Legacies of Love honorees announced

Pravina Cacodcar, Patricia Sutton and Tina Chandra, left to right, pose during the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon in Ocala on March 22, 2024. Chandra will be a 2026 Legacies of Love honoree. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Style file photo]

What might a neuromuscular dentist and a former educational/nonprofit administrator have in common? They are the honorees for this year’s Legacies of Love event.

The annual luncheon is hosted by Interfaith Emergency Services to honor men and women who have made a significant impact in the community. This year’s honorees are Dr. Tina Chandra and Casius “Cash” Pealer, Ph.D.

“The purpose of this event is to pay tribute to individuals who have left a legacy in our community defined as a long-lasting impact due to a person’s actions in the past,” said Karla Greenway, chief executive officer of Interfaith Emergency Services.

According to materials provided by Interfaith, Chandra is a skilled cosmetic and neuromuscular dentist who practices advanced dentistry at Chandra Smile Designs and the Chandra Wellness Center. She is actively involved in philanthropic and community projects. She has served as chairman of the North Central Florida Medical Expo for more than 15 years, is a leader on the board of the India Association and a past chairman/active member of the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” initiative. She also volunteers her dental services to the poor and underprivileged at the FreeD.O.M. Clinic Inc., Deliverance Outreach Ministries and Interfaith.

Pealer is a long-time, respected figure in the community, particularly known for his career in educational and nonprofit administration, the materials stated. He served as vice president of institutional advancement for Central Florida Community College, now the College of Central Florida, and president of the CFCC Foundation. He was instrumental in securing funding and developing programs for the foundation. He volunteers and is involved with local organizations, including his church, Fort King Presbyterian, and the Marion Cultural Alliance.

“This year’s honorees made contributions to our community decades ago that have significant impact today.  The work that Cash Pealer did back in the ‘70s and ‘80s literally laid the foundation for Marion County to have a local college that is second to none.  The College of Central Florida wouldn’t be what it is today without the CF Foundation, and he played a significant role in growing that foundation. Today this college produces thousands of professionals who staff our schools, hospitals and many other local industries,” Greenway wrote via email.

“Dr. Tina Chandra has been involved in causes for the past three decades, such as cancer research and heart health, that have resulted in advances in treatment saving lives today.  Her community involvement ranges from working with the United Way, the domestic violence shelter and FreeD.O.M. Clinic to providing medical continuing education opportunities through the annual Medical Expo hosted by the India Association.  Both of these individuals have played a role in making Marion County a better community through years of dedicated service,” Greenway added.

“Proceeds of this event support the services provided by Interfaith Emergency Services. Most notably, it was the Legacies of Love event that allowed us to purchase the medical facility where medical, dental and mental health services are offered free of charge to uninsured individuals with limited income,” Greenway further noted.

​​The Legacies of Love luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. Feb. 13 at the College of Central Florida Klein Conference Center. For tickets, go to iesmarion.org/legacies-of-love

Past Legacies of Love honorees:
2013 – Kevin McDonald and Lynette Vermillion

2014 – Cory Pool and Dr. Michael Jordan

2015 – George Albright and Ron and Phyllis Ewers

2016 – Toni James and Jim Kirk

2017 – Dr. Hank Harrell Jr. and Frank and Naida Rasbury

2018 – Beth McCall and Gail Cross

2019 – Frank DeLuca, Mary Britt and Dr. Norm Anderson

2020 – Jeffrey and Clover Lovell

2022 – Whit Palmer, Carlyle Ausley, Toro Townley, Doug Oswald and Nick Nikkinen

2023 – Wes Wheeler, Wayne McDonald and Monica Bryant

Cash Pealer trims palm fronds during a workday at Fort King Presbyterian Church in Ocala on Sept. 6, 2025. Pealer is a 2026 Legacies of Love honoree. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]