BANNER
THE VENICE CIRCUS ARTS FOUNDATION, INC. 
A local 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization
From Orlando Bevington - I am sorry this newsletter is so long, I feel as though we are fighting for our Foundations Life with this one.
 
We will submit our 3rd Letter of Interest for the Arena site.
Will you or someone you know help us? 
  
 
 September 8, 2014!
 
With high hopes the Venice Circus Arts Foundation has found more potential partners to start the restoration process for a portion of the Arena site.  More to come if approved.

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
Aug 20- Sept 1, 2014
Update on recent donations:
100,000 STRONG

$ 20.00 from Perri & Dennis Johnson from Venice
$100.00 from Rhonda James from Port Orange FL
$200.00 from Evelyn Jaynes from Venice
$ 60.00 from Jan Hollabaugh from Pennsylvania
$ 80.00 from Beverly Kapustiaks from Illinois
$100.00 from Lorna Spellman from Texas
$100.00 from Larry Ivey from Venice
$ 30.00 from Leanne Tasker from Georgia
$ 25.00 from Margaret Deehr from Ohio
$ 20.00 from Andrea Shlasko from Venice
$ 10.00 from Sarong Goddess from San Diego
$ 60.00 from Cara Acton from Arizona
$ 10.00 from Jacob Frantz from Venice
$1,250.00 raised 8/23/14 at Garage Sale
$ 25.00 from Pamela Little from Georgia
$ 50.00 from Michelle Mangen from Sarasota
$100.00 from Katrien Dolk-Etz from Venice
$100.00 from Orlando Bevington from Venice
$100.00 from Patrick Caudill from Venice
Thank you Venice, your donations are out doing the National donors 2 to 1.  GO VENICE!

 Thank you contributor's your tax deductible certificate is emailed within 24 hours of your donation.
If you snail mail us a check please include your email address.  Thank you!
VCAFI P.O. Box 2220
Venice, FL 34284

Please participate in the 100,000 STRONG giving challenge.  100,000 people donate $20 or more gets us to first base with the restoration.  If you donate $125.00 or more we will send you an authentic arena seat and back along with your certificate of contribution.  Thank you!

 www.venicecircusarena.com


  

 

Jerry Bergman - once more you totally blew us away with your models. The Arena to scale is an amazing tool to help in its rebirth. Jerry, I have no words, except the biggest THANK YOU on the planet. The Arena will bring hundreds of jobs to many unskilled workers who need a place like this to get their start. Our future Circus school will take those who wish to perform to a new level of skill, education, and training. Talent from around the world will have another venue to perform and local talent will get a forum for exposure. Our locals will also get World Class Entertainment and Sporting Events; it will be incredible! We won't have to drive to Tampa or Fort Myers, they will be coming here.  Those first jobs can go to our youth who have little options except fast food service locally.


 

WOW, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY GREAT!


 

You can help us to raise our "Big Top" once again to provide entertainment extraordinaire and to continue our quest to roof and lease the Arena!  We are also talking to Habitat for Humanity to establish a program to allow deserving Habitat Residents who cannot afford the Circus show admission during the International Chalk Festival in order to give a bit back to our community.   We will also offer these free admissions to the three other organizations who came to our show last year: Our Mother's house residents, Loveland, and the children from North Port and Englewood who attend school everyday, keeping their grades up, but are unfortunately housing challenged.

Please help with a donation.
 



  

You can and should read our profile with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.  All our financials are present there from our inception.
 
Our Foundation seeks participation with FSU

   

The Foundation's plan is that the solar power generated on site could offset the costs of cooling and lighting our 68,000 square footprint.  A chiller air conditioning system could also be incorporated into a green design.
 
It is our hope that the Gunther Gebel training building would someday be used to tell the story of who was here, during what period, and what they did.  Our Venice Circus Walk of Fame can become a reality and you will be able to walk through the building and by decade get to know who made this place so special.  Individuals can also have a paver in the supporters garden.



Thank you Diana Harris - Sun Gondolier for this wonderful article about Circus in Venice -

http://yoursun.com/sunnews/venice/7404090-699/sunnewspapersthecircusputveniceonthemap.html.csp


Thank you "The Buzz of Venice" and "SRQ Magazine" for the press on our "Chalk Festival Fundraiser."

Over 300 people played bingo for the chance to win donated prizes or cash. Amazing turn out.  Mayor Holic, Mike Pachota, and Bob Vedder deserve academy awards for their help! We are all so appreciative of their support.


 



 
 
Partner with our Partner

www.venicecircusarts.com

Please partner with our partner. Tell them the Circus sent you!

WELCOME TO VENICE!


 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6NV6cIAdaE&feature=youtu.be 
 
 
COMING SOON!
"CENTER RING"
an E-Zine and printed publication of all VCAFI activities/tickets/events/and news
will soon be available online and at over 150 local businesses who support this effort
 
We seek sponsors for a new program we are forming called "Prison Brake" 
It will be aimed at young women and men who are returning to Venice from State or Federal Corrections Institutions.  Most of these young people have limited options open to them in the job/career field and most will re- offend because of that lack of hope.  "Prison Brake" will be a performance, dance, and arts troupe that will debut in November at the International Chalk Festival if all comes together.  They will train, perform, and lend support for our Area mission.
Please help us help these locals who really need a break!  Thank you!


 
LOOKING BACK

 

Please click this link to a video created to celebrate the NEW Venice Winter Quarter

The Venice Circus Arena was featured in this 1968 Special.  The then Vice President of RBBB Rudy Bundy said these buildings "Saved the Circus"!

 http://youtu.be/mkS0CSRwS6s



We need your help! 

More than ever our Foundation MUST raise the necessary resources to keep our project on track with the City and Airport!  Our current push is 100,000 STRONG!  IF we can get 100,000 donors to gift a minimum of $20 we will have our first 2 million to begin our occupation of the arena.

We offer many ways in which you can participate!  From our "100,000 STRONG", "A Foot-at-a-Time" program to our "Circus Walk-of-Fame" project.  PLEASE participate!  If you are a Founding Ring member please consider a second donation.  Every dollar counts and is fully tax deductible.  Set your own amount on our website www.venicecircusarena.com   Thank you!

Save a square foot, (or more)  of the Arena with our 2014 Capital Campaign - " A Foot-at-a-Time" 
$30 individual
$60 family donation
- tax deductible.

Its a win-win for the community!  You will receive a deed for the squares you save.  Your name or the names(s) you choose will be listed on our "Wall-of-Honor" at the restored Arena.
Thank you!

941-485-7675
VCAFI
P.O. BOX 2220
Venice, FL 34284



  

 COMING SOON to Honor the careers and the history created here in Venice Florida!

  

THE VENICE CIRCUS WALK-OF-FAME! 

 

Links to help you help us -  




This wonderful item has come to the VCAFI by way of John George, former owner of Hemingway's restaurant on St. Armads Circle.  Mr. George has put on loan a dozen or so circus items with us for our eventual museum.  Below is a baby elephant parade blanket and head dress.  We also received an antique wooden mallet used to drive circus stakes into the ground.



Our Local support base! 
PLEASE support them back and tell them the Circus sent you.
We have a discount Circus ticket promotion coming soon in partnership with our supporter merchants. More to come.

Leah Sherman - Collectors Gallery & Framery has our t-shirts for sale!

Thanks Leah!!!  Call Us (941) 488-3029

 


 

    

  

The "Circus Theme Quilt", a gift from the Venice Area Quilt Guild

Is completed and has been presented to the Venice Circus Arts Foundation and will be displayed at the restored Gunther Gebel training building with Uncle Soap's Quilt and the Shellenberger Quilt. 

 

 

 

 Quilters Guild members Francine Lavenbarg & Tavie Ziedler with Bea Holt VCAFI Board     

 Secretary (center) 

 

 

 

 Jessie Garner Heiny and her brother Boots Garner

 grew up in Venice when their father Mr. Garner was  

 veterinarian to RBBB.  Jessie and Boots had the     

 arena as their playground and eventually went off to

 college to learn a trade.  They are back now and    

 helping us "Save the historic Venice Circus Arena"  

 I love a story with a happy ending! 

 

   

 

  Our most recent garage sale netted us $1250 in sales and donations.  Thank you all who helped!

 

 

  •   
Cross Streets: Near the intersection of Tamiami Trl S and Center Rd
  • (941) 493-5299
  • DowdWhittaker.com
  • Today : 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Opens tomorrow at 8:30 am
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Tito Gaona'sFlying Trapeze Academy & Flying Fantasy Circus   

Flying Trapeze Academy & Flying Fantasy Circus
For location and contact information, please visit our About page.

http://www.titogaona.com/

 

 

 

VCAFI Info -

 

 


 

 

 

 

Circus Bingo is coming back to Venice at the end

of September.

For more information call 941-485-7675

or email info@venicecircusarts.com

and put Bingo in subject line.

 

 

Thank you to all our sponsors: 

Please tell them the Circus sends their LOVE! 

 

Aamco Transmissions Total Care Care
Addington's Florist
AMF Bowling Co.
Applebee's Venice
Aura Organic Spa
Beachwalk Design
Bella Luna Café
Bill Buck Chevrolet Inc.
Bob Evans
Bogey's Sports Pub
Bonefish Grill
Bonnell's Boutique & Winery
British Open Pub & Restaurant
Burgundy Square Café
Café Venice Restaurant & Wine Bar
Calusa Lakes Golf Club
Capri Isles Golf Club
Chilis Venice
Chris Craft Play Time Puppets
Ciao Gelato
Collectors Gallery & Framery
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Crazy Horse & Company Salon
Crest Cadillac
Daiquiri Deck
Dairy Queen
Darby Buick-GMC
Denny's
Eden Salon & Spa
Europe Café
Eyes on You
Fantastic Sams
Final Touch Frame & Gallery
Firestone Venice Complete Auto Care
Fisherman's Wharf
Florida Flight Training Center
Florida Olive Oil Company
Frank Theatres
Fraser's Island Gift Nook
Garden of Eden florist
Gold Rush BBQ Resturant
Great Clips
Habitat for Humanity South County RESTORE
International House of Pancakes - IHOP
Island Organics
LA FITNESS Sports Club
Lake Venice Golf Club
Left Coast Oyster Bar & Seafood Company
Lowes Venice
Luna's Ristorante
Mad Ave Spa & Salon
Made in Italy Ristorante & Pizzeria
Mama Leone's
Marker 4 Restaurant
Matthews-Currie Ford
McGee Auto Service & Tires
Midas
Mother's Cupboard
Mrs. Candlewicks Shoppe
MRT Lawn & Garden Center
Nanas
Needlepoint Ivy
Nifty Nic Nacs 
Norma Jeans Sports Bar
Nuovo Salons Spas
Ophelia's Pasta House
Outback Steakhouse
Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club
Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
Pizza Hut 
Plantation Golf & Country Club
Puttin' on the Ritz Island Style Salon an Spa
Rib City 
Ristorante San Marco
Rosebud's Steak & Seafood House
Sharky's on the Pier, and Fins
Sirena Island Day Spa
Sonny's BBQ
Starbucks Coffee Company
Target
Tarpon  Bay Trading Co.
Tervis Tumbler
The French Linen Closet
The Home Depot Venice
The Massage Lounge, LLC
The Olive Grove of Venice Florida
The Pavillion & The Sand Trap Bar & Grill
The Soda Fountain a small taste of the past
The Venice Golf & Country Club
The Waterfront Resturant
Tiki Tyme
Tire Kingdom
Tires Plus
Top Notch Car Wash
Treasures in Time
Venice East Golf Association

Venice Farmer's Market

Venice Golf Airport

Venice Golf Center
Venice Nissan
Venice Olive Oil Company
Venice Theatre
Venice Wine & Coffee Company
Waterford Golf Club
Wendy's
Zak's

 
HELP SAVE OUR HISTORY AND THIS VERY SPECIAL PLACE!
"Venice Circus
Walk-of-Fame" 

 

 

We are working to create a wonderful celebration of those careers that were responsible for CIRCUS

 

in Venice Florida 1960-1992.  Performers, managers, support staffers, all crafts included.

 

 

The Venice Circus Walk-of-Fame will consist of pavers with hand prints and signatures of the living legends of  Circus in several categories.   We will ask those able who will be represented to give us a hand print and signature. Those who have passed will also be represented with pavers in block signatures with a photograph.  

 Biographies and photos will also line the walls of the Gunther Gebel-Williams Big Cat training ring building for every one with a paver inside by decades 1960-1990.   

 

Outside walk ways that will eventually connect the Big Cat building to the Arena will include those being honored with a paver and a photograph and biography also reminding you as you walk the "Circus Walk-of-Fame" of those careers and trades that made Circus famous in our community.

 

There will also be a circus supporter's garden for anyone who supports our project to leave their mark as well.

  

Here is a partial list of the movers and shakers that made Venice

Florida famous for  

 

CIRCUS 

Please help us create this proper memorial to their hard work with a contribution.  Thank you!  

 

(Clown College Deans)

 

"Papa" Victor Gaona/Richie Gaona

Bill Ballentine,

Danny Chapman,

Dick Monday

Mel Miller ,

Otto Griebling

Ron Severini,

Steve Smith

 

 

(Performers / Circus Support)

 

 

Aaron Bloom 

Adam Auslander

Adele Lepman

Alex Blatt

Allen J Bloom

Andy Roberts

Anna Griebling

Anthony Chicchino  

Arthur & Antoinette Concello

Arturo Figueroa

Axel & Donna Gautier           

Banks Helfrich

Barbara Collins

Barbara Leimgruber

Barbara Mandrell  

Barbara Nadel

Barbara Pike

Barbie Seal

Barrie Yeilding-Sloan

Barry Lubin  

Barry Phillips

Bello Nock

Ben Vereen

Benny Schultz

Bernard Tibbs

Big Joe Curran

Big Sal

Bill Bradley

Bill Cosby

Bill Irwin  

Bill Pruyn

Bill Witter

Billy Jim Baker

Billy Vaughn

Billy Ward

Birgitta Helge

Bobby Boucher

Bob Dover

Bob MacDougall

Bobby Hunt

Bobby Kay

Brad Bodary

Brad Zupp

Brandalyn Olate

Brenda Rader

Brian Baldini

Brian Goede

Brian Ihnen

Bruce Gutilla

Buckles Woodcock

Caren Hockenberry               

Carlos Ragas

Carolyn Rice

Casey O'Brien

Cha-Cha Morales

Charles Strachan

Charlie Butler

Charlie Bell

Charlotte Kora

Charly Baumann

Chris Shelton

Christopher Hudert

Chuck Burnes

Chuck Sateja

Chuck Sidlow

Claranna Roberts

Clark Berens

Claudia Taylor

Craig Smith

Crandall Diehl

Dago Jack

Dale Longmire

Dan Bedell

Dana Nelson

Danny "Taz" Rogers

Danny Chapman

Danny Perata

David DeDera

David Duby

David Kiser

David Lind

David Moore

David Nicksay

David Strathairn

Debra Borysiuk

Deborah Gilbert  

Denise Wilson

Dennis Stevens

Dick Chipperfild

Dick & Richard Slayton

Dick Monday

Dick Van Dyke

Doc Henderson

Dolly Jacobs

Don Foote                             

Donna Stivers

Doug Boyd

Doug Rougeux

Doug Von Nessen

Dougie Ashton

Duane "Uncle Soap" Thorpe

Dutch Balis

Earl Chaney  

Earl Dakan

Ed Healy

Ed Smith

Eddie Ward

Elvin Bale

Emmett Kelly

Enof Killebrew                    

Eric Braun

Erin Presley-Fromke

Evy Slayton

Felix Adler

Fipps Yelding-Hakes

Frank Kora

Frank Perry

Frank Theriault

Frankie Saluto

Frosty Little                           

Garry Irvingwhite

Garry White

Gary Podolsky

Gene Lewis

George & Mildred Shellenberger

George Rollins

Glen "Kinko" Sudbury

Grant Gilliland

Greg Bissonette

Greg & Karen DeSanto

Greg Harris

Greg Mooney

Gunther Gebel-Williams

Harold Alzana

Harold Ronk

Henry Schroer                       

Huel Speight

Hugo Schmidt

Irvin Feld                               

Israel Feld

Ivan Del Carmen

Jack Ryan

James "Hoppy" Beaver

James Wade

Janice Aria

Jay Duvall

Jeff Darnell

Jeff Gordon                            

Jeff Keough

Jeff Loseff

Jeff Stang

Jeff Taveggia

Jeff Wolff

Jenifer Peart

Jerry Fries

Jessie Hughlett

Jim Arenberg

Jim Howle  

Jim Killebrew

Jim Voglesang

Jimmy Briscoe

Jimmy Graham

Jimmy Tinsman

Joe & Hannah (Honey) Hodgini

Joe & Mila DeMaio

Joe Strange

Joe Wesson

Joel Heidtman

John Darragh

John Harriet, Mary Ruth & Laura

John McHugh

John Russell

John Winslow

Johnny Peers

Johnny Zoppe

Jon Griggs

Jon Weiss  

Judge Roy Hofheinz                          

Judy Beth Ashworth

Karen Bell  

Kathy Herb

Keith Crary

Kelly Van Cleave

Ken Horseman

Kenneth Feld

Kenneth Manosh

Kent Tyler

Kevin Burke

Kevin McDonough

Kevin "Nasty" Thompson

Kip Reynolds

Lara Heidtman

Larry Fortunato

Laura Lou Pape-Mccarthy

Laura Presley-Reynolds

Lazlo Donnart

Lee & Judy Stevens

Lenny Ciaccio

Lenny Roll

Lenny Woolen

Lenwood Gardner

Leon McBride

Lester "Earl" Taylor

Levoie Hips

Lloyd Morgan Jr.

Lloyd Morgan Sr.  

Lou Jacobs

Louie "Hugo" Del Moral

Louie Hoang

Marco & Phillip Peters

MAD Max Daniels

Margaret Lemon

Margie Talavera

Maria Conlon

Mark Anthony

Mark Gaipo

Mark Gebel

Mark Gindick

Marty Kora

Matt Croke

Maudie Flippen Bayless

Max & Rosebud Schaffer

Mel Miller

Merle Evans  

Michael Bongar

Michael Craig

Michael Davis

Michael Frum

Michael & Kevin Gautier

Michael Goudeau

Michael "Tuba" Heatherton

Michael Hinman

Michael Karp

Michael Kramer

Michael "Max" Levine

Michael Maroney

Michael Newton-Brown

Michael "Coco" Pavalov

Michael Stubblefield

Michu

Mickey Antalek

Mickey Johansson

Mike Johnson                         

Mike Keever

Mike King

Mike Snider

Mike Padilla

Mitch Freddes

Murray Horwitz

Nancy Osborn Berman & David Berman

Neesha Braun

Nic Beery

Nicholas Olate

Nicole Marsh

Nina Evans

Norman "LaNorma" Fox

Otto Griebling

Pat Cashin

Pat Valdo

Patricia Manuel  

Patti Wendt

Paul Henry

Paul Jerome

Paul Lubara

Paul Shapiro  

Paul Vanderwerf

Paul "Professor" Wenzel

Peggy King

Peggy Pozdol

Peggy White

Peggy Williams

Penn Jillette

Peter Bufano

Peter Pitofsky

Piccalo

Piefka

Pierre "Charles Atlas" Cohnen

Pio Nock

Poblo Noel

Prince Paul

Rafeal Suarez - Floor Boss

Randy Brake

Randy Johnson

Ron "Toto" Johnson

Reed Martin

Reginald Montgomery

Rene Coker

Richard Barstow

Richard Fick  

Richard Mann

Richard & Rebecca Olate

Richard Potter

Richard Toth

Rick Parrott

Ricky Lovell

Rigermortis - Bob Gibson

Robb Zeiser

Robby Edwards

Robert "Bobbie" Tylor

Robert Thompson

Rocco Paris

Roger Wilkinson

Roman Kaiser

Ron "Toto" Johnson

Ron Hoffman

Ron Jarvis

Ron Severini,

Ruthie Chaddock

Ryszard Borysiuk

Sal Condito

Sam Drummond

Sandor & Elizabeth                

Sarah Coley

Schwartzie

Scott Linker

Scott Bryan

Scott McBride

Scott Parker

Serf Rocha

Shawn Williams

Shelagh Yelding-Sloan

Shorty McLennon

Sigrid Gebel

Skeeter Reece

Smiley - Wardrobe

Smitty & Kitty Smith

Steve & Michael Fosset    

Steve LaPorte

Steve Marshall

Sue & Rudi Lenz

Sunny Wrigley

Swede Johnson                  

Tammy & Tom Parish

Ted Lawrence

Ted Snider

Teri Dryden

Terry Parsons

Tosca Kora Fornasari

The Flying Gaona's - Armando, Chela, Richie, & Tito Gaona

The Flying Vazquez - Miguel & Juan Vazquez

The Hannefords

The Herriott Family

The Stevensons                    

Thomas Blackmon

Tim Doody

Tim Holst                         

Tim Torkildson

Tina Bausch

Tina Gebel-Del Moral

Tino Rivero

Tom Dougherty

Tommy Libel

Tuffy Genders

Tyrone Taylor

Ulla Baner

Vicki Unus

Victor Ruiz

Victor Urias

Walter Brown

Warren Wilkinson Wayne & Marty Scott (Clown Shoe makers)         

Wayne Sidley

Willie & Annie Robbins-Edelston

Zapata Barragon

 

  

 The Venice Circus Arts Foundation, Inc.  

P.O. Box 2220 Venice, FL 34284  

941-485-7675  

 
 
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