Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is helping veterans adjust to life after combat with the support of a man’s best friend.
In conjunction with the foundation’s month-long K9s For Warriors fundraiser, the organization benefits from an additional $25,000 grant. The funds will be matched as part of the Operation Orion campaign to support the construction of a new service-dog training campus in Nocatee.
K9s For Warriors is a Jacksonville-based nonprofit that trains and donates service dogs to American veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries.
The organization’s mission resonates with Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation’s military guideline, benefiting military nonprofits and directly supporting the men and women who have served in any branch of the United States Uniformed Services.
“So many veterans suffer in silence with PTSD, and the dogs provided give these brave men and women the confidence to get back to their daily lives,” said Denise Foster, community initiatives director for K9s For Warriors.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from PTSD and have a traumatic brain injury.
At no cost to veterans, K9s For Warriors helps military men and women return to civilian life by providing them with specially trained service dogs, 95 percent of which are rescued from shelters.
St. Johns Riverkeeper, Humane Society benefit from chocolate sales
Peterbrooke Chocolatier is giving back this summer by launching a philanthropic program, Peterbrooke Promise.
The first program, through Sunday will raise funds for St. Johns Riverkeeper and the Jacksonville Humane Society.
Customers will receive 15 percent off their purchase of select items and Peterbrooke will donate a matching contribution of 15 percent to the charity of the customer’s choice.
“Peterbrooke Promise is an important new initiative for Peterbrooke to give back on multiple levels. We know Peterbrooke Promise will inspire our stores and customers to give back to their communities,” said Andy Stenson, vice president of marketing for Peterbrooke.
Peterbrooke Chocolatier was founded in 1983. The first shop was opened in San Marco; 31 years later, there are more than 24 locations in the Southeast.
For more information, visit peterbrooke.com or contact Stenson at (904) 482-1949.
New partners for local foodbank
Feeding Northeast Florida has announced that BJ’s, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart and Winn-Dixie have signed on as partners to provide food to the nonprofit for 12 months.
“As Jacksonville’s hometown grocer, no issue touches our hearts more than hunger, which is why we’re proud to offer our food to Feeding Northeast Florida in support of the mission of fighting hunger in the greater Jacksonville area,” said Brian
Wright, Winn-Dixie’s vice president of communications and community.
Feeding Northeast Florida recently opened a 21,000-square-foot food storage and distribution warehouse on Edgewood Avenue in Jacksonville to serve 17 counties in Northeast Florida.
Feeding Northeast Florida, which has taken over the role previously handled by Second Harvest North Florida, is responsible for collecting food donations, inspecting them in the warehouse to ensure they are safe and distributing them to more than 90 nonprofit, religious and civic organizations that provide food assistance to those in
need.
It is estimated that more than 16 percent of the residents in the 17 counties are food-insecure.
The new agency’s biggest needs are for cash donations and volunteers.
To learn more about how to help fight hunger in Northeast Florida, visit feedingnefl.org or call (904) 655-9684.
School supplies needed for Children of Fallen Patriots
The team at Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation is preparing for the new school year by starting its school backpack program.
The foundation donates backpacks filled with school supplies to the 165 college freshman who received Children of Fallen Patriots Scholarships and several children identified to receive the scholarship in the future.
The backpack program was established to ensure military dependent children who have lost a parent in the line of duty can enjoy a smooth launch to their college careers.
Citibank has volunteered to donate the school supplies that will fill the bags and ship them to each individual scholarship recipient.
A number of Citibank employees have volunteered to lend a hand by hosting an internal drive to fill the bags at their headquarters.
The bags include school supplies, personal items and cards of encouragement, written by the Citibank volunteers to give the students recognition.
The foundation has a donation page at fallenpatriots.org to allow the public to donate school supplies to scholarship recipients. A tax-deductible donation of $99 can equip one scholar with a backpack.
Headquartered in Jacksonville Beach, Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation’s mission is to provide college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.
If you are a child who has lost a parent in the line of duty, or if you have a child and have lost a spouse in the line of duty, contact Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation at (866) 917-2373 for information on how to enroll in the program.
Benefit film screening for Rethreaded Aug. 7
Rethreaded, a local nonprofit that believes every individual can experience self-worth and value to change the world, will be presenting its quarterly Freedom Film Series Aug. 7.
The film “Sex and Money” will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Sun-Ray Cinema, 1028 Park St. in Five Points.
The documentary is about domestic minor sex trafficking and the modern-day abolitionist movement fighting to stop it. Since September 2009, the makers of the film have traveled to 30 states and conducted more than 75 interviews with federal agents, victims, politicians, activists and psychologists.
“Sex and Money” provides information and awareness regarding the sex trade and human trafficking in the United States. Ticket sales from the screening will provide training to new Rethreaded employees.
In 2013, Rethreaded received the top award given at One Spark, which was voted on by the people of Jacksonville.
There will be an opportunity to view Rethreaded’s featured up-cycled product, the Grace Scarf, made by the women in Jacksonville.
The Grace Scarf, along with other merchandise sold by Rethreaded, will be on display for attendees to browse and purchase after the documentary.
Tickets for Freedom Movie Night are $10 per person and available for purchase online, at Sun-Ray Cinema at goo.gl/RKlSEH.
Goodwill Industries, Take Stock in Children partner
Goodwill Industries of Northeast Florida, Florida State College at Jacksonville and Take Stock in Children have joined forces to increase opportunities in post-secondary education for low-income students in Duval County.
Take Stock is the first of two college access programs that Goodwill will fund, creating an approach that supports the entire family.
With the collaboration, Goodwill has matched Take Stock in Children’s operational funding. In addition, Goodwill will provide administrative support, office space, information technology and marketing support.
“Each agency values the expertise of the others and understands how the combination of all three provides a safety net of services that completes the cycle of transformative education and employment for those in the community with the greatest needs,” said Robert Thayer, CEO of Goodwill Industries of North Florida.
In 2013, Goodwill Job Junctions assisted 12,500 people in securing employment in North Florida.
“Many of these jobs are entry level with wages that aren’t family sustainable. Goodwill has committed to investing in programs that provide access to post-
secondary education for low-income and underserved populations to elevate the number of individuals who have a marketable skill and can earn higher wages,” said Leah Lynch, director of Take Stock in Children Duval County.
For more information, visit takestockinschildren.org.
Sulzbacher Center hires new chef
Sulzbacher Center has selected Kurt D’Aurizio as its new executive chef and kitchen manager.
He has more than 20 years of culinary experience as a chef, a successful business owner and the executive chef and leader in fine dining establishments.
D’Aurizio, while working in Myrtle Beach, S.C., created and promoted the annual nonprofit food and wine festival, Coastal Uncorked.
“Kurt has a wealth of experience in the culinary field and we are so fortunate he’s agreed to lead our culinary efforts. We know with his help we will be able to provide even more healthy and nutritious meals to hungry members of our community,” said Cindy Funkhouser, president and CEO of Sulzbacher Center.