VERO BEACH — A dolled up “classy chick” pointing the way to the Heritage Center, bubbles blowing from a machine at the door, a four-foot long black “Chanel” clutch purse, and enough bling to dazzle the eye – all clear indications that this was the Bubbles, Bags and Bling for Classy Chicks fundraiser to benefit Sunshine Physical Therapy.
“This is our second year; we have 26 vendors,” said event chair Winnie Whitney, the non-profit organization’s board president. “But I’m afraid this rain has kept some people away.”
Those who braved the showers were a happy bunch indeed, perusing the plentiful vendor tables, purchasing raffle tickets for prizes donated by local businesses and from each of the vendors, and nibbling on an assortment of continually replenished goodies.
Under a festive Christmas tree on the stage, talented Michele Klager had amassed everything a girl could want for Christmas, including that enormous bedazzled “Chanel” clutch, lots of glittery gift packages and a huge bling ring the size of a steering wheel (not surprising, since that’s what it was made of).
Husband Al Klager, president of Atlantic Financial Services, serves on the Sunshine advisory board and slaved away in the kitchen as one of the busy event chefs. And their daughter Christie was one of four lovely young ladies wandering the crowd, modeling fashions from Black White and Tan, Downtown Diva and Dillard’s.
“It’s just the most fun event,” said vendor Pam Bennett at her SeneGence cosmetics booth. “They really take care of us.”
Explaining the history of Sunshine Physical Therapy, Whitney said that during the post-polio era of the late 1940s Mrs. Frances Schlitt led the effort to establish a local facility where children suffering from polio could receive therapy and rehabilitative services. Schlitt enlisted the support of W. C. (Billy) Graves, Jr., who moved a grove house to the location on 17th Avenue, north of the Vero Beach High School, and the Sunshine Center of Indian River County opened its doors in 1953.
As a non-profit organization, governed by a volunteer board of directors, it is dependent on community fundraisers, donations, endowments and profits from paid services to support its free care services.
Rebuilt and expanded through the years to enable enhanced services, Sunshine Physical Therapy is a full-service, Medicare approved clinic, offering occupational, physical and massage therapy, walk-aid therapy for stroke patients, vestibular therapy and both personal and assisted fitness programs.
“Three or four years ago we provided between $60,000 and $70,000 worth of free services each year. We just don’t have it now,” said Whitney.
“We’re kind of misunderstood,” said Eddie List, who joined the board 25 years ago. “Some think that as a non-profit, we might not be able to attract good people and that’s not true.”
“Lynne House, our administrator, is the only certified orthopedic therapist in the county and she’s also certified in vestibular therapy,” added Whitney. “I just had a knee replacement and I’m here to tell you, she’s good.”
“Our strength is our staff,” agreed List. “We’re a well-kept secret. We have people in serious need in this community – older people who many not have resources any more, kids whose parents have lost their insurance. We would like to be able to afford unlimited free services. We could really take a burden off the community if we could get more donor support. We always have a waiting list for free services.”
