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 believe would be of interest to our readers. Email to: [email protected]. We encourage our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they continue to provide much-needed services with reduced resources.
Clara White Mission receives $95,000 grant
In honor of what would have been automotive pioneer and philanthropist Jim Moran's 95th birthday Aug. 8, The Jim Moran Foundation awarded two $95,000 grants to the Clara White Mission in Jacksonville and the Jubilee Center of South Broward in Hollywood.
The funding will support the organization's soup kitchen programs and other services for homeless and hungry people. Every year, the foundation celebrates Moran's life with "Founder's Day" grants, one in North Florida and one in South Florida.
"Growing up in the Great Depression, my husband knew what it was like to be a young boy whose family had to scrimp and save to put food on the table and make hard decisions on what they could buy and what would have to wait until the next paycheck," said Jan Moran, chairman and president of foundation.
"Jim would be happy that we are helping families and individuals meet the demands of day to day living by not only providing wholesome, hot meals but also connecting them with support systems, job training and other resources that will help create stability and hope for brighter futures," she said.
The Clara White Mission was founded in 1904 but traces its history back to the 1880s when former slave Clara White fed hungry neighbors out of her Jacksonville home.
Today the organization serves about 145,000 hot meals a year in addition to providing comprehensive services through its drop-in day center, transitional housing, vocational training and job placement programs for low-income or homeless people and veterans.
"This timely and amazing grant celebrating Jim Moran's birthday will allow the Clara White Mission an opportunity to continue to improve and affect the quality of life for the homeless and hungry in our community," said Ju'Coby Pittman, CEO and president of the Clara White Mission.
The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of programs and opportunities that meet the needs of the community. The foundation has invested more than $40 million in education, elder care, family strengthening, after school and youth transitional living initiatives since its inception in 2000 with efforts focused in Duval, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
To learn more, visit jimmoranfoundation.org or call (954) 429-2122.
'Community Harvest' at The Columbia Restaurant
The Northeast Florida community can help support Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, the only locally based children's wish-granting organization, by dining at The Columbia Restaurant in St. Augustine in September.
As part of the 16th annual "Community Harvest" program, the restaurant will donate 5 percent of all lunch and dinner checks, in the form of gift certificates, to the charitable organizations chosen by customers. Dreams Come True will be listed as one of the participating charities at the St. Augustine restaurant.
For more information, visit columbiarestaurant.com.
"We started this program in 1998 as a way to help many of the worthy nonprofit groups that are so important to our communities," said Richard Gonzmart, president of Columbia Restaurant.
In the past 15 years, The Columbia Restaurant Community Harvest has donated more than $1.3 million to nonprofit organizations throughout Florida.
Last year, Dreams Come True received more than $2,500 in restaurant gift certificates as part of the program. The awarded gift certificates were given to dream families and used at fundraising events for Dreams Come True.
Founded in 1984, Dreams Come True has made dreams a reality for more than 3,000 children in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. Dreams Come True directs 100 percent of all donations, unless otherwise specified, to the dreams of children battling life-threatening illnesses. For more information about Dreams Come True, visit dreamscometrue.org or call (904) 296-3030.
'Raise Your Glass for the Fallen' Sept. 11
The Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation will be hosting "Raise your Glass for the Fallen" at Whisky River in the St. Johns Town Center from 5-8 p.m. Sept. 11. Whisky River will be offering food and drink specials to benefit the foundation, along with giveaways and raffles.
"Raise Your Glass for the Fallen" is a new initiative of community events scheduled throughout 2013 and 2014 to raise funds and spread awareness about the foundation. Their mission is to ensure a debt-free college education for military children who lost a parent while on active duty.
Each event will include special pricing on food and drinks, raffles and prize giveaways that have been donated by local businesses. Every dollar they raise through the public goes directly toward the Children of Fallen Patriots Grant Program. The organization's board donates money to cover the administrative and fundraising costs.
For more information, call (904) 372-9467 or visit fallenpatriots.org.
With an office in Jacksonville Beach, the foundation's mission is to provide college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty before and after Sept. 11. The organization's vision is to ensure a debt-free education to those.
Call (866) 917-2373 for information about enrolling in the program.
Clay County builders host golf tournament
The Clay Builders Council will host its 26th annual Charity Golf Tournament on Sept. 13 at The Golf Club at Fleming Island. The event begins with lunch at 11:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit Clay County charities.
"Our members and guests look forward each year to participating in the Clay Council's annual Charity Golf Tournament," said Northeast Florida Builders Association President Dennis Ginder, president of Landon Homes.
"This is a wonderful way for our members to come together for a great day of golf while doing something positive that touches others' lives," he said.
The cost is $100 per player and includes lunch, dinner, drink tickets and range balls.
Sponsors include Dream Finders Homes and Kirk's Framing. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from $150 to $800.
For more information about the tournament or sponsorship opportunities, contact Clayton Bailey at the builders association office at (904) 725-4355 or [email protected].
The Clay Builders Council is a council of NEFBA for builders, remodelers and other companies who have an interest in the construction industry, specifically in Clay County.
El Pescado Billfish Tournament scheduled Oct. 17-19
The Jacksonville-area Lexus dealers present Monique Burr Foundation's 25th annual two-day El Pescado Billfish Tournament Oct. 17-19 at Camachee Cove Marina in St. Augustine.
Proceeds will benefit the Monique Burr Foundation for Children Inc. and its mission to provide bullying and child abuse prevention education to children in Florida.
In conjunction with the tournament, the foundation will host the fifth annual Fish-N-Chips Marina Casino event Oct. 19, which will include casino-style games.
The captain's dinner is at 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Camachee Cove Marina.
Boats depart at 5:30 a.m. Oct. 18 and 19 from the marina. The first lines will be cast at 8:30 a.m.
Entry fee is $2,450 per boat and $1,000 for boats in the 40-foot-and-under division. Discount rates of $2,250 and $900, respectively, are available before Oct. 1.
Tickets for the casino event will be sold separately at $75 each, including cocktails, dinner, casino-style games and chips.
More information is available at elpescadobillfish.com.