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.
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We will submit our 3rd Letter of Interest for the Arena site.
Will you or someone you know help us?
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
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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.
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You can and should read our profile with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. All our financials are present there from our inception.
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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
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
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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!
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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
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COMING SOON to Honor the careers and the history created here in Venice Florida! THE VENICE CIRCUS WALK-OF-FAME!
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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 CircusFor 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 Caf� | | Bill Buck Chevrolet Inc. | | Bob Evans | | Bogey's Sports Pub | | Bonefish Grill | | Bonnell's Boutique & Winery | | British Open Pub & Restaurant | | Burgundy Square Caf� | | Caf� 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 Caf� | | 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 |
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HELP SAVE OUR HISTORY AND THIS VERY SPECIAL PLACE!
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"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
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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