VyStar Foundation, the philanthropic arm of VyStar Credit Union, is proud to announce the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors. These community leaders will join the organization in its mission to Do Good in the areas served by VyStar Credit Union.

The new board members are dynamic professionals who have made a significant impact in their respective fields:

• Dane Grey, President, and CEO of Elite Parking Services of America, provides innovative parking solutions that enhance customer service while reducing the stress of parking.

• David Miller co-founded Brightway Insurance, an insurance agency that has grown to become one of the largest property and casualty agencies in the United States.

• Nina Waters served for 19 years as President of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, a charitable organization that she helped to build into the largest community foundation in Florida.

• Ellen Wiss, Co-Founder, President, Chair, of READ USA, a nonprofit organization that promotes literacy and combats school-related poverty by providing wrap-around reading intervention programming and   new, age-appropriate book choice for disadvantaged children.

“We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional community leaders to our Board of Directors and believe they will leverage their diverse backgrounds and experience to advise and support our philanthropic initiatives,” said Patricia McElroy, Senior Vice President, and President of VyStar Foundation. “Their extensive knowledge, expertise and passion for philanthropy will help us to further expand our dedication to the community.”

VyStar Foundation offers grants to 501(c)(3) organizations whose purpose and mission align with the Foundation’s strategic giving pillars: military, youth, and community building. Grants ensure that military members, veterans, and their families receive the social services they need and the recognition they deserve, empower youth by providing equitable access to creative learning environments, and cultivate financially strong, culturally vibrant, and interconnected communities.

“Our newest board members are passionate about the same issues that matter greatly to VyStar Foundation,” McElroy said. “Together, we are excited to continue our collaboration and inspire our board to work toward our common goal of improving the places we call home.”

VyStar Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Georgia, North and Central Florida. Since its inception, the foundation has had a total impact of nearly $1 million in 2023.  Grants totaling $387,282 were given to 20 local organizations addressing the critical needs of youth, military members, veterans, and their families in addition to a $570,000 building donation to Three Grains of Rice Missions. The non-profit provides resources for housing, food, clothing, medical care and educational programming to individuals and families struggling with food and housing instability along with local and international disaster relief and humanitarian aid.

The next grant cycle will open in March 2024. Nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting military members, veterans and their families are encouraged to apply. To learn more about VyStar Foundation, visit vystarfoundation.org.