“Mr. Joe” Carlin Leaves a Legacy to Martin County Community Foundation

Good Samaritans, kind -hearted citizens, and generous individuals often go unnoticed by many, but for the recipients of their kindness, their contributions can be uplifting, even life changing.

Hobe Sound resident Joseph “Mr. Joe” Carlin was a dedicated volunteer and guardian angel to many, prior to his passing on June 20, 2014. For years, his philanthropy anonymously supported hundreds of local residents whether by covering the dining tabs of Martin County Sheriff’s deputies or covering student needs at his neighborhood preschool where he also volunteered.

“Mr. Joe, as the children and staff referred to him, was a very giving and generous man. On several occasions, he overheard me speaking to a teacher about a child whose shoes or clothes were either too big or too small. He would hand me cash and ask me to buy the child clothing, always asking me not to tell anyone. He also anonymously paid for a special needs student’s summer camp tuition,” said Colleen Gitschier, manager of Hobe Sound Early Learning Center.

“After Mr. Joe was no longer able to volunteer at the Center, a little girl asked where he was. Many of the children loved him and looked for him to give them their lunch. We were all surprised because it had been months since the children had seen him. This is the kind of impact he made at the Center. We all miss him.”

Mr. Joe’s legacy will forever honor his commitment to philanthropy. With the help of his wealth advisor, Craig Price of UBS Financial Services, Inc. and attorney, Steve Wood of McCarthy, Summers, Bobko, Wood, Norman, Bass & Melby, P.A, Carlin donated his IRA fund to the Martin County Community Foundation by naming the foundation as the beneficiary. This gift established The Mary Catherine, Mary Elizabeth and Joseph Carlin Fund. The permanent endowment was established in in memory of Carlin, as well as his late wife Mary Elizabeth, and sister Mary Catherine, both who passed following battles with cancer. As the earnings of the endowment grow, the Martin County Community Foundation will award the funds in the form of grants to support causes that Carlin was passionate about, including but not limited to early learning, breast cancer treatment and care, end of life care, and American veterans.

Thanks to his gift to the Martin County Community Foundation, “Mr. Joe” Carlin’s legacy and giving spirit lives on, continuingto make a positive impact in our community. To learn how the Martin County Community Foundation can assist with your personalized philanthropy plans, call 772-288-3795 or visit YourMCCF.org.

About the Martin County Community Foundation The mission of the Martin County Community Foundation is to facilitate philanthropy. Established in 1988, it is a nonprofit, charitable foundation consisting of named funds established by many separate donors to support the common good. The Martin County Community Foundation serves as a vehicle for donors to make positive, long-term change by supporting causes and organizations they are passionate about. For more information, call 772-288-3795 or visit YourMCCF.org

Martin County Community Foundation Announces New Executive and Board Leadership

The Martin County Community Foundation (MCCF), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire and facilitate philanthropy in Martin County, recently announced the appointment of a new executive director and board leadership. Jillian C. Vukusich, CAP®, has been named executive director of MCCF. Prior to MCCF, Ms. Vukusich was the Vice President for Community Investment at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties where she provided leadership in the design and implementation of the Foundation’s grantmaking and scholarship activities. Throughout her tenure, she was instrumental in developing funder and nonprofit collaborative efforts that focused on leveraging resources to create greater community impact. She also worked closely with the donor services staff to align and cultivate interest among current and prospective donors with opportunities for giving.

Ms. Vukusich has been a member of the Community Advisory Panel for the Children’s Services Council of Martin County since 2008 and is currently serving on the 2015 State Summit Planning Committee for Florida Philanthropic Network. She is a 2007 alumnus of the Hull Fellows Program through the Southeastern Council of Foundations, the nation’s leading professional development program for philanthropy’s up-and-coming leaders.

Ms. Vukusich previously served as a member of the Council on Foundation’s Next Generation Task Force. Ms. Vukusich is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®, an American College designation which gives professionals the broad knowledge and skills to help clients and prospective donors reach financial and philanthropic goals. She holds a Master of Arts in Arts Management from American University in Washington, D.C., with distinction in the areas of Audience Development and Fundraising, and a Bachelor of Science in Dance Education from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida.
Kenneth Norman, incoming MCCF Board Chair, says, “Jillian has a track record of proven success, along with a strong work ethic and family values,
which will enable the Martin County Community Foundation to shine in its mission to assist philanthropic donors and to serve the needs of Martin County.”

At the Foundation’s June Board meeting, the Board recognized outgoing chairman, William C. Fowler, president of JS Capital Management, for his  committed and longstanding service to the Community Foundation. The board unanimously elected Kenneth Norman to serve as incoming Chair with Nancy Crowder McCoy as Vice Chair. Joe Paskoski will serve as Treasurer and Harry Pelton will serve as Secretary. The board also welcomed Bridget Baratta,  Michael Kelly, and Scott Wade.

  • Bridget Baratta joins MCCF’s board following a decade of service as the organization’s executive director. She recently joined Oxbridge Academy, in West Palm Beach, as the Director of Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships. Ms. Baratta serves on the advisory board of The Lyric Theater and The Vaccine & Gene Therapy Institute of Florida.
  • Nancy Crowder – McCoy, CPA, Vice Chair, is a shareholder at Proctor, Crook & Crowder, P.A. and has over thirty years experience in public accounting. She has served as a board member, treasurer and volunteer for several local organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Martin County, Martin Memorial Foundation Community Council, Stuart Main Street Association and the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast.
  • Michael A. Kelly runs his private family office hedge fund and has had a long career as a chief investment officer running billions of dollars as a fiduciary. Until recently he served on the Investment Committee of the Greater Houston Community Foundation and as a board member of the Catholic Endowment of Houston. He presently serves as a trustee and board member for two faith based charitable organizations.
  • Kenneth Norman, Esq., Chair, is a partner with McCarthy, Summers, Bobko, Wood, Norman, Bass & Melby, P.A. His areas of practice include, but are not limited to, estate planning, business law , finance and estate administration . Mr. Norman has served on several local boards including service as chairman of the Stuart/Martin County Chamber of Commerce and the Business Development Board of Martin County.
  • Joe Paskoski, CPA, Treasurer, is the chief financial officer of the Quantum Foundation, the largest Palm Beach County-based health funder with over $150 million in assets under management. Mr. Paskoski boasts a wealth of accounting and auditing experience in the private and nonprofit industries.
  • Harry Pelton, Secretary, is a community volunteer who has served on the Boards of The 4C’s, 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast and Tykes and Teens. Following his illustrious career as a vice president and trust officer in the banking industry, Mr. Pelton
    has committed his time and effort to improving our local community.
  • W. Scott Wade is the chief operating officer of Keller Medical. He has a diverse background in the private sector industry and has served on several local boards including Gertrude Walden Childcare Center and Seacoast Bank Community Board. “This is an incredibly exciting time for the Martin County Community Foundation,” comments Jillian Vukusich, executive director. “The Board is truly focused on providing excellent
    philanthropic advisory services and improving our local communities. As we continue to grow, I look forward to meeting the many families, individuals and financial advisors in Martin County who have a passion for giving back.”

The Martin County Community Foundation was established in 1988. We work with philanthropically inclined individuals and organizations to improve communities. In doing our work we serve as a convener of community leaders, identify social issues in need of philanthropic support and work to bring about effective and positive change. For more information, visit www.thecommunityfoundationmartinstlucie.org
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