from staff
Highlighting Jacksonville’s Philanthropic Community
As our community continues to face a tight economy and shrinking budgets, the Daily Record has established this page that will each week chronicle the efforts of local nonprofit organizations. Bailey Publishing & Communications invites all members of the local nonprofit community to submit news, announcements, success stories and any other information they feel would be of interest to our readers. E-mail to: [email protected].
We also encourage our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they try to continue to provide valuable services with reduced resources.
Wachovia executive joins Dignity U Wear
Jim Boyle, senior vice president and Community Bank president of the Northeast Florida Region for Wachovia, has joined the Board of Directors of Dignity U Wear, the Jacksonville-based, national nonprofit that provides brand new clothing to men, women and children in need. The announcement was made by Parker McCrary, Board president.
Boyle is responsible for all retail banking operations in the Northeast Florida Region which consists of 435 employees and close to $3 billion in deposits, encompassing 44 retail stores in Clay, St. Johns, Flagler, Seminole and Volusia counties.
Boyle has been with the bank since he started his financial services and retail banking career in 1982 and has held his current position since 2004.
“We are pleased to have someone with Jim’s background and expertise join our Board of Directors,” said McCrary. “As we move to become more strategic in the acquisition and utilization of our inventory and resources, I expect Jim to play an important role in the evolution of our organization.”
Dignity U Wear distributes brand new clothing it receives from apparel manufacturers, distributors and retailers through a network of nonprofit social service agencies throughout the United States. The organization specializes in receiving, warehousing and distributing brand new clothing to people in need at absolutely no cost to them. Since it was founded in 2000, the organization has provided more than 5.7 million pieces, valued at $101 million, to more than 390,000 people. For more information, visit www.dignityuwear.org.
Kites help kids in hospice
Moe’s Southwest Grill is helping raise money and awareness for children in Northeast Florida with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. During October, Moe’s patrons can purchase a Community PedsCare kite by adding a dollar or more to their meal purchase. The contributions will help area children being cared for by Community PedsCare, the pediatric palliative and hospice care program of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida.
Established in 2000 by Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, in collaboration with Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Clinic and the University of Florida, Community PedsCare offers in-hospital and in-home medical, nursing, psychosocial, spiritual, volunteer and other services to support, comfort and care for children and their families. Most Community PedsCare services are not reimbursed by insurance and are provided without charge to patients’ families. Charitable gifts and fundraising events help provide funding for this care.
“Community PedsCare provides an invaluable support service for families facing tremendous medical hardship and suffering. We are honored and grateful that we and our customers can support Community PedsCare’s outstanding programs. Our customers’ generous contributions will benefit this excellent organization and the wonderful families it serves,” said Brad Chasteen, president and CEO of Welcome to Moe’s, Inc.
“One day of care for a child with a life-threatening condition costs about $200, and currently there are about 100 children in the Community PedsCare program,” said Terry Eason, director of Community PedsCare. “The generous support of Moe’s and its customers not only provides the much-needed funding, it creates additional awareness about the availability of this specialized care. We would not be able to provide the care our families need without this kind of community support.”
Established in 1979 as the first hospice program in Northeast Florida, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida helps nearly 900 patients live better with advanced illness each day in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties through the support of approximately 700 employees and 900 volunteers. The nonprofit organization has served more than 53,000 children and adults, at home, in long term care facilities, hospitals and through four inpatient care centers throughout Jacksonville. Community Hospice Foundation generates philanthropic and community support for patient care services, family needs and community programs such as Community PedsCare, a pediatric palliative and hospice program. No one is ever denied care due to an inability to pay. To learn more about the support and services of Community Hospice, visit www.communityhospice.com.
Tournament winner donates back to charity
More than $76,000 was raised during the Monique Burr Foundation for Children’s 21st Annual El Pescado Billfish Tournament and Fish-N-Chips Marina Casino event at Camachee Cove in St. Augustine. During the tournament, 103 sailfish were released by 27 fishing teams, resulting in more than $136,000 awarded in prize money. The highlight of the event came when the first place team, Lor-A-Di, received its winnings and trophy and then donated $25,000 back to the foundation.
“We believe this tournament should be about giving back to the foundation for the tremendous work it does to prevent and educate children about abuse of all kinds,” said Sammy Vaughn, owner of the Lor-A-Di, which is the only team to win the tournament three times. “My wife Diane and I donated the money to the foundation this year in honor of my brother, Jimmy Vaughn, who was a longtime member of the Northeast Florida Marlin Association and was instrumental in founding the ‘Corporate Challenge’ offshore fishing tournament whose goal was to raise money for the club’s different charities.”
The two-day El Pescado tournament was held at Camachee Cove at the Marlin Club in St. Augustine, Fla. The Lor-A-Di, owned by Sammy Vaughn and led by Captain Ty Moore, won 1st Place Overall Team with a total purse of $82,725. Outlaw, owned and led by Captain Neil Subin, took 2nd Place Overall Team, and Grand Slam, owned by Wallis Higginbotham and led by Captain John Loyd, won 3rd Place Overall Team.
Additional awards included the Top Angler, which went to Jim Vaughn of the Floridian, and Top Junior Angler, which was awarded to Skyler Wichers of Boneshaker. Vaughn will be invited to the World Billfish Series Championship in Los Suenos, Costa Rica, in December and the International Game Fish Association Offshore World Championship event in Cabo San Lucas.
In conjunction with the 21st Annual El Pescado Billfish Tournament, the Monique Burr Foundation hosted the first Fish-N-Chips Marina Casino event, which drew 400 attendees and included Texas hold ‘em, blackjack, roulette and slots as well as the unique “Ladies Tackle Box” featuring shopping opportunities with local artists who support the Monique Burr Foundation for Children.
“During the past three years of this event, we have raised more than $260,000 for the Monique Burr Foundation for Children,” said Dennis Rosa, co-director of the tournament. “It is because of the generous support of our teams, sponsors and guests that we were able to continue to raise money of this magnitude for the foundation. I invite everyone to get ready for next year’s event, which will be from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, and help us in our cause to prevent child abuse throughout Florida.”
All proceeds from the fishing tournament and Fish-N-Chips Marina Casino event benefit the Monique Burr Foundation for Children.
The Monique Burr Foundation for Children was created as a nonprofit organization in 1997 to honor the late Monique Burr, a tireless advocate for children and their needs. The foundation’s mission is to provide hope in the lives of children by providing training and education to prevent and reduce the rate of abuse among children throughout Northeast Florida.
In 2008, the foundation reached more than 20,000 children with its advocacy programs, including the Good Touch Bad Touch program, and since its inception has donated more than $2 million to child-serving agencies in the region. Currently, the foundation reaches children in 94 of the 107 public elementary schools in Duval County in addition to several private and Catholic schools in the area. It is expanding its reach to include Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties. The foundation also works in close partnership with agencies serving children whose primary focus is preventing abuse of children.
For more information about the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, call 642-0210 or visit www.moniqueburrfoundation.org.
Wachovia Wells Fargo funds program at mission
The Clara White Mission is pleased to announce the receipt of a $10,000 contribution from the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation in support of the Mission’s feeding program.
The Clara White Mission is a one-stop community development center that restores lives through job training, housing initiatives, daily meals and cultural awareness. Last year, the Mission served more than 150,000 meals to persons experiencing homelessness and financial crises.
Oct. 1 the City of Jacksonville reduced the budget for the Clara White Mission’s daily meals program by $14,000. The support received from Wachovia Wells Fargo will allow the program to continue. The meals program has been in operation in Jacksonville since 1904.
The mission of the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation is to build strong and vibrant communities, improve the quality of life, and make a positive difference.
For more information call the Clara White Mission at 354-4162 or visit www.clarawhitemission.org.