Former United Way executive creates The Founders’ Circle

From Community Foundation’s Newsletter: Connections – Fall 2010

John DiCesare

In 1983, community leaders and prominent volunteers came together with the fundamental desire  “to make Volusia and Flagler Counties a better place to live” and created the Community Foundation of Volusia & Flagler, a division of our local United Way.  At the time, DiCesare was United Way’s president.  He saw the need to create a permanent endowment fund whereby income would forever perpetuate the support of local philanthropy and create a lasting legacy of caring for its donors.

“We encouraged our United Way leadership to make commitments in their gift planning for the future, and that’s how the Foundation started,” said DiCesare.  “We partnered with volunteers who had a wealth of knowledge and experience to form the fund and establish appropriate operating procedures.”  John retired from United Way in 1997, but continued to be active in the community with local agencies such as the Boys & Girls Club, Crimestoppers, and the Rotary Club of Daytona Beach.