Hard to believe it’s been almost a year since I left colleagues and clients
at the Akerman Senterfitt law firm to assume leadership of Dr. Phillips
Charities. Having practiced law with the same firm for
more than 30 years, I must admit to being somewhat
apprehensive changing both employers and careers. But
I viewed the Dr. Phillips Charities leadership position as
a unique and exciting opportunity – one in which I
could utilize the real estate knowledge, management
experience and leadership skills developed during my
legal career in a key new position and, at the same time,
work to benefit the community.
With almost a year under my belt, my new job is action-packed and
challenging, but enjoyable and rewarding. I want to share observations
on what I have learned so far. In the interest of space, I have divided
them into two segments – the first, included in this edition, focuses
internally on my predecessor, our staff and our board, and the second,
to be included next time, will focus externally on the local donor
community and highlight some organizations we support.
Dr. Phillips Charities has a long history of
awarding grants to deserving Central Florida
organizations whose work directly touches the
lives of children and families; in particular,
nonprofits that focus on educational programs,
children and youth services, social services,
cultural facilities and events, and health and
rehabilitative programs.
D r.
s
Phillips Charitie
60 West Robinson Street
Orlando, FL 32801
To apply for a grant from Dr. Phillips Charities,
visit the Web site (www.DrPhillips.org) to open
and print the guidelines and application. Pay
particular attention to the dates and time that
applications are due as there are only three
grant cycles annually. For 2009, all deadlines
are at 4 p.m. on: 1/9/09 for April disbursement;
5/8/09 for August disbursement; and, 9/11/09
for November disbursement.
Volume 4, Fall 2008
Innovation in Production and Business
Practices Propelled Phillips Family’s
Citrus Company to National Prominence
When Doc Phillips first arrived in Central Florida, it’s
hard to imagine that he could have foreseen the
tremendous success he would
enjoy in the citrus business.
Rising above the hardships
imposed by Florida’s fickle
weather and by a country
enduring the Great Depression
and World Wars, Doc
Phillips persevered.
First, focusing internally:
1) Jim Hinson, my predecessor, left big shoes to fill! Jim was the face
of Dr. Phillips Charities for so many years and his dedicated effort
and business skill helped build Dr. Phillips Charities into the largest
philanthropic organization in Central Florida benefiting more than
100 local charities. Jim’s career spanned a remarkable 50 years
with the organization and, for the last 20, he led the two-prong
business of the Dr. Phillips Charities – managing assets left by the
Phillips family which today, in addition to traditional stock and bond
investments, includes a portfolio of more than 120 commercial
properties with almost 2 million square feet of rental space that
provides the income and profits to support the paramount business
and mission of Dr. Phillips Charities: ”To help others help
themselves,” by distributing over $7 million annually to Central
Florida nonprofits serving the community.
2) Thankfully, Jim also left highly skilled, professional and caring staff
members and extremely capable, dedicated and hard working board
members for me to work with. The staff of Dr. Phillips Charities
welcomed me openly and made me feel like a long-term member of
the team since day one. They have been invaluable in the transition
and have made my job so much easier. The same is true of our
outside board members who currently include such prominent
business leaders as Jim Ferber, president of the Central Florida
YMCA; Don Ammerman, successful real estate developer and
former city commissioner; Dr. Margaret Miller, retired assistant dean,
College of Education at the University of Central Florida; and Ed
Furey, CFO of Holler Family Great American Land. They spend
countless hours serving the Dr. Phillips Charities by reviewing grant
requests, attending site visits and approving grants; participating in
investment decisions; and serving on board committees; all to the
benefit of not only our organization but the community at large.
[To be continued]
Robert L. Mellen, III
President, Dr. Phillips Charities
Dr. Phillips Inc., a nonprofit corporation,
owns and leases commercial and industrial
properties in the Central Florida area as part
of its investment portfolio. Revenue
generated through leases is used to make
grants in support of local charitable needs.
Dr. Phillips Legacies is produced by the Dr. Phillips Charities, comprised of The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation and Dr. Phillips Inc.
Legacies Through E-mail:
If you would like to receive future issues of the newsletter electronically, please register by sending an e-mail to Legacies@drphillips.org.
Among the properties in its portfolio, Dr.
Phillips Inc. has three office parks located in
the heart of the Dr. Phillips neighborhood
which have both small and medium-sized
office spaces available for rent:
• Professional Office Building at the corner
of Wallace and Dr. Phillips Boulevard;
• Boulevard Professional Center directly
across Dr. Phillips Boulevard from the
Dr. Phillips YMCA; and,
• Village Office Center at the end of
Wallace Road on Apopka-Vineland Road.
They are
conveniently
located near all
Dr. Phillips’
residential
neighborhoods,
shopping areas
and medical
facilities.
Office Building in Dr. Phillips.
Additional
information on all Dr. Phillips’ rental
properties is available on the company’s Web
site, www.drphillips.org, or by calling the
Dr. Phillips leasing office at (407) 422-6105.
AFP Honors Hinson
Former Dr. Phillips Charities leader Jim Hinson has been
honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals
Central Florida Chapter with its H. Clifford Lee Award for
Professional Achievement. The award recognizes his 50 years
of service to the community through his work with Dr. Phillips
and leadership in numerous area civic and charitable causes.
Regional History Center will have the opportunity to step
into Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, sponsored locally by Dr.
Phillips Charities, and experience the “visual thinking” process
of this visionary storyteller. A complementary exhibit will
focus on Central Florida’s puppetry community, including
Heather Henson, Jim Henson’s daughter. More information is
available at www.thehistorycenter.org/exhibits/?art=upcoming.
As part of the local chapter’s observance of the 23rd Annual
National Philanthropy Day, Jim was honored alongside fellow
West Orange leaders Barbara and Bert Roper, who received
the chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and CNL Founder
James Seneff, named Outstanding Philanthropist. Each year,
the Central Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising
Professionals honors donors, volunteers and professionals
whose gifts of time, expertise and resources contribute
significantly to the quality of life in our communities.
Dr. P. Phillips Community Park
Winter hours have gone into effect at the recently opened
Dr. P. Phillips Community Park not far from Apopka-Vineland
Road. The park is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to
6 p.m. The park, located at 8249 Buenavista Woods Blvd.
on the shore of Big Sand Lake, includes opportunities for
picnics, hiking, baseball, basketball and soccer, and features
a playground, rental pavilions and a dog park. Park
information is available by calling (407) 254-9038 or at
www.orangecountyfl.net/dept/cesrvcs/parks/ParkDetails.asp?Pa
rkID=66#.
Exhibit Will Pay Homage to
Jim Henson’s Fantastic World
A critically acclaimed artist, puppeteer, film director and
producer, Jim Henson (1936-1990) is best known for creating
The Muppets© and serving as the voice of many famous
characters, including Kermit the Frog and Ernie. From
February 6 to May 3, 2009, visitors to the Orange County
5
Through hard work and a
keen instinct for business, Doc
Phillips and his son, Howard,
became leaders of the citrus
business in the state of
Florida. Seeing there was a
larger market to serve beyond
Florida, they later flourished
Home office/plant of Dr. Phillips
through the application of
innovative technologies in growing, processing and
distributing citrus.
Improving the Product in a “Flash”
After diversifying his business, and expanding the reach
of Florida citrus, Doc Phillips continued his leadership of
the citrus industry by establishing a canning plant at the
corner of Orange Avenue and Princeton Street. Creating
a patented innovation called “flash” pasteurization, his
citrus company was the first to produce juice without the
Continued on page 2
The Dr. Phillips Legacy Continued . . Pg. 2
Dr. Phillips Legacies Past Editions
If you received this newsletter, but did not receive the first
three issues, the staff at Dr. Phillips will be happy to send
copies to you. Please call (407) 422-6105 or send an e-mail
to Legacies@DrPhillips.org.
School of Real Estate at UCF
to Carry Dr. Phillips Name . . . . . . . . Pg. 3
Awarded Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 4
6
From the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 5
Continued from the cover ...
metallic taste that was a hallmark of earlier canning
processes. This advancement made orange juice “tasty” and
catapulted it to popularity with Americans for years to come.
In 1929, in what is one of the company’s greatest
achievements, the Dr. Phillips brand of canned citrus,
including Dr. Phillips Pure Orange Juice, Dr. Phillips Pure
Grapefruit Juice and Dr. Phillips Pure Orange and Grapefruit
Juice, became the first to be awarded with the highly
respected American Medical Association’s seal of approval.
Quickly surpassing industry
competition across the
nation, Dr. Phillips’ brands
far outsold those in San
Francisco, the Bay Area, New
England and regions west of
the Mississippi. The products
were also distributed
internationally in Canada,
England, Ireland, Norway,
Sweden and France.
Dr. Phillips Grapefruit Juice label
Prevailing During the Depression
With a looming Depression threatening his operations, Doc
Phillips sought financial support from banks outside of the
state. When that support wavered, Doc began printing his
own scrip, which he used as a partial payment of wages to
employees; his employees then used it to buy goods and
services from merchants who were tenants of the Dr. P.
Phillips Co.; and those tenants then used it to pay back part of
their rent to the company. Merchants that accepted the scrip,
most of which were also tenants, included the local Piggly
Wiggly, Lovett’s, A&P, Goodrich, Kinney Shoes, Southland
Dairy, Williams Department Store, Beacham Theatre, Rialto
Theatre, Burns Auto Service and Cole Jewelers.
Through this effort, the Dr. P. Phillips Co. was able to weather
the Depression and maintain employment numbers, keeping a
promise to employ loyal workers in a time of economic
hardship. Doc also used this time to enlarge the cannery’s
output by creating new products. The company turned pulp
into marmalade base, produced a soft drink called “Thirst
Tamer,” and produced cattle feed from the peels of oranges
and seeds.
As a steadfast supporter of the American military, Doc Phillips
committed all of the company’s canning services to the Army
during World War II despite pleas from his wholesalers and
retailers who wanted to continue receiving his company’s
products. Although he was awarded an “A” from
the Army for his dedication to the military’s
needs, Doc felt the grudges of several
wholesalers after the war when they refused
to do business with his citrus company.
Family Hardship
The seemingly invincible Doc Phillips
encountered major medical problems in his
later years. In 1948, Howard was called back
from his service in the military to
manage the day-to-day operation of
the family business with his younger
brother Walter until Doc was able to
fully recover. Inner-family arguments
resulted in a rift between Howard and
Walter which led to Walter leaving the
family company. Howard bought out
his interest resulting in Howard and
Doc maintaining leadership.
Dr. Phillips Announced New Grants and Pledges of
Nearly $3 Million in August 2008
Dr. Phillips History Rich in Real Estate
and Land Development
Some may wonder why Dr. Phillips Charities chose to endow
the new School of Real Estate at the University of Central
Florida (UCF). The charitable connection becomes clear when
you combine an understanding of the business acumen of the
Phillips family, their strong belief in private property rights,
their foresight to invest in Central Florida’s real estate, and
their desire to use the family’s real estate holdings and other
assets to create a lasting legacy.
Howard Phillips during
service in U.S. Army
A fair employer, Doc Phillips was adamant about providing
for his employees. Even during a year of business loss, he
gave company workers the same benefits and pay that they
received during a year of profit. Despite the company’s
progressive employment practices, yet another obstacle arose
for the company. During the same year that Doc struggled
with health issues, cannery workers began to organize behind
trade union leaders. Standing by an earlier promise to close
the cannery if the workers unionized, the cannery was closed
when workers voted to join the union.
Doc Phillips established himself as the largest individual citrus
grower in the world and only ventured into the real estate
business in order to provide year-round employment for his
company’s citrus workers. When the citrus groves were sold
in 1954, the company continued to build and lease
commercial and industrial properties. The Phillips family
also retained approximately 4,000 acres of prime land in
southwest Orange County, intending to develop a community
where people would work, live and play. The Dr. Phillips
community came to be one of the first master-planned
communities in Florida.
End of an Era
Doc and Howard Phillips recognized that the trend of
unionizing was growing in the citrus business. As a result, in
what was one of the largest sales in the industry’s history, the
Phillips family sold the operation in 1954 – including the
groves and grove facilities – to Granada Groves, a partnership
between Investors Diversified Services and Minute Maid. The
family retained all of the grove properties outside 100 feet
from the drip line of the grove trees, and those properties
remained assets of the company, now called Dr. Phillips Inc.
Howard Phillips, Doc’s son, worked closely with a land
planning firm in order to establish the vision of a community
where families would flourish. Through the years, Dr. Phillips
Charities has honored the family’s legacy. Land was set aside
for schools, a fire station and a YMCA. Various religious
denominations were provided support and encouraged to
establish a presence in the area. Spring Lake Park was
developed and continues to be maintained by Dr. Phillips.
Shopping centers and professional office buildings were
joined by a library and daycare center. Orlando Regional
Healthcare (now known as Orlando Health) established a
hospital, recently renamed The Dr. P. Phillips Hospital.
And that is how the Dr. Phillips name – one with a
philanthropic and economic presence in the community since
the turn of the 20th century – came to be synonymous with
Central Florida citrus. From the establishment of one of the
world’s largest citrus businesses, there is now a community
that pays homage to the name of “Dr. Phillips,” and two
distinct funding organizations that continue their support
of Central Florida nonprofits, forging ahead in bettering the
land that Doc Phillips’ vision and entrepreneurial efforts
established as a great place to call home.
Educating Tomorrow’s Industry Leaders
Recently, Dr. Phillips Charities saw an opportunity to build
upon its belief in the importance of private property rights and
the significant economic impact of the real estate industry on
the Central Florida region by enhancing educational
offerings in real estate. Combined with a state match, Dr.
Phillips Inc. donated $2.5 million to create the Dr. P. Phillips
School of Real Estate at the University of Central Florida (UCF)
and establish a $5 million endowment for the Dr. P. Phillips
Institute for Research and Education in Real Estate, the Dr. P.
Phillips scholarship program and the Howard Phillips Eminent
Scholar Chair in Real Estate.
Squeals of delight can be heard daily from
children exploring the new water park
at the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA. As they
experience the “Red Rocket” water slide,
made possible through a grant from
Dr. Phillips Charities, kids are having fun
exercising and spending more quality time
with family and friends.
The School holds the distinction of being only the second
named real estate school in the country. “We believe that our
local support will give us a chance to become a national
leader,” said Dr. Anthony Byrd, director of the Dr. P. Phillips
School of Real Estate. “In the past, local firms had to go to
other universities to recruit real estate graduates. As the only
2
Among the Beneficiaries:
accredited real estate bachelor’s
degree in the area, this program fills
a large gap in Central Florida,”
said Byrd.
Central Florida Young Men’s Christian Association
(YMCA) $2.5 million
A major beneficiary, the Central Florida YMCA impacts the
lives of more than 200,000 kids, teens, adults and seniors each
year. The YMCA funding will be designated in the future for
capital projects.
Randy I. Anderson, Ph.D.
The gift from Dr. Phillips Inc.
prompted the search for an eminent scholar to fill the Howard
Phillips Chair, and in May, the school selected real estate
researcher, investor and strategist, Randy I. Anderson, Ph.D.,
whose national reputation as well as local professional
experience made him an ideal candidate. Anderson’s
company, 1776 Financial Services in Winter Park, provides
debt, mezzanine and equity financing for real estate projects
throughout the U.S.
Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Greater Orlando Inc.
$225,000
Funding of $75,000 per year for three years will cover a
portion of the direct client assistance costs for the expansion
of JFS’s Family Stabilization Program. The expansion will
include the addition of the Christian Service Center and the
Community Service Center of Central Florida in the first year
and the addition of other locations in years two and three.
The program is designed to increase self-sufficiency in low
income families through intensive case management and
education.
As the Eminent Scholar Chair, Anderson will direct the
research and education institute at the school and will
continue to expand and build the school in coming years,
adding innovative research initiatives and hopefully a master’s
program. “We believe the Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate
is well positioned to build a nationally recognized education
and research platform that can deliver well-educated students
to local, national or global real estate communities,”
said Anderson.
BETA Center Inc. $44,588
Funding to hire a new full-time volunteer coordinator/recruiter
and to cover the costs for one year associated with a more
aggressive and effective volunteer program. BETA Center
provides children and parents with the knowledge and support
needed for strong, healthy families with a focus on teen moms
and at-risk families.
Industry Leaders Support School
Local industry leaders have been involved in the School’s
development from the beginning, led by the Central Florida
Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office
Properties (NAIOP), the leading trade association for
developers, owners and other professionals in commercial real
estate. NAIOP members first conceptualized a nationally
renowned real estate program at UCF many years ago and
NAIOP is now a big supporter of the school.
MicheLee Puppets Inc. $19,700
Funding to deliver two educational puppet shows for 17,500
pre-school, kindergarten and first grade students in 70 Orange
and Osceola schools in the 2008-2009 school year. MicheLee
Puppets stages theatrical programs that positively impact the
lives of Florida’s children, providing young people with the
necessary tools to cope with life’s challenges.
“Students are given a unique opportunity to be judged by, and
to interact with, commercial real estate practitioners in the
Central Florida area,” said Terry Delahunty, president of
NAIOP’s local chapter and a partner with Foley & Lardner.
“This rounds out and supplements the academic training they
get at UCF, for a taste of the ‘real world,’ and gives them
access to prospective employers. In turn, NAIOP members get
a chance to see the students in action, and are provided with
a well-trained source of new employees, who have practical
experience in commercial real estate matters.”
Life Concepts Inc. dba Quest Inc. $17,598
Funding to purchase new computer hardware and
software to make Quest’s vocational evaluation program
mobile allowing evaluation of students in high schools
and others in community and home settings. The service
is expected to become self-sustaining, even income
generating, within a year. Quest inspires and empowers
Central Floridians with disabilities by offering choices
and opportunities to learn, live, work and play.
NAIOP is launching a case study competition that will allow
students the opportunity to work with members of NAIOP.
“This is a great opportunity; the symbiotic relationship stands
to benefit all parties,” added Delahunty.
Best Buddies International Inc. $15,000
Funding to establish two new Best Buddies chapters
at Dr. Phillips High School and Ocoee High School.
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
enhancing the lives of people with intellectual
disabilities by providing opportunities for
one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
The real estate industry represents a significant part of Central
Florida’s growing economy and the Dr. P. Phillips School of
Real Estate at UCF will provide research and advanced
education that will greatly benefit the region.
3
Bishop Grady Villas Inc. $75,000
Pledge if matched dollar-for-dollar for scholarship fund.
Bishop Grady Villas provides a loving, caring, Christian
residential group home for adults (18 years and older) who
are intellectually and developmentally disabled.
Also in August, several organizations received distributions on
previously awarded pledges.
Orlando Performing Arts Center Corporation
$2.5 million
Second payment toward a $25 million pledge for the
Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center.
Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc. $500,000
Third year payment on pledge of $5 million in support of the
capital needs outlined in its strategic capital campaign.
University of Central Florida Foundation Inc.
$499,999
Final payment toward pledge for the establishment of the
Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate and the Howard Phillips
Eminent Scholar Chair in Real Estate. This final payment will
help fund the establishment of a scholarship fund to assist
students who will become the new generation of real estate
professionals.
Spouse Abuse Inc. (Harbor House, Orange County
Center Against Domestic Violence) $422,127
Payment of pledge to assist with the costs of building and
opening a children’s center that will provide therapeutic and
educational services to 65 children who reside in the
domestic violence shelter every day.
The eagerly
anticipated design of
the Dr. P. Phillips
Orlando Performing
Arts Center was
unveiled with much
fanfare to the general
public on August 22
during a community
open house. The
design team created
a venue that will
shine as Orlando
plays host to
world-class
performances and local performing arts groups. Visit the
center’s Web site at www.OrlandoPAC.org for a preview of
the new building.
4
Continued from the cover ...
metallic taste that was a hallmark of earlier canning
processes. This advancement made orange juice “tasty” and
catapulted it to popularity with Americans for years to come.
In 1929, in what is one of the company’s greatest
achievements, the Dr. Phillips brand of canned citrus,
including Dr. Phillips Pure Orange Juice, Dr. Phillips Pure
Grapefruit Juice and Dr. Phillips Pure Orange and Grapefruit
Juice, became the first to be awarded with the highly
respected American Medical Association’s seal of approval.
Quickly surpassing industry
competition across the
nation, Dr. Phillips’ brands
far outsold those in San
Francisco, the Bay Area, New
England and regions west of
the Mississippi. The products
were also distributed
internationally in Canada,
England, Ireland, Norway,
Sweden and France.
Dr. Phillips Grapefruit Juice label
Prevailing During the Depression
With a looming Depression threatening his operations, Doc
Phillips sought financial support from banks outside of the
state. When that support wavered, Doc began printing his
own scrip, which he used as a partial payment of wages to
employees; his employees then used it to buy goods and
services from merchants who were tenants of the Dr. P.
Phillips Co.; and those tenants then used it to pay back part of
their rent to the company. Merchants that accepted the scrip,
most of which were also tenants, included the local Piggly
Wiggly, Lovett’s, A&P, Goodrich, Kinney Shoes, Southland
Dairy, Williams Department Store, Beacham Theatre, Rialto
Theatre, Burns Auto Service and Cole Jewelers.
Through this effort, the Dr. P. Phillips Co. was able to weather
the Depression and maintain employment numbers, keeping a
promise to employ loyal workers in a time of economic
hardship. Doc also used this time to enlarge the cannery’s
output by creating new products. The company turned pulp
into marmalade base, produced a soft drink called “Thirst
Tamer,” and produced cattle feed from the peels of oranges
and seeds.
As a steadfast supporter of the American military, Doc Phillips
committed all of the company’s canning services to the Army
during World War II despite pleas from his wholesalers and
retailers who wanted to continue receiving his company’s
products. Although he was awarded an “A” from
the Army for his dedication to the military’s
needs, Doc felt the grudges of several
wholesalers after the war when they refused
to do business with his citrus company.
Family Hardship
The seemingly invincible Doc Phillips
encountered major medical problems in his
later years. In 1948, Howard was called back
from his service in the military to
manage the day-to-day operation of
the family business with his younger
brother Walter until Doc was able to
fully recover. Inner-family arguments
resulted in a rift between Howard and
Walter which led to Walter leaving the
family company. Howard bought out
his interest resulting in Howard and
Doc maintaining leadership.
Dr. Phillips Announced New Grants and Pledges of
Nearly $3 Million in August 2008
Dr. Phillips History Rich in Real Estate
and Land Development
Some may wonder why Dr. Phillips Charities chose to endow
the new School of Real Estate at the University of Central
Florida (UCF). The charitable connection becomes clear when
you combine an understanding of the business acumen of the
Phillips family, their strong belief in private property rights,
their foresight to invest in Central Florida’s real estate, and
their desire to use the family’s real estate holdings and other
assets to create a lasting legacy.
Howard Phillips during
service in U.S. Army
A fair employer, Doc Phillips was adamant about providing
for his employees. Even during a year of business loss, he
gave company workers the same benefits and pay that they
received during a year of profit. Despite the company’s
progressive employment practices, yet another obstacle arose
for the company. During the same year that Doc struggled
with health issues, cannery workers began to organize behind
trade union leaders. Standing by an earlier promise to close
the cannery if the workers unionized, the cannery was closed
when workers voted to join the union.
Doc Phillips established himself as the largest individual citrus
grower in the world and only ventured into the real estate
business in order to provide year-round employment for his
company’s citrus workers. When the citrus groves were sold
in 1954, the company continued to build and lease
commercial and industrial properties. The Phillips family
also retained approximately 4,000 acres of prime land in
southwest Orange County, intending to develop a community
where people would work, live and play. The Dr. Phillips
community came to be one of the first master-planned
communities in Florida.
End of an Era
Doc and Howard Phillips recognized that the trend of
unionizing was growing in the citrus business. As a result, in
what was one of the largest sales in the industry’s history, the
Phillips family sold the operation in 1954 – including the
groves and grove facilities – to Granada Groves, a partnership
between Investors Diversified Services and Minute Maid. The
family retained all of the grove properties outside 100 feet
from the drip line of the grove trees, and those properties
remained assets of the company, now called Dr. Phillips Inc.
Howard Phillips, Doc’s son, worked closely with a land
planning firm in order to establish the vision of a community
where families would flourish. Through the years, Dr. Phillips
Charities has honored the family’s legacy. Land was set aside
for schools, a fire station and a YMCA. Various religious
denominations were provided support and encouraged to
establish a presence in the area. Spring Lake Park was
developed and continues to be maintained by Dr. Phillips.
Shopping centers and professional office buildings were
joined by a library and daycare center. Orlando Regional
Healthcare (now known as Orlando Health) established a
hospital, recently renamed The Dr. P. Phillips Hospital.
And that is how the Dr. Phillips name – one with a
philanthropic and economic presence in the community since
the turn of the 20th century – came to be synonymous with
Central Florida citrus. From the establishment of one of the
world’s largest citrus businesses, there is now a community
that pays homage to the name of “Dr. Phillips,” and two
distinct funding organizations that continue their support
of Central Florida nonprofits, forging ahead in bettering the
land that Doc Phillips’ vision and entrepreneurial efforts
established as a great place to call home.
Educating Tomorrow’s Industry Leaders
Recently, Dr. Phillips Charities saw an opportunity to build
upon its belief in the importance of private property rights and
the significant economic impact of the real estate industry on
the Central Florida region by enhancing educational
offerings in real estate. Combined with a state match, Dr.
Phillips Inc. donated $2.5 million to create the Dr. P. Phillips
School of Real Estate at the University of Central Florida (UCF)
and establish a $5 million endowment for the Dr. P. Phillips
Institute for Research and Education in Real Estate, the Dr. P.
Phillips scholarship program and the Howard Phillips Eminent
Scholar Chair in Real Estate.
Squeals of delight can be heard daily from
children exploring the new water park
at the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA. As they
experience the “Red Rocket” water slide,
made possible through a grant from
Dr. Phillips Charities, kids are having fun
exercising and spending more quality time
with family and friends.
The School holds the distinction of being only the second
named real estate school in the country. “We believe that our
local support will give us a chance to become a national
leader,” said Dr. Anthony Byrd, director of the Dr. P. Phillips
School of Real Estate. “In the past, local firms had to go to
other universities to recruit real estate graduates. As the only
2
Among the Beneficiaries:
accredited real estate bachelor’s
degree in the area, this program fills
a large gap in Central Florida,”
said Byrd.
Central Florida Young Men’s Christian Association
(YMCA) $2.5 million
A major beneficiary, the Central Florida YMCA impacts the
lives of more than 200,000 kids, teens, adults and seniors each
year. The YMCA funding will be designated in the future for
capital projects.
Randy I. Anderson, Ph.D.
The gift from Dr. Phillips Inc.
prompted the search for an eminent scholar to fill the Howard
Phillips Chair, and in May, the school selected real estate
researcher, investor and strategist, Randy I. Anderson, Ph.D.,
whose national reputation as well as local professional
experience made him an ideal candidate. Anderson’s
company, 1776 Financial Services in Winter Park, provides
debt, mezzanine and equity financing for real estate projects
throughout the U.S.
Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Greater Orlando Inc.
$225,000
Funding of $75,000 per year for three years will cover a
portion of the direct client assistance costs for the expansion
of JFS’s Family Stabilization Program. The expansion will
include the addition of the Christian Service Center and the
Community Service Center of Central Florida in the first year
and the addition of other locations in years two and three.
The program is designed to increase self-sufficiency in low
income families through intensive case management and
education.
As the Eminent Scholar Chair, Anderson will direct the
research and education institute at the school and will
continue to expand and build the school in coming years,
adding innovative research initiatives and hopefully a master’s
program. “We believe the Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate
is well positioned to build a nationally recognized education
and research platform that can deliver well-educated students
to local, national or global real estate communities,”
said Anderson.
BETA Center Inc. $44,588
Funding to hire a new full-time volunteer coordinator/recruiter
and to cover the costs for one year associated with a more
aggressive and effective volunteer program. BETA Center
provides children and parents with the knowledge and support
needed for strong, healthy families with a focus on teen moms
and at-risk families.
Industry Leaders Support School
Local industry leaders have been involved in the School’s
development from the beginning, led by the Central Florida
Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office
Properties (NAIOP), the leading trade association for
developers, owners and other professionals in commercial real
estate. NAIOP members first conceptualized a nationally
renowned real estate program at UCF many years ago and
NAIOP is now a big supporter of the school.
MicheLee Puppets Inc. $19,700
Funding to deliver two educational puppet shows for 17,500
pre-school, kindergarten and first grade students in 70 Orange
and Osceola schools in the 2008-2009 school year. MicheLee
Puppets stages theatrical programs that positively impact the
lives of Florida’s children, providing young people with the
necessary tools to cope with life’s challenges.
“Students are given a unique opportunity to be judged by, and
to interact with, commercial real estate practitioners in the
Central Florida area,” said Terry Delahunty, president of
NAIOP’s local chapter and a partner with Foley & Lardner.
“This rounds out and supplements the academic training they
get at UCF, for a taste of the ‘real world,’ and gives them
access to prospective employers. In turn, NAIOP members get
a chance to see the students in action, and are provided with
a well-trained source of new employees, who have practical
experience in commercial real estate matters.”
Life Concepts Inc. dba Quest Inc. $17,598
Funding to purchase new computer hardware and
software to make Quest’s vocational evaluation program
mobile allowing evaluation of students in high schools
and others in community and home settings. The service
is expected to become self-sustaining, even income
generating, within a year. Quest inspires and empowers
Central Floridians with disabilities by offering choices
and opportunities to learn, live, work and play.
NAIOP is launching a case study competition that will allow
students the opportunity to work with members of NAIOP.
“This is a great opportunity; the symbiotic relationship stands
to benefit all parties,” added Delahunty.
Best Buddies International Inc. $15,000
Funding to establish two new Best Buddies chapters
at Dr. Phillips High School and Ocoee High School.
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
enhancing the lives of people with intellectual
disabilities by providing opportunities for
one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
The real estate industry represents a significant part of Central
Florida’s growing economy and the Dr. P. Phillips School of
Real Estate at UCF will provide research and advanced
education that will greatly benefit the region.
3
Bishop Grady Villas Inc. $75,000
Pledge if matched dollar-for-dollar for scholarship fund.
Bishop Grady Villas provides a loving, caring, Christian
residential group home for adults (18 years and older) who
are intellectually and developmentally disabled.
Also in August, several organizations received distributions on
previously awarded pledges.
Orlando Performing Arts Center Corporation
$2.5 million
Second payment toward a $25 million pledge for the
Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center.
Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc. $500,000
Third year payment on pledge of $5 million in support of the
capital needs outlined in its strategic capital campaign.
University of Central Florida Foundation Inc.
$499,999
Final payment toward pledge for the establishment of the
Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate and the Howard Phillips
Eminent Scholar Chair in Real Estate. This final payment will
help fund the establishment of a scholarship fund to assist
students who will become the new generation of real estate
professionals.
Spouse Abuse Inc. (Harbor House, Orange County
Center Against Domestic Violence) $422,127
Payment of pledge to assist with the costs of building and
opening a children’s center that will provide therapeutic and
educational services to 65 children who reside in the
domestic violence shelter every day.
The eagerly
anticipated design of
the Dr. P. Phillips
Orlando Performing
Arts Center was
unveiled with much
fanfare to the general
public on August 22
during a community
open house. The
design team created
a venue that will
shine as Orlando
plays host to
world-class
performances and local performing arts groups. Visit the
center’s Web site at www.OrlandoPAC.org for a preview of
the new building.
4
Continued from the cover ...
metallic taste that was a hallmark of earlier canning
processes. This advancement made orange juice “tasty” and
catapulted it to popularity with Americans for years to come.
In 1929, in what is one of the company’s greatest
achievements, the Dr. Phillips brand of canned citrus,
including Dr. Phillips Pure Orange Juice, Dr. Phillips Pure
Grapefruit Juice and Dr. Phillips Pure Orange and Grapefruit
Juice, became the first to be awarded with the highly
respected American Medical Association’s seal of approval.
Quickly surpassing industry
competition across the
nation, Dr. Phillips’ brands
far outsold those in San
Francisco, the Bay Area, New
England and regions west of
the Mississippi. The products
were also distributed
internationally in Canada,
England, Ireland, Norway,
Sweden and France.
Dr. Phillips Grapefruit Juice label
Prevailing During the Depression
With a looming Depression threatening his operations, Doc
Phillips sought financial support from banks outside of the
state. When that support wavered, Doc began printing his
own scrip, which he used as a partial payment of wages to
employees; his employees then used it to buy goods and
services from merchants who were tenants of the Dr. P.
Phillips Co.; and those tenants then used it to pay back part of
their rent to the company. Merchants that accepted the scrip,
most of which were also tenants, included the local Piggly
Wiggly, Lovett’s, A&P, Goodrich, Kinney Shoes, Southland
Dairy, Williams Department Store, Beacham Theatre, Rialto
Theatre, Burns Auto Service and Cole Jewelers.
Through this effort, the Dr. P. Phillips Co. was able to weather
the Depression and maintain employment numbers, keeping a
promise to employ loyal workers in a time of economic
hardship. Doc also used this time to enlarge the cannery’s
output by creating new products. The company turned pulp
into marmalade base, produced a soft drink called “Thirst
Tamer,” and produced cattle feed from the peels of oranges
and seeds.
As a steadfast supporter of the American military, Doc Phillips
committed all of the company’s canning services to the Army
during World War II despite pleas from his wholesalers and
retailers who wanted to continue receiving his company’s
products. Although he was awarded an “A” from
the Army for his dedication to the military’s
needs, Doc felt the grudges of several
wholesalers after the war when they refused
to do business with his citrus company.
Family Hardship
The seemingly invincible Doc Phillips
encountered major medical problems in his
later years. In 1948, Howard was called back
from his service in the military to
manage the day-to-day operation of
the family business with his younger
brother Walter until Doc was able to
fully recover. Inner-family arguments
resulted in a rift between Howard and
Walter which led to Walter leaving the
family company. Howard bought out
his interest resulting in Howard and
Doc maintaining leadership.
Dr. Phillips Announced New Grants and Pledges of
Nearly $3 Million in August 2008
Dr. Phillips History Rich in Real Estate
and Land Development
Some may wonder why Dr. Phillips Charities chose to endow
the new School of Real Estate at the University of Central
Florida (UCF). The charitable connection becomes clear when
you combine an understanding of the business acumen of the
Phillips family, their strong belief in private property rights,
their foresight to invest in Central Florida’s real estate, and
their desire to use the family’s real estate holdings and other
assets to create a lasting legacy.
Howard Phillips during
service in U.S. Army
A fair employer, Doc Phillips was adamant about providing
for his employees. Even during a year of business loss, he
gave company workers the same benefits and pay that they
received during a year of profit. Despite the company’s
progressive employment practices, yet another obstacle arose
for the company. During the same year that Doc struggled
with health issues, cannery workers began to organize behind
trade union leaders. Standing by an earlier promise to close
the cannery if the workers unionized, the cannery was closed
when workers voted to join the union.
Doc Phillips established himself as the largest individual citrus
grower in the world and only ventured into the real estate
business in order to provide year-round employment for his
company’s citrus workers. When the citrus groves were sold
in 1954, the company continued to build and lease
commercial and industrial properties. The Phillips family
also retained approximately 4,000 acres of prime land in
southwest Orange County, intending to develop a community
where people would work, live and play. The Dr. Phillips
community came to be one of the first master-planned
communities in Florida.
End of an Era
Doc and Howard Phillips recognized that the trend of
unionizing was growing in the citrus business. As a result, in
what was one of the largest sales in the industry’s history, the
Phillips family sold the operation in 1954 – including the
groves and grove facilities – to Granada Groves, a partnership
between Investors Diversified Services and Minute Maid. The
family retained all of the grove properties outside 100 feet
from the drip line of the grove trees, and those properties
remained assets of the company, now called Dr. Phillips Inc.
Howard Phillips, Doc’s son, worked closely with a land
planning firm in order to establish the vision of a community
where families would flourish. Through the years, Dr. Phillips
Charities has honored the family’s legacy. Land was set aside
for schools, a fire station and a YMCA. Various religious
denominations were provided support and encouraged to
establish a presence in the area. Spring Lake Park was
developed and continues to be maintained by Dr. Phillips.
Shopping centers and professional office buildings were
joined by a library and daycare center. Orlando Regional
Healthcare (now known as Orlando Health) established a
hospital, recently renamed The Dr. P. Phillips Hospital.
And that is how the Dr. Phillips name – one with a
philanthropic and economic presence in the community since
the turn of the 20th century – came to be synonymous with
Central Florida citrus. From the establishment of one of the
world’s largest citrus businesses, there is now a community
that pays homage to the name of “Dr. Phillips,” and two
distinct funding organizations that continue their support
of Central Florida nonprofits, forging ahead in bettering the
land that Doc Phillips’ vision and entrepreneurial efforts
established as a great place to call home.
Educating Tomorrow’s Industry Leaders
Recently, Dr. Phillips Charities saw an opportunity to build
upon its belief in the importance of private property rights and
the significant economic impact of the real estate industry on
the Central Florida region by enhancing educational
offerings in real estate. Combined with a state match, Dr.
Phillips Inc. donated $2.5 million to create the Dr. P. Phillips
School of Real Estate at the University of Central Florida (UCF)
and establish a $5 million endowment for the Dr. P. Phillips
Institute for Research and Education in Real Estate, the Dr. P.
Phillips scholarship program and the Howard Phillips Eminent
Scholar Chair in Real Estate.
Squeals of delight can be heard daily from
children exploring the new water park
at the Dr. P. Phillips YMCA. As they
experience the “Red Rocket” water slide,
made possible through a grant from
Dr. Phillips Charities, kids are having fun
exercising and spending more quality time
with family and friends.
The School holds the distinction of being only the second
named real estate school in the country. “We believe that our
local support will give us a chance to become a national
leader,” said Dr. Anthony Byrd, director of the Dr. P. Phillips
School of Real Estate. “In the past, local firms had to go to
other universities to recruit real estate graduates. As the only
2
Among the Beneficiaries:
accredited real estate bachelor’s
degree in the area, this program fills
a large gap in Central Florida,”
said Byrd.
Central Florida Young Men’s Christian Association
(YMCA) $2.5 million
A major beneficiary, the Central Florida YMCA impacts the
lives of more than 200,000 kids, teens, adults and seniors each
year. The YMCA funding will be designated in the future for
capital projects.
Randy I. Anderson, Ph.D.
The gift from Dr. Phillips Inc.
prompted the search for an eminent scholar to fill the Howard
Phillips Chair, and in May, the school selected real estate
researcher, investor and strategist, Randy I. Anderson, Ph.D.,
whose national reputation as well as local professional
experience made him an ideal candidate. Anderson’s
company, 1776 Financial Services in Winter Park, provides
debt, mezzanine and equity financing for real estate projects
throughout the U.S.
Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Greater Orlando Inc.
$225,000
Funding of $75,000 per year for three years will cover a
portion of the direct client assistance costs for the expansion
of JFS’s Family Stabilization Program. The expansion will
include the addition of the Christian Service Center and the
Community Service Center of Central Florida in the first year
and the addition of other locations in years two and three.
The program is designed to increase self-sufficiency in low
income families through intensive case management and
education.
As the Eminent Scholar Chair, Anderson will direct the
research and education institute at the school and will
continue to expand and build the school in coming years,
adding innovative research initiatives and hopefully a master’s
program. “We believe the Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate
is well positioned to build a nationally recognized education
and research platform that can deliver well-educated students
to local, national or global real estate communities,”
said Anderson.
BETA Center Inc. $44,588
Funding to hire a new full-time volunteer coordinator/recruiter
and to cover the costs for one year associated with a more
aggressive and effective volunteer program. BETA Center
provides children and parents with the knowledge and support
needed for strong, healthy families with a focus on teen moms
and at-risk families.
Industry Leaders Support School
Local industry leaders have been involved in the School’s
development from the beginning, led by the Central Florida
Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office
Properties (NAIOP), the leading trade association for
developers, owners and other professionals in commercial real
estate. NAIOP members first conceptualized a nationally
renowned real estate program at UCF many years ago and
NAIOP is now a big supporter of the school.
MicheLee Puppets Inc. $19,700
Funding to deliver two educational puppet shows for 17,500
pre-school, kindergarten and first grade students in 70 Orange
and Osceola schools in the 2008-2009 school year. MicheLee
Puppets stages theatrical programs that positively impact the
lives of Florida’s children, providing young people with the
necessary tools to cope with life’s challenges.
“Students are given a unique opportunity to be judged by, and
to interact with, commercial real estate practitioners in the
Central Florida area,” said Terry Delahunty, president of
NAIOP’s local chapter and a partner with Foley & Lardner.
“This rounds out and supplements the academic training they
get at UCF, for a taste of the ‘real world,’ and gives them
access to prospective employers. In turn, NAIOP members get
a chance to see the students in action, and are provided with
a well-trained source of new employees, who have practical
experience in commercial real estate matters.”
Life Concepts Inc. dba Quest Inc. $17,598
Funding to purchase new computer hardware and
software to make Quest’s vocational evaluation program
mobile allowing evaluation of students in high schools
and others in community and home settings. The service
is expected to become self-sustaining, even income
generating, within a year. Quest inspires and empowers
Central Floridians with disabilities by offering choices
and opportunities to learn, live, work and play.
NAIOP is launching a case study competition that will allow
students the opportunity to work with members of NAIOP.
“This is a great opportunity; the symbiotic relationship stands
to benefit all parties,” added Delahunty.
Best Buddies International Inc. $15,000
Funding to establish two new Best Buddies chapters
at Dr. Phillips High School and Ocoee High School.
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
enhancing the lives of people with intellectual
disabilities by providing opportunities for
one-to-one friendships and integrated employment.
The real estate industry represents a significant part of Central
Florida’s growing economy and the Dr. P. Phillips School of
Real Estate at UCF will provide research and advanced
education that will greatly benefit the region.
3
Bishop Grady Villas Inc. $75,000
Pledge if matched dollar-for-dollar for scholarship fund.
Bishop Grady Villas provides a loving, caring, Christian
residential group home for adults (18 years and older) who
are intellectually and developmentally disabled.
Also in August, several organizations received distributions on
previously awarded pledges.
Orlando Performing Arts Center Corporation
$2.5 million
Second payment toward a $25 million pledge for the
Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center.
Orlando Regional Healthcare System Inc. $500,000
Third year payment on pledge of $5 million in support of the
capital needs outlined in its strategic capital campaign.
University of Central Florida Foundation Inc.
$499,999
Final payment toward pledge for the establishment of the
Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate and the Howard Phillips
Eminent Scholar Chair in Real Estate. This final payment will
help fund the establishment of a scholarship fund to assist
students who will become the new generation of real estate
professionals.
Spouse Abuse Inc. (Harbor House, Orange County
Center Against Domestic Violence) $422,127
Payment of pledge to assist with the costs of building and
opening a children’s center that will provide therapeutic and
educational services to 65 children who reside in the
domestic violence shelter every day.
The eagerly
anticipated design of
the Dr. P. Phillips
Orlando Performing
Arts Center was
unveiled with much
fanfare to the general
public on August 22
during a community
open house. The
design team created
a venue that will
shine as Orlando
plays host to
world-class
performances and local performing arts groups. Visit the
center’s Web site at www.OrlandoPAC.org for a preview of
the new building.
4
Hard to believe it’s been almost a year since I left colleagues and clients
at the Akerman Senterfitt law firm to assume leadership of Dr. Phillips
Charities. Having practiced law with the same firm for
more than 30 years, I must admit to being somewhat
apprehensive changing both employers and careers. But
I viewed the Dr. Phillips Charities leadership position as
a unique and exciting opportunity – one in which I
could utilize the real estate knowledge, management
experience and leadership skills developed during my
legal career in a key new position and, at the same time,
work to benefit the community.
With almost a year under my belt, my new job is action-packed and
challenging, but enjoyable and rewarding. I want to share observations
on what I have learned so far. In the interest of space, I have divided
them into two segments – the first, included in this edition, focuses
internally on my predecessor, our staff and our board, and the second,
to be included next time, will focus externally on the local donor
community and highlight some organizations we support.
Dr. Phillips Charities has a long history of
awarding grants to deserving Central Florida
organizations whose work directly touches the
lives of children and families; in particular,
nonprofits that focus on educational programs,
children and youth services, social services,
cultural facilities and events, and health and
rehabilitative programs.
D r.
s
Phillips Charitie
60 West Robinson Street
Orlando, FL 32801
To apply for a grant from Dr. Phillips Charities,
visit the Web site (www.DrPhillips.org) to open
and print the guidelines and application. Pay
particular attention to the dates and time that
applications are due as there are only three
grant cycles annually. For 2009, all deadlines
are at 4 p.m. on: 1/9/09 for April disbursement;
5/8/09 for August disbursement; and, 9/11/09
for November disbursement.
Volume 4, Fall 2008
Innovation in Production and Business
Practices Propelled Phillips Family’s
Citrus Company to National Prominence
When Doc Phillips first arrived in Central Florida, it’s
hard to imagine that he could have foreseen the
tremendous success he would
enjoy in the citrus business.
Rising above the hardships
imposed by Florida’s fickle
weather and by a country
enduring the Great Depression
and World Wars, Doc
Phillips persevered.
First, focusing internally:
1) Jim Hinson, my predecessor, left big shoes to fill! Jim was the face
of Dr. Phillips Charities for so many years and his dedicated effort
and business skill helped build Dr. Phillips Charities into the largest
philanthropic organization in Central Florida benefiting more than
100 local charities. Jim’s career spanned a remarkable 50 years
with the organization and, for the last 20, he led the two-prong
business of the Dr. Phillips Charities – managing assets left by the
Phillips family which today, in addition to traditional stock and bond
investments, includes a portfolio of more than 120 commercial
properties with almost 2 million square feet of rental space that
provides the income and profits to support the paramount business
and mission of Dr. Phillips Charities: ”To help others help
themselves,” by distributing over $7 million annually to Central
Florida nonprofits serving the community.
2) Thankfully, Jim also left highly skilled, professional and caring staff
members and extremely capable, dedicated and hard working board
members for me to work with. The staff of Dr. Phillips Charities
welcomed me openly and made me feel like a long-term member of
the team since day one. They have been invaluable in the transition
and have made my job so much easier. The same is true of our
outside board members who currently include such prominent
business leaders as Jim Ferber, president of the Central Florida
YMCA; Don Ammerman, successful real estate developer and
former city commissioner; Dr. Margaret Miller, retired assistant dean,
College of Education at the University of Central Florida; and Ed
Furey, CFO of Holler Family Great American Land. They spend
countless hours serving the Dr. Phillips Charities by reviewing grant
requests, attending site visits and approving grants; participating in
investment decisions; and serving on board committees; all to the
benefit of not only our organization but the community at large.
[To be continued]
Robert L. Mellen, III
President, Dr. Phillips Charities
Dr. Phillips Inc., a nonprofit corporation,
owns and leases commercial and industrial
properties in the Central Florida area as part
of its investment portfolio. Revenue
generated through leases is used to make
grants in support of local charitable needs.
Dr. Phillips Legacies is produced by the Dr. Phillips Charities, comprised of The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation and Dr. Phillips Inc.
Legacies Through E-mail:
If you would like to receive future issues of the newsletter electronically, please register by sending an e-mail to Legacies@drphillips.org.
Among the properties in its portfolio, Dr.
Phillips Inc. has three office parks located in
the heart of the Dr. Phillips neighborhood
which have both small and medium-sized
office spaces available for rent:
• Professional Office Building at the corner
of Wallace and Dr. Phillips Boulevard;
• Boulevard Professional Center directly
across Dr. Phillips Boulevard from the
Dr. Phillips YMCA; and,
• Village Office Center at the end of
Wallace Road on Apopka-Vineland Road.
They are
conveniently
located near all
Dr. Phillips’
residential
neighborhoods,
shopping areas
and medical
facilities.
Office Building in Dr. Phillips.
Additional
information on all Dr. Phillips’ rental
properties is available on the company’s Web
site, www.drphillips.org, or by calling the
Dr. Phillips leasing office at (407) 422-6105.
AFP Honors Hinson
Former Dr. Phillips Charities leader Jim Hinson has been
honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals
Central Florida Chapter with its H. Clifford Lee Award for
Professional Achievement. The award recognizes his 50 years
of service to the community through his work with Dr. Phillips
and leadership in numerous area civic and charitable causes.
Regional History Center will have the opportunity to step
into Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, sponsored locally by Dr.
Phillips Charities, and experience the “visual thinking” process
of this visionary storyteller. A complementary exhibit will
focus on Central Florida’s puppetry community, including
Heather Henson, Jim Henson’s daughter. More information is
available at www.thehistorycenter.org/exhibits/?art=upcoming.
As part of the local chapter’s observance of the 23rd Annual
National Philanthropy Day, Jim was honored alongside fellow
West Orange leaders Barbara and Bert Roper, who received
the chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and CNL Founder
James Seneff, named Outstanding Philanthropist. Each year,
the Central Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising
Professionals honors donors, volunteers and professionals
whose gifts of time, expertise and resources contribute
significantly to the quality of life in our communities.
Dr. P. Phillips Community Park
Winter hours have gone into effect at the recently opened
Dr. P. Phillips Community Park not far from Apopka-Vineland
Road. The park is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to
6 p.m. The park, located at 8249 Buenavista Woods Blvd.
on the shore of Big Sand Lake, includes opportunities for
picnics, hiking, baseball, basketball and soccer, and features
a playground, rental pavilions and a dog park. Park
information is available by calling (407) 254-9038 or at
www.orangecountyfl.net/dept/cesrvcs/parks/ParkDetails.asp?Pa
rkID=66#.
Exhibit Will Pay Homage to
Jim Henson’s Fantastic World
A critically acclaimed artist, puppeteer, film director and
producer, Jim Henson (1936-1990) is best known for creating
The Muppets© and serving as the voice of many famous
characters, including Kermit the Frog and Ernie. From
February 6 to May 3, 2009, visitors to the Orange County
5
Through hard work and a
keen instinct for business, Doc
Phillips and his son, Howard,
became leaders of the citrus
business in the state of
Florida. Seeing there was a
larger market to serve beyond
Florida, they later flourished
Home office/plant of Dr. Phillips
through the application of
innovative technologies in growing, processing and
distributing citrus.
Improving the Product in a “Flash”
After diversifying his business, and expanding the reach
of Florida citrus, Doc Phillips continued his leadership of
the citrus industry by establishing a canning plant at the
corner of Orange Avenue and Princeton Street. Creating
a patented innovation called “flash” pasteurization, his
citrus company was the first to produce juice without the
Continued on page 2
The Dr. Phillips Legacy Continued . . Pg. 2
Dr. Phillips Legacies Past Editions
If you received this newsletter, but did not receive the first
three issues, the staff at Dr. Phillips will be happy to send
copies to you. Please call (407) 422-6105 or send an e-mail
to Legacies@DrPhillips.org.
School of Real Estate at UCF
to Carry Dr. Phillips Name . . . . . . . . Pg. 3
Awarded Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 4
6
From the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 5
Hard to believe it’s been almost a year since I left colleagues and clients
at the Akerman Senterfitt law firm to assume leadership of Dr. Phillips
Charities. Having practiced law with the same firm for
more than 30 years, I must admit to being somewhat
apprehensive changing both employers and careers. But
I viewed the Dr. Phillips Charities leadership position as
a unique and exciting opportunity – one in which I
could utilize the real estate knowledge, management
experience and leadership skills developed during my
legal career in a key new position and, at the same time,
work to benefit the community.
With almost a year under my belt, my new job is action-packed and
challenging, but enjoyable and rewarding. I want to share observations
on what I have learned so far. In the interest of space, I have divided
them into two segments – the first, included in this edition, focuses
internally on my predecessor, our staff and our board, and the second,
to be included next time, will focus externally on the local donor
community and highlight some organizations we support.
Dr. Phillips Charities has a long history of
awarding grants to deserving Central Florida
organizations whose work directly touches the
lives of children and families; in particular,
nonprofits that focus on educational programs,
children and youth services, social services,
cultural facilities and events, and health and
rehabilitative programs.
D r.
s
Phillips Charitie
60 West Robinson Street
Orlando, FL 32801
To apply for a grant from Dr. Phillips Charities,
visit the Web site (www.DrPhillips.org) to open
and print the guidelines and application. Pay
particular attention to the dates and time that
applications are due as there are only three
grant cycles annually. For 2009, all deadlines
are at 4 p.m. on: 1/9/09 for April disbursement;
5/8/09 for August disbursement; and, 9/11/09
for November disbursement.
Volume 4, Fall 2008
Innovation in Production and Business
Practices Propelled Phillips Family’s
Citrus Company to National Prominence
When Doc Phillips first arrived in Central Florida, it’s
hard to imagine that he could have foreseen the
tremendous success he would
enjoy in the citrus business.
Rising above the hardships
imposed by Florida’s fickle
weather and by a country
enduring the Great Depression
and World Wars, Doc
Phillips persevered.
First, focusing internally:
1) Jim Hinson, my predecessor, left big shoes to fill! Jim was the face
of Dr. Phillips Charities for so many years and his dedicated effort
and business skill helped build Dr. Phillips Charities into the largest
philanthropic organization in Central Florida benefiting more than
100 local charities. Jim’s career spanned a remarkable 50 years
with the organization and, for the last 20, he led the two-prong
business of the Dr. Phillips Charities – managing assets left by the
Phillips family which today, in addition to traditional stock and bond
investments, includes a portfolio of more than 120 commercial
properties with almost 2 million square feet of rental space that
provides the income and profits to support the paramount business
and mission of Dr. Phillips Charities: ”To help others help
themselves,” by distributing over $7 million annually to Central
Florida nonprofits serving the community.
2) Thankfully, Jim also left highly skilled, professional and caring staff
members and extremely capable, dedicated and hard working board
members for me to work with. The staff of Dr. Phillips Charities
welcomed me openly and made me feel like a long-term member of
the team since day one. They have been invaluable in the transition
and have made my job so much easier. The same is true of our
outside board members who currently include such prominent
business leaders as Jim Ferber, president of the Central Florida
YMCA; Don Ammerman, successful real estate developer and
former city commissioner; Dr. Margaret Miller, retired assistant dean,
College of Education at the University of Central Florida; and Ed
Furey, CFO of Holler Family Great American Land. They spend
countless hours serving the Dr. Phillips Charities by reviewing grant
requests, attending site visits and approving grants; participating in
investment decisions; and serving on board committees; all to the
benefit of not only our organization but the community at large.
[To be continued]
Robert L. Mellen, III
President, Dr. Phillips Charities
Dr. Phillips Inc., a nonprofit corporation,
owns and leases commercial and industrial
properties in the Central Florida area as part
of its investment portfolio. Revenue
generated through leases is used to make
grants in support of local charitable needs.
Dr. Phillips Legacies is produced by the Dr. Phillips Charities, comprised of The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation and Dr. Phillips Inc.
Legacies Through E-mail:
If you would like to receive future issues of the newsletter electronically, please register by sending an e-mail to Legacies@drphillips.org.
Among the properties in its portfolio, Dr.
Phillips Inc. has three office parks located in
the heart of the Dr. Phillips neighborhood
which have both small and medium-sized
office spaces available for rent:
• Professional Office Building at the corner
of Wallace and Dr. Phillips Boulevard;
• Boulevard Professional Center directly
across Dr. Phillips Boulevard from the
Dr. Phillips YMCA; and,
• Village Office Center at the end of
Wallace Road on Apopka-Vineland Road.
They are
conveniently
located near all
Dr. Phillips’
residential
neighborhoods,
shopping areas
and medical
facilities.
Office Building in Dr. Phillips.
Additional
information on all Dr. Phillips’ rental
properties is available on the company’s Web
site, www.drphillips.org, or by calling the
Dr. Phillips leasing office at (407) 422-6105.
AFP Honors Hinson
Former Dr. Phillips Charities leader Jim Hinson has been
honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals
Central Florida Chapter with its H. Clifford Lee Award for
Professional Achievement. The award recognizes his 50 years
of service to the community through his work with Dr. Phillips
and leadership in numerous area civic and charitable causes.
Regional History Center will have the opportunity to step
into Jim Henson’s Fantastic World, sponsored locally by Dr.
Phillips Charities, and experience the “visual thinking” process
of this visionary storyteller. A complementary exhibit will
focus on Central Florida’s puppetry community, including
Heather Henson, Jim Henson’s daughter. More information is
available at www.thehistorycenter.org/exhibits/?art=upcoming.
As part of the local chapter’s observance of the 23rd Annual
National Philanthropy Day, Jim was honored alongside fellow
West Orange leaders Barbara and Bert Roper, who received
the chapter’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and CNL Founder
James Seneff, named Outstanding Philanthropist. Each year,
the Central Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising
Professionals honors donors, volunteers and professionals
whose gifts of time, expertise and resources contribute
significantly to the quality of life in our communities.
Dr. P. Phillips Community Park
Winter hours have gone into effect at the recently opened
Dr. P. Phillips Community Park not far from Apopka-Vineland
Road. The park is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to
6 p.m. The park, located at 8249 Buenavista Woods Blvd.
on the shore of Big Sand Lake, includes opportunities for
picnics, hiking, baseball, basketball and soccer, and features
a playground, rental pavilions and a dog park. Park
information is available by calling (407) 254-9038 or at
www.orangecountyfl.net/dept/cesrvcs/parks/ParkDetails.asp?Pa
rkID=66#.
Exhibit Will Pay Homage to
Jim Henson’s Fantastic World
A critically acclaimed artist, puppeteer, film director and
producer, Jim Henson (1936-1990) is best known for creating
The Muppets© and serving as the voice of many famous
characters, including Kermit the Frog and Ernie. From
February 6 to May 3, 2009, visitors to the Orange County
5
Through hard work and a
keen instinct for business, Doc
Phillips and his son, Howard,
became leaders of the citrus
business in the state of
Florida. Seeing there was a
larger market to serve beyond
Florida, they later flourished
Home office/plant of Dr. Phillips
through the application of
innovative technologies in growing, processing and
distributing citrus.
Improving the Product in a “Flash”
After diversifying his business, and expanding the reach
of Florida citrus, Doc Phillips continued his leadership of
the citrus industry by establishing a canning plant at the
corner of Orange Avenue and Princeton Street. Creating
a patented innovation called “flash” pasteurization, his
citrus company was the first to produce juice without the
Continued on page 2
The Dr. Phillips Legacy Continued . . Pg. 2
Dr. Phillips Legacies Past Editions
If you received this newsletter, but did not receive the first
three issues, the staff at Dr. Phillips will be happy to send
copies to you. Please call (407) 422-6105 or send an e-mail
to Legacies@DrPhillips.org.
School of Real Estate at UCF
to Carry Dr. Phillips Name . . . . . . . . Pg. 3
Awarded Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 4
6
From the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pg. 5