ORGANIZATIONS
ty programs providing both scholarships to students at IRSC
as well as grants to area nonprofit organizations.”
PLANNING AN ANNIVERSARY
While the pandemic has certainly changed the trajectory
for some of its annual events, the group has not let it keep
them down. Members have continued to meet monthly via
Zoom and are still planning on celebrating their 40-year anniversary,
install a brick paver pathway extending from the sidewalk to
the tree.”
As a fundraiser and as a way to customize the pathway, the
group has invited the community to be part of its celebration
and purchase an engraved brick to honor someone, memorialize
someone special, celebrate a special event or showcase a
business in front of city hall. Each personalized brick becomes
a lasting tribute that will be seen and remembered by
visitors, guests and members of our community. E
Port St. Lucie Magazine 15
the Ruby Jubilee, in the spring.
“Many of our programs were highly reliant on one of our
larger annual fundraisers, which we were not able to hold
this year due to the pandemic,” DeMarchi says. “So right
now our strategies are to find fun, creative and safe ways to
ensure the viability of our scholarship and grant programs
for 2021. I am very pleased to report that because of the efforts
of several of our members, we should be perfectly fine.”
As far as their membership demographic goes, they are either
owners or management level employees of their respective
businesses.
“We have no target business areas per se, and we have
an incredibly diverse group made up of bankers, insurance
brokers, real estate brokers, attorneys, medical professionals,
marketing professionals,” DeMarchi says. “You name it, we
likely have it. It is not about what business they are in, rather,
it is about their dedication to supporting each other and the
organization.”
One of the group’s lesser known contributions is its idea
for the city’s slogan: A City for All Ages. In the late 1990s,
when the city called for slogan suggestions, it was the
PSLBW’s submission that was chosen.
In 2011, all the years of hard work and dedication to the
community was noted when the group was given the Spirit
of St. Lucie Award from the United Way of St. Lucie County.
In 2015, to commemorate its 35th anniversary, a live oak
was planted at city hall and a plaque dedication ceremony
was held in the group’s honor.
“This year, to commemorate our 40th anniversary or Ruby
Jubilee, we are working with Yellowstone Landscape, who
donated the live oak for our 35th anniversary,” Kamm says.
“They will be providing the design, materials and labor to
President Donna DeMarchi is an attorney who sets aside part of her free
time to give back to the community and build lasting relationships with
other career-driven women in the PSLBW. She also serves as the programs
and bylaws board representative for the group.
In August, the organization awarded scholarships of $2,500 to three outstanding women scholarships to attend Indian River State College. From left to
right are: Valerie Delgado, Salina Reeves, Julia Keenan, director of development, IRSC Foundation; Sherri Monds, development coordinator/scholarships,
IRSC Foundation; Emily Phillips and Donna DeMarchi, PSLBW president.