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CHART YOUR COURSE, A Maritime and Marine Industry Career Expo February 2025 |
CHART YOUR COURSE, a Maritime and Marine Career Expo for 103 St. Lucie Public School students and 12 Project LIFT students, is an event hosted by the Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation. A collaborative effort by many industry individuals who generously share their knowledge and skills in specific fields and provide a positive attitude which is exactly what made our first event in 2023 a resounding success. In 2025, seventeen businesses, large and small, all from Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County were on hand to talk with the students about who they are, what they do, the types of jobs their company offer, and the wide range of educational experience required - from none to master’s and doctoral degrees - and, equally important, the attitudes they need to bring to the workplace. Through demonstrations, presentations, exhibits and old-fashioned face-to-face conversation, the students learned a lot. They engaged with an underwater diver (in a 1500-gallon mobile training tank), an independent charter captain, US Customs Border Protection officers on their vessel, and representatives from trade and higher education schools to name just a few. We also had 40+ volunteers from the Fort Pierce Yacht Club to provide the helping hands needed for the coordination of the event. |
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The key to this all coming together for the students was in the panel discussion focus, “How to Get There.” Discussed was the educational path of what courses the students need to take and the schooling options necessary, if any. Moderated by Joshua Revord, the Director of the Department of Port, Inlet & Ports for St. Lucie County, the panel included Captain Don Welch, an instructor from Chapman School of Seamanship; Ken Griffin, President of Underwater Engineering Services, Inc.; and Second Class Petty Officer Jacob Snyder from the US Coast Guard. The panel discussion, along with supportive handouts from the participants, gave the students the tools to discover the right career path that can help them achieve the goal of getting their dream job.
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Thank you to all our 2025 sponsors!Sponsors of the 2025 Chart Your Course include Fort Pierce Yacht Club, Robynn and Steve Holland, Project Lift , Kathy and Forest Blanton, City of Fort Pierce, Fort Pierce City Marina, Ginny and Bob Harbison, Ruth and Steve Jaroski, Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast, Kris and Carl Muus, Laurie Partlo, St. Lucie Public Schools, UPS Store #4314 St. James Place – Jason Hendry, Anonymous, Bowman Consulting, FPUA, Diane and Mitch Korbey, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice, Shearwater Marine FL, Underwater Engineering Services, Inc., Wawa, Jean Ellen Wilson, Suzy and Doug Wroten. Additionally, the day would not be possible without the 40+ volunteers from the Fort Pierce Yacht Club. |
Thank you to all our 2025 participants! |
Thank you to all the sponsors of 007 Casino Royale, the 2024 Fundraiser for the 2025 Chart Your Course! |
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This video about the 2025 Chart Your Course was created by the St. Lucie Public Schools. |
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| 2025 FORT PIERCE POKER RUN ON THE WATER ~ Saturday, April 12 ~ For REGISTRATION & Information on the event, CLICK HERE! |
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| 2024 Poker Run On the Water |
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The 6th Annual Charity On the Water Poker Run The FPYC Foundation Charity On the Water Poker Run was held on Saturday, April 27, 2024. This year's committee included VC House Suzi Boardman, VC Building & Grounds Bob Harbison, Ginny Harbison, Chris Hector, FPYC Foundation Chairperson Robynn Holland, Michele March, Kris Muus, Laura Partlo, and VC Fleet Victoria Westphal. They all did a fantastic job of the organization and execution of this fun event. Poker Run winners were 1st Place/Best Hand: Ruth Jaroski; 2nd Best Hand: Debra Beech; 3rd Best Hand: Laurie Partlo; Best Decorated/Themed Boat: Anchored by Hope, Captained by Gary Bradford; Best Decorated/Themed Dock: Mo Kerr. |
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| We especially thank our sponsors for making the Charitable On the Water Poker Run a success! Event Sponsor: Island Pig & Fish Royal Flush: Freedom Boat Club Grand Prize Sponsor: Pursuit Boats Straight Flush: Chris & Nancy Hector, Robynn & Steve Holland Four of a Kind: Fort Pierce City Marina, Fort Pierce Yacht Club, Rotary Club of Fort Pierce, Southpaw Plumbing & Metering Services LLC, The UPS Store St. James Dr/PSL, TowBoatUS Ft Pierce/Vero, Bob & Ginny Harbison Full House: Carefree Boat Club, Causeway Cove Marina/Hutchinson Island, Chuck's Seafood Restaurant, Shearwater Marine & Industrial, Summerlin's Marine Construction, Forest & Kathy Blanton, Steve & Ruth Jaroski, Laurie Partlo And of course, a hardy thank you to all the volunteers and participants!! |
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IDRC Graduate Student Testimonial - EmilyAloha from Emily Rutkowski, an Indian River State College Graduate and scholarship recipient from the Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation's 2nd Annual On the Water Poker Run. Emily spent the summer of 2019 at FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute for their summer internship program to study suberites aurantiacus (you'll have to watch the video for more!). Her experience at the summer internship led her to her position at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology where she recorded this video for us. "I would like thank everyone in the Fort Pierce Yacht Club for their help and support. I wouldn't have been able to do it without you. And as you can see, you're not just helping the community, you're helping the world." - Emily Rutkowski |
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For more information, contact the Chairperson of the Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation at ChairFPYCFoundation@gmail.com or |
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