P.O. Box 678, Lecanto, Florida 34460- 2065
NEWS
2026
The United Way of Citrus County recently donated three cemetery plots to the Citrus County Veterans Foundation to be used for honorably discharged veterans or their surviving spouses who lack the financial resources for interment. Principals facilitating the deed transfer to the Citrus County Veterans Foundation from left: David Robinson, Fero Memorial Gardens; Bill Merryman, CCVF Treasurer; George Schmalstig, United Way of Citrus County Executive Director; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President. For more information about the United Way of Citrus County, visit https://www.citrusunitedway.org.
The Citrus County Tax Collector Office (TCO) fall fundraising campaign, in partnership with Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart, raised 10, 541.66 for the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) that provides financial assistance to Honorable Discharge or General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions veterans and their surviving spouses with urgent financial needs, Left front row: Mickey Hunt, 776; Curt Ebitz, CCVF/776; Vicki Phillips, CCVF; Tax Collector Janice Warren; Bonita Tholund, TCO; Tammy Smith, TCO; Teresa Williams, TCO; Mari-Elain Ebitz, 776; Richard Hunt, 776. Left back row: Ann Fair, 776; Doug Hockenberry, CCVF; Dan Robbins, CCVF; John McGee, CCVF; Jennifer Steelfox, TCO; Claude Gregoire, 776; J.J. Kenney, CCVF; Jerry Frease, 776; Will Korber, 776. For a financial assistance application go to the application page on this website or call 352-382-3847.
Citrus County Veterans Foundation board members and their spouses attended the Knights of Columbus Assembly 1547 55th Annual Charity Ball. The event featured an inspiring oration of Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death!" that was a pivotal moment toward American independence from Great Britain by passionately arguing for armed resistance against British oppression.
The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) Board of Directors recently donated $3,000 to the Nature Coast Ministries (NCM) No Cost Dental Clinic for basic dental care of homeless and low income veterans. Seated left: Barbara Mills, Vicki Phillips, Carrie Schmid. Standing left:Philip Watson,Citrus County Veterans Service Mgr.;CCVF: Tim Neel, J.J. Kenney, Terri Harrison, Beth Medina; NCM Executive Director Jordan Fontana; CCVF: Bill Merryman, Curt Ebitz, Diana Finegan, John McGee. The CCVF provides urgent financial assistance to Citrus County veterans and their surviving spouses with an Honorable Discharge or General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions. Application for assistance is available on this website on the Application page. For NCM no cost dental care visit www.MyNCM.com.
2025
The Citrus Hills Veterans Day Planning Committee presented the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) a $42,089 donation from the record setting proceeds of its 20th Annual Veterans Day Scramble Golf Tournament at Skyview Terra Vista and Patriotic Veterans Day Dinner Dance at the Citrus Hills Golf and Country Club.
The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF),which provides financial assistance to Citrus County honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses with urgent financial needs, recently donated $2,500 to the Bridge4Veterans shelter for homeless veterans. Left seated: Terri Harrison, CCVF Secretary; Barbara Mills, CCVF Director; J.J. Kenney, CCVF Director. Left standing: John McGee, CCVF Vice President; Bill Merryman, CCVF Treasurer; Carrie Schmid, CCVF Director; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President; Greg Pelletier, Bridge4Veterans President; Phillip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office Manager; Richard Hunt, CCVF Director; Dan Robbins, CCVF Director. For more CCVF information and application for financial assistance, visit www.citrusvf.org. For more Bridge4Veterans information call 352-419-3184 or visit its Facebook page.
Kelly Halsey,Inverness Moose Lodge 2112 Annual Valued Veterans Golf Tournament Committee Chair, recently presented a donation of $4,500 to the Citrus County Veterans Foundation. Left: Richard Hunt, CCVF Director; Bill Merryman, CCVF Treasurer; Kelly Halsey; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President; John McGee, CCVF Vice President; Beth Medina, CCVF Director. The CCVF provides financial assistance to Citrus County veterans with an Honorable Discharge or General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions, as well as their surviving spouse, in urgent need. Go to www.citrusvf.org for an application for assistance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Aliquam tincidunt lorem enim, eget fringilla turpis congue vitae. Phasellus aliquam nisi ut lorem vestibulum eleifend. Nulla ut arcu non nisi congue venenatis vitae ut ante. Nam iaculis sem nec ultrices dapibus. Phasellus eu ultrices turpis. Vivamus non mollis lacus, non ullamcorper nisl. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Phasellus sit amet
Staff members of the Citrus County Clerk of the Circuit Court presented a Team Clerk Charitable Contributions donation of $348.00 to board members of the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF), which provides financial assistance to Citrus County honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses with urgent financial needs.
The Citrus County Tax Collector Office (TCO) spring fundraising campaign, in partnership with Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart, raised $13, 916.02 for the benefit of the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF), which provides financial assistance to Citrus County honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses with urgent financial needs. Left front row: Jerry Frease, Chapter 776; Barbra Mills, CCVF; Teresa Williams, TCO; Bonita Tholund, TCO; Tammy Smith, TCO; Lydia Walters, TCO; Curt Ebitz, Chapter 776/CCVF; Mari-Elain Ebitz, Chapter 776; Richard Hunt, Chapter 776/CCVF. Left back row: Terri Harrison, CCVF; J.J. Kenney, CCVF; Ann Fair, Chapter 776; Joe McClister, Chapter 776; John McGee, CCVF; Chuck Kanehl, Chapter 776. For more information about the CCVF and application for financial assistance, visit www.citrusvf.org.
The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) recently donated $2,500 to the Citrus County Veterans Coalition (CCVC) in support of its veterans assistance mission. Left seated: Diana Finegan, CCVF Director; Brenda Wingate, CCVC Board; Barbara Mills,CCVF Director. Left standing: John McGee, CCVF Vice President; Richard Hunt, CCVF Director; Philip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Manger Liaison; Bill Merryman, CCVF Treasurer; Richard Floyd, CCVC President; Dan Robbins, CCVF Director; Vicki Phillips,CCVF Director; Terri Harrison,CCVF Director. Photo taken by Carrie Schmid, CCVF Director.
The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) recently donated $2,500 to Nature Coast Ministries (NCM) for its No Cost Dental Clinic in Crystal River that provides basic dental care for homeless and low income veterans. Left: Sonja McCaughey, NCM Executive Director; Nora Ortiz, NCM Homosassa Thrift Store Manager; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President; Barbara Mills, CCVF Director; J.J. Kenney, CCVF Director; Diana Finegan, CCVF Director; John McGee, CCVF Vice President. The CCVF provides financial assistance to veterans with an Honorable Discharge or General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions,as well as their surviving spouses,in urgent need. Application for assistance is available on this website. For No Cost Dental Care visit www.MyNCM.com.
The inaugural Moose Riders 2112 Dice Run, conducted by the Moose Riders and hosted by the Inverness Moose Lodge 2112, was a huge success with over 80 riders participating. The charitable event raised $3,000 for the benefit of the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) that provides grant financial assistance to honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses residing in Citrus County with urgent needs. Left: Bill Martin, Moose Riders President; Sue Martin, Moose Riders Historian; Pam & Pat Colacci, Moose Riders; Kat Newman Moose Riders; Ken Newman, Moose Riders Vice President & Dice Run Organizer; Barbara Mills, CCVF Director; Richard Hunt, CCVF Director; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President; J.J. Kennedy, CCVF Director; Hal Letts, Moose Riders Ride Captain & Chaplain; Rich Murdock, Moose member who assisted during the ride.
The Knights of Columbus (KOC) Assembly 1547 recently donated $3,000 from the proceeds of its 54th Annual Charity Ball to the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF). The CCVF provides grant financial assistance to local veterans who received an Honorable or General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions with urgent financial needs, as well as their surviving spouses. Left: John Uva, KOC Assembly 1547 Charity Ball Chairman; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President and Les McGlothlin, KOC Assembly 1547 Faithful Navigator.
The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) recently presented the Bridge4Veterans Shelter for homeless veterans a $1,500 donation. Left: Phillip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office Manager; John McGee, CCVF Vice President; Greg Pelletier,Bridge4Veterans President; Bill Merryman, CCVF Treasurer; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President.
The Citrus County Tax office (CCTO) fall fundraising campaign, in partnership with Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), presented a check to the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) in the amount of $10,107.20 to provide financial assistance to local honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses in urgent need. Left front row: Joe McClister, Chapter 776; Richard Hunt, Cdr. Chapter 776 & CCVF; Tax Collector Janice Warren; CCTO top fundraisers Bonita Tholund, Lydia Dunn, Tammy Smith; Curt Ebitz, Chapter 776/CCVF. Left back row: Annie Fair, Chapter 776; Bill Merryman, Chapter 776 & CCVF; J.J. Kenney, CCVF; John McGee, CCVF.
Citrus County Veterans Foundation Vice President John McGee was presented with a Citrus County Board of County Commissioners proclamation declaring February 7, 2025 as Major (Retired) John McGee Day in Citrus County in recognition of his induction into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame for his charitable work in support of fellow veterans and his significant contributions to his community and the State of Florida. Left: John McGee, Citrus County Commissioner Diana Finegan.
The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) recently donated $1,500 to the Nature Coast Ministries No Cost Dental Clinic in Crystal River to support basic dental care for homeless and low income veterans. Left: Carrie Schmid, CCVF director, Bill Merryman, CCVF treasurer; Curt Ebitz, CCVF president; Sonja McCaughey, Nature Coast Ministries executive director; Richard Hunt, CCVF director; Beth Medina, CCVF director.
The Rotary Club of Sugarmill Woods donated $2,000 from its proceeds to the CCVF.
“Col. Potter” is determining if Jimmy T. has a heart after all.
Curt “Colonel Potter” Ebitz and Mari-Elain “Hot Lips Houlihan” Ebitz represented the Citrus County Veterans Foundation at the MASH fund raising event.
Very clever decorations were used all around the Armory.