- July 13, 2026
As we wrapped up the first half of our six-week Summer Enrichment Camp season at Vincent's Clubhouse, I found myself standing in the middle of our Center filled with laughter, music, new friendships and moments that are difficult to put into words.
Three weeks are behind us. Three more incredible weeks are still to come. Before we know it, our Adult Enrichment Program will welcome members back on Aug. 10, followed by The Workshop, our new afternoon enrichment program for school-aged members, on Aug. 31.
It's one of my favorite times of year because every day reminds me of why our organization exists. Vincent’s Clubhouse is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with autism and related disabilities of all ages, and their families, by providing innovative programs, social opportunities, family support and quality resources.
On Friday, Jne 26, during our Morning Huddle with our campers, I announced, “Well guys, we made it! It's Friday! The last day of our Arts in Action Camp!” Before I could say anything else, one of our newest campers looked at me with genuine disappointment and said, “But I don't want it to be over.” Those simple words stopped me in my tracks because that is exactly what we hope every individual feels when they walk through our doors: that they belong.
Less than two years ago, we unlocked the doors to our Enrichment Center in European Village with a dream that had been growing inside my heart for nearly a decade. I never imagined what those doors would eventually mean to so many families.
Today, families are moving to Flagler County because Vincent's Clubhouse exists. In fact, before this summer is over, we’ll be welcoming two new families who are relocating here specifically because they discovered our Adult Enrichment Program. They told us they finally felt confident making the move because they knew there would be a place where their adult child would be welcomed, supported and given opportunities to thrive. People are choosing our community because they know there is a place where their loved one belongs.
A few weeks ago, we hosted our bi-monthly Parents Dine Out evening, an event that grew out of conversations during our Parent Support Groups. While our staff provided games, activities and childcare at Vincent's Clubhouse, parents enjoyed dinner together at one of the restaurants in European Village. One family had attended our social event earlier that day with their three neurodivergent children. They returned that evening for Parents Dine Out. As they were leaving, they told Heather Dorries, our operations coordinator, “This was our first date in five years.” Sometimes changing lives doesn't happen through grand gestures. Sometimes it happens by simply giving parents two uninterrupted hours together.
Ten years ago, Vincent's Clubhouse began because of one little boy named Vincent and one mother's dream that families like ours deserved more. Today, that dream belongs to an entire community.
One of the defining moments in our journey came this past April during our 10th anniversary gala, An Evening in Emerald City.
Years ago, I met Nina Guiglotto, CEO and owner of Lotus Funeral Services, during a Chamber of Commerce event. She told me that if I ever needed anything, she would be there, and she never forgot that promise.
Together with Shara Brodsky, owner of Sift & Sort, Nina envisioned something much bigger than a fundraiser. They believed Vincent's Clubhouse deserved to be seen, celebrated and introduced to an even larger audience. For more than a year, they poured their creativity, relationships, countless hours, and unwavering belief into creating an unforgettable evening. As the planning continued, Donna McGevena joined the team, bringing her organizational expertise and helping ensure that every detail came together to make the evening the incredible success it became.
Together, Nina, Shara and Donna inspired sponsors, donors, volunteers and community leaders to rally around our mission in a way we had never experienced before. The gala raised more than $43,000, but its greatest success wasn't measured in dollars. It was measured in new relationships, new opportunities and families who now know they are not alone.
The Wizard of Oz has always held a special place in my heart because it was the first non-cartoon movie my son Vincent ever watched from beginning to end. When Nina and Shara shared the Emerald City theme with me, it felt like more than coincidence.
Like Dorothy, I spent years searching for something that, in many ways, had been inside me all along. But Dorothy never reached Emerald City by herself. She needed people who believed in her and walked beside her. That's what Vincent's Clubhouse has become: not simply an organization, but a community.
When I dreamed about Vincent's Clubhouse 10 years ago, I hoped it would change my son's life. I never imagined it would help change our community.
Today, because of families who trust us, a team that gives their hearts every single day, community leaders like Nina Guiglotto, Shara Brodsky and Donna McGevena who believed in our vision, and a community that continues to stand beside us, I know we're building something far greater than a program.
We're building a place where people belong. And to me, there's no place like home.
Erica Flores is the executive director of Vincent's Clubhouse
