P.O. Box 678, Lecanto, Florida 34460- 2065 

NEWS

2024


CUTLINE: The Inverness Moose Lodge 2112 Valued Veterans golf committee recently made a $4,500 donation from its Valued Veterans golf tournament to the Citrus County Veterans Foundation. Left: Kelly Halsey, Valued Veterans Golf Committee Chairman and Curt Ebitz, CCVF President.

The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) recently presented the Bridge4Veterans Shelter $1,500 for its operational sustainment. Left: Phillip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office Manager; John McGee, CCVF Vice President; Greg Pelletier, Bridge4Veterans President; and Curt Ebitz, CCVF President.

Left: Don Farley, President of the Homosassa Republican Club, presented a $500 donation on behalf of the club to the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF), which was accepted by CCVF President Curt Ebitz. The CCVF provides grant assistance to local honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses in urgent financial need. 

The Citrus County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller team members recently made a "Denim Day" donation to the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF). Denim Day is typically held on a Friday each month with denim wearing team members making a donation to the chosen local charitable organization for the month. 1st row left: Janice Warren, CCVF Director; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President; Frank Roberts, Leeann Pickett, and Arnise Phillips, Clerk's Meadowcrest Office. 2nd row left: Philip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office Manager; J.J. Kenney, Richard Hunt, and Cregg Dalton, CCVF Directors. The CCVF provides financial assistance to honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses residing in Citrus County with urgent financial needs.

The Citrus County Tax Office (CCTO) spring fundraising campaign, in partnership with the Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), presented a check for $21,357.11 for the benefit of the Citrus County Veterans Foundation that provides financial assistance to honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses in urgent need. Front row from Left: Richard Hunt, Chapter 776 Commander; Barbara Mills, CCVF Director; Teresa Williams (CCTO DHSMV Administrator); Curt Ebitz, CCVF President; Diana Finegan, CCVF Director; John McGee, CCVF Director. Middle row from left: Mari-Elain Ebitz, Chapter 776 Associate; Susan Waugh, Tammy Smith, Bonita Tholund and Lydia Dunn, CCTO Customer Service Representatives; Terri Harrison, CCVF Sevretary; Philip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office Manager. Back row from left: Bill Merryman, Chapter 776 Trustee; Ann Fair, Chapter 776 Associate (Not seen); Kim Frease, Chapter 776 Associate; Jerry Frease, Chapter 776 Americanism Officer; Joe McCLister, Chapter 776 Finance officer; Dan Robbins, CCVF Director; Doug Hockenberry, CCVF DIrector.

The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) presented a $1,500 donation to the Nature Coast Ministries (NCM) Dental Clinic to support basic dental care for homeless or low-income veterans. To date the CCVF has donated a total of $12,000 to the dental clinic. From left, first row: Philip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office manager and liaison to CCVF; Diana Finegan, CCVF director; Curt Ebitz, CCVF president; Sonja McCaughey, NCM executive director; Barbara Mills, CCVF director; Richard Hunt, CCVF director; Elizabeth Medina, CCVF director. Second row: John McGee, CCVF vice president; Dan Robbins, CCVF director; Doug Hockenberry, CCVF director; Terri Harrison, CCVF director.

During its May business meeting, the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) presented the Bridge 4 Veterans shelter a $1,500 donation. Left standing: Richard Hunt, CCVF director; Terri Harrison, CCVF secretary; Cregg Dalton, CCVF director; Tom O'Brien, Bridge 4 Veterans board member; Phillip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office manager; Gregg Pelletier, Bridge 4 Veterans president; Curt Ebitz, CCVF president; Diana Finegan, CCVF director; Doug Hockenberry, CCVF director; Mike Sellars, CCVF director.  Left seated: Vicki Phillips, CCVF director; Barbara Mills, CCVF director; Dan Robbins, CCVF director; Tom Sellars, CCVF treasurer. 

During the May Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) business meeting, the Knights of Columbus (KOC) Assembly 1547 presented a $2,500 donation to the CCVF in support of the Citrus County veterans and their surviving spouses with urgent financial needs. Left standing: Richard Hunt, CCVF director; Terri Harrison, CCVF secretary; Phillip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office manager; Cregg Dalton, CCVF director; Tom Sellars, CCVF treasurer; Les Magyar, KOC Assemby 1547; Curt Ebitz, CCVF president; Les McGlothin, KOC Assembly 1547; Diana Finegan, CCVF director; Doug Hockenberry, CCVF director; Mike Sellars, CCVF director.  Left seated: Vicki Phillips, CCVF director; Barbara Mills, CCVF director; Dan Robbins, CCVF director. 

During the Citrus Vettes & Camaros Car Club's recent Friday Night Classics & Muscle Car Cruise-in at Market Square in Historic Downtown Inverness, the Car Club presented the Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) a $1,000 donation in support of its mission of providing grant assistance to honorably discharged veterans or their surviving spouses in urgent financial need.  Left: John McGee, CCVF Vice President; John Lazzaretto, Citrus Vettes & Camaros Car Club Vice President; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President; Vicki Phillips, CCVF Director; Doug Hockenberry, CCVF Director; and Angel Kilmer, Citrus Vettes & Camaros Car Club Treasurer.



The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) and Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart recognized the Citrus County Tax Collector Office and its top three fundraisers for their recent fundraising campaign that raised $10,453.04 for the benefit of the CCVF.

The Citrus Hills Veterans Planning Committee presented the Citrus County Veterans Foundation a milestone donation of $26,4445 from the proceeds of its annual Veterans Day Scramble Golf Tournament at Skyview at Terra Vista and the 18th Annual Patriotic Veterans Day Dinner Dance.  Left: Citrus Hills Veterans Day Planning Committee: Mark Bodenheim; Frank Taverna; Buzz Fredrickson, Chairman; Michael Heise; Jenny Heise (not pictured).  Citrus County Veterans Foundation: Phillip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office Manager Liaison; Barbara Mills, Director; John McGee, Vice President. Curt Ebitz, President. 

The Ozello Civic Association (OCA) donated $1,200 to the Citrus County Veterans Foundation. Left: OCA member Abigail Morrison;, OCA president Dan Devillez; Curt Ebitz , president Citrus County Veterans Foundation; and OCA member Cindy Hosch.

A fundraiser hosted by Kelly's Half Shell Irish Pub for the benefit of the Citrus County Veteran Foundation (CCVF) raised a combined total of $15,959. From left: Cone Distributing representative; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President, Kelly’s Half Shell Irish Pub representative and Vicki Phillips, CCVF Secretary.

The office of the Citrus County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller recently donated monies raised from its monthly Denim Day Donation to the Citrus County Veterans Foundation that provides financial assistance to local honorably discharged veterans or surviving spouse in urgent financial need.  Denim Day is typically held on a Friday each month with team members wearing denim making a donation to the office's chosen local charitable organization for the month.  Left: Cregg Dalton, CCVF Director; J.J. Kenney, CCVF Director; Richard Hunt, CCVF Director; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President; Philip Watson, Veterans Service Office Manage & CCVF Liaison; Angela Vick, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller; Vicki Phillips, CCVF Director; John McGee, CCVF Vice President;  Paul Mihalko, Clerk's Office; Edith Carrera, Clerk's Office; Traci Phillips, Chief of Staff; Kathy Ingall, Clerk's Office; and Jennifer Steelfox, Clerk's Office.

 The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF), which provides grant assistance to honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses with urgent finance needs residing in Citrus County, presented a $1,500 donation to the Nature Coast Ministries Dental Clinic to support basic dental care for homeless or low income veterans. To date the CCVF has donated a total of $7,500 to the dental clinic.  1st row from left: Barbara Mills, CCVF Director; J.J. Kenney, CCVF Director; Michelle Sima, Nature Coast Ministries Thrift Store Manager; Bonnie McMullin, Nature Coast Ministries Director of Public Relations; Curt Ebitz, CCVF President; Diana Finegan, CCVF Director.  2nd row from left: Richard Hunt, CCVF Director; Terri Harrison, CCVF Secretary; Phillip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office Manager & Liaison to the CCVF; John McGee, CCVF Vice President.  For more information and grant application, visit the CCVF website at citrusvf.org

The Citrus County Veterans Foundation was one of seven local charities to receive a generous $1,000 donation from Florida State Senator Blaise Ingoglia.

The Rotary Club of Sugarmill Woods donated $2,000 from its proceeds to the CCVF. 

Very clever decorations were used all around the Armory.

“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.