COMMUNITY NEWS
VCB/FAST award, foundation recognition, new board member, book drive
Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training (FAST) in Ocala recently won the Florida Sports Foundation Award for Sports Tourism Venue of the Year for Mid-Sized Market. [Photo courtesy Marion County]
VCB/FAST earn award
The Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau and Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training (FAST) recently won the Florida Sports Foundation Award for Sports Tourism Venue of the Year for Mid-Sized Market. The award was presented at the 2025 Florida Sports Summit’s Larry Pendleton Awards Dinner in Jenson Beach and was later acknowledged during a Marion County Commission meeting.
FAST opened in April 2022. It features a 50-meter competition pool with seats for 2,000 spectators and an outdoor 50-meter warm-up pool. The amenities have become favorites among organizations such as USA Swimming, NCAA, FHSAA, YMCA and Florida Swimming, who host major events, the county’s news release noted.
The Venue of the Year Awards evaluate number of events, room nights and economic impact. FAST has hosted more than 150 events and attracted 55,000 athletes and 76,000 spectators. A 2024 research study revealed the venue generated over $21 million in economic impact within only one calendar year of events, the release stated.
National recognition for foundation
The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County has received national accreditation from the Council on Foundations, achieving the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence.
The Community Foundations National Standards program requires community foundations to document and adopt best practices across donor services, investments, grantmaking, governance and financial administration.
“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Susie Nelson, board chair of National Standards, in the press release. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”
“This is critically important to our donors,” said Lauren Deiorio, president and executive director of the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, in the release. “When people establish a fund or make a charitable bequest, they place their trust in us. They expect us to manage their charitable assets wisely, honor their intentions and strengthen the community for generations. This accreditation affirms that we uphold strong, reliable, and well-established practices.”
Lauren Deiorio, president and executive director of the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County, speaks during the Give4Marion Nonprofit Check Presentations and Nonprofit Excellence Academy graduation in Ocala on Nov. 10, 2025. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]
Arnette House names Dailey to board
Arnette House, Inc., a nonprofit that supports children and families in North Central Florida, has named Samantha Dailey to its board of directors.
Samantha Dailey [Submitted photo]
“This is something that really helps these kids build something for themselves and realize the potential they have,” Dailey said in the release. “That’s so important and vital for a successful community and its future prosperity. It’s not an abstract idea; this really makes a difference for people, and I’m really proud to be part of it.”
Dailey is an agent with Showcase Properties. She is a 4-H alumnus and has been involved with nonprofit organizations including the Junior League of Ocala and the Marion County 4H Foundation.
Successful book drive
The NAACP 5114 Marion County Branch Education Committee recently partnered with Marion Progressives for a holiday bazaar and book donation event.
“We received over 230 books for all ages and genres from Interfaith Emergency Services Thrift Store; Mt. Zion AME Church of Ocala; Vickye Vaughns-Geathers; Loretta Jenkins; Donna Wilkerson, branch treasurer; Black Stallion Reading Project/Ocala Horse Alliance/MCPS/Francine J. Edwards, branch second vice president; Ann McKinney; The Gunns; Daisy Kendrick; and anonymous donors,” according to Tania Nicole Sutherland, education committee chair.
“Your kindness has influenced families and children to read, which enhances language skills, builds confidence and community, increases achievement and develops lifelong readers, to name a few benefits,” Sutherland noted in the press release.
Whitfield and Loretta Jenkins, at right, longtime leaders with the local NAACP branch, were on hand for the recent book drive. [Submitted photo]
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