The Story of the Victory Cup Initiative
Nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to change the world. Their leaders are courageous champions in fighting to rescue our community’s most vulnerable. Their ability to communicate in a way that resonates with their audience is critical to their success of operations & mission support.
A Closer Look at What We Do
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Inspire
Inspire excellence in our community, one story at a time.
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Teach
Teach nonprofits to be master class story tellers.
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Fund
Inspire generosity by rewarding selected nonprofits with cash to help fund their mission.
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Promote
Promote collaboration within the nonprofit sector among organizations by building relationships and fostering communication.
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Partner
Partner with the influential business community to address our community’s greatest needs.
Meet Our Team
THE FOUNDER
Ashley Vann
Founder of the Victory Cup Initiative, Ashley Vann is dedicated to promoting the work of nonprofit organizations in the Central Florida community. With experience in wealth planning, as an entrepreneur, and with an MBA from Emory University, she is a grounded, yet powerful philanthropist challenging the status-quo around charitable giving while igniting and empowering a leader’s desire to impact a mission they truly care about. Vann serves on the Board of Directors with the Heart of Orlando Young Life and The Young Men’s Service League.
Ashley resides in her hometown, Winter Park, Florida. She is the mother of three beautiful children, Louise, Brian, Jr. and Layson, and has been married to Brian Vann for 20 years. The Vann Family is passionate about four legged friends and own and operate the dog boarding, training, and daycare facility, Kamp K9 in College Park, FL.
Board of Directors
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Karolyn Stewart
VCI PRESIDENT
Foley & Lardner
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Stephen Bruner
VCI VICE PRESIDENT
Corkcicle
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Ashley Vann
VCI FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Victory Cup
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Michael Parks
VCI SECRETARY
Hoar Construction
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Mike Masur
VCI TREASURER
Resource Consulting Group
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Charlie Bailes
ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
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Jeff Buhler
Massey Services
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Dyana Burke
Career Source Central Florida
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David Collins
Aeras Technologies
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Peg Cornwell
Rollins College
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Joey Devine
Kustom
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Shelby Devine
Orlando Health
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Carol Beth Haynes
Barham Court Consulting
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Leigh Ann Horton
AIT Life Safety
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Wendy Jackson
Seniors First
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David McKinney
National Christian Foundation
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Jim Scanlon
Lockheed Martin, Retired
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Bill Robbinson
Ex Officio. Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe
Who We’ve Helped
Each year, we select 10 nonprofits from Central Florida to participate in the Victory Cup program. These finalists are selected by a group of over 100 community evaluators. Learn more about the organizations that have participated with Victory Cup in the past.
The Youth Initiative
The goal of the Youth Initiative is to engage young people in helping to create and share the stories of nonprofit organizations in central Florida. Teachers and students from local schools follow the journeys of the Victory Cup Finalist organizations to learn more about their mission and the incredible work VCI finalists do in our community.
This year, small groups of students will research one finalist and will report to that nonprofit on the story as they understand it based on their research. Students will also share their aspirational vision for the organization and how they can personally help achieve that vision. Additionally, the students will participate in a school-wide story telling showcase event.
BECOME A
Community Evaluator
Our Community Evaluators are a special group of business leaders who will help select outstanding nonprofit finalists to receive storytelling training and showcase their organizations in front of influential, community champions, and successful business leaders for the opportunity to receive cash awards!
As a community evaluator, you will:
Review 5-6 applications virtually utilizing our online portal, Reviewr. Each application has 5-6 questions to review. The simple online process typically takes 2-3 hours to complete. Community Evaluators will have a two-week period to complete the review process.
SPONSOR
Our Storytellers
By becoming a Corporate Sponsor, you will assist us as we work to connect dozens of nonprofits to community leaders, business professionals, and corporate philanthropists for collaboration, storytelling and deeper community engagement. When nonprofit organizations learn to share meaningful stories of impact, there is substantial growth in fundraising, donor engagement and an increase in volunteer recruitment. With your support, four hundred+ business and community leaders will have their passion fueled and their hearts warmed at the 2025 Victory Cup Initiative Story Telling Breakfast on February 25, 2025.
THE SPARK
The vision of Victory Cup is to be about the success of other non-profits. When we raise funds our desire is that they are to be given away as close to 100% as possible to be funneled into the nonprofits that we partner with. But we have some overhead too. And to make what we do happen, we’ve assembled a group of generous entrepreneurs, foundations, philanthropists, and individuals with big hearts that are willing to say, “I’ll pay the overhead” so you can complete your mission. Not everyone may feel called to this, but if interested, click below.
