From left, Bruce Vineyard Jr., Lynn Vineyard Miller and Philip Vineyard II.
The Vineyard Family Foundation is Florida IPRD’ s largest private benefactor following endowed gift
By Bob Thomas FSU College of Medicine
There are three common pillars connecting the Vineyard family’ s three siblings: philanthropy, children and families, and Florida State University.
The beneficiary of that triad is the FSU College of Medicine, thanks to a $ 1.25 million charitable gift from The Vineyard Family Foundation, establishing an Endowed Chair in Pediatric Medical Research and an Endowed Professorship in Pediatrics in its name.
Beyond funding from the state of Florida, driven by Rep. Adam Anderson, the Vineyards are the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Disease’ s largest single benefactor.
Philip Vineyard II, president of the Vineyard Family Foundation, sister Lynn Vineyard Miller and younger brother, Bruce Vineyard Jr. share an affinity for FSU as alumni. Their third-generation philanthropic interests were passed down from Chicago natives and brothers Philip and Vernon Vineyard, who were initial investors in McDonald’ s, thanks to their friendship with the fast-food franchise magnate Ray Kroc. It was Kroc who emphasized the importance of community engagement, which was embraced by Bruce Sr. Throughout his 64-year career with McDonald’ s, he gave generously to various charities in St. Petersburg and Jacksonville, Florida, as well as Atlanta.
60 FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY | COLLEGE OF MEDICINE