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. Email 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.
New playroom at Wolfson Children's Hospital
The Players Championship on Thursday displayed the new golf-themed playroom on the third floor of the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Tower at Wolfson Children's Hospital.
The room provides a respite for children receiving treatment at the hospital and their families.
Attending the ribbon cutting and celebration were PGA Tour golfer Jim Furyk and his wife, Tabitha, tournament Executive Director Matt Rapp, hospital President Michael Aubin and The Players' Red Coats, the tournament's volunteer leadership.
"A playroom serves as an escape, giving patients who can't leave the hospital an opportunity to forget about doctors and treatments for a while and just be a child," said 2012 Tournament Chairman Curtis Hazel.
The playroom is on the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit floor and features a putting green and wall mural of the 17th hole of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
The Players has a longstanding benefactor relationship with the hospital.
In 2011, Wolfson Children's Hospital established The Players Center for Child Health, made possible by a leading gift of $1 million from The Players.
The Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation also supports the hospital and Tabitha Furyk serves on the board of trustees for Baptist Health Foundation.
The hospital tour by the Furyks and the unveiling of the playroom was the first in a series of events during The Players 2012 Giving Back Month.
Each year, money generated by the tournament benefits more than 300 charities throughout Northeast Florida, totaling more than $46 million since the event moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977.
Grant for children with disabilities
The Jacksonville Speech & Hearing Center received a $200,000 grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation Inc. The two-year grant allows the center to screen and treat uninsured and underserved preschool children with speech and language disabilities in Duval County.
"Early intervention with speech/hearing assistance is necessary to equip these children for success before entering the school system. The support from the foundation will positively impact numerous lives in our community," said Bill McQuilkin, executive director of the center.
For 63 years, the center has provided audiology and speech and language services to about 4,000 children, adults and seniors annually.
The foundation's Improving Access to Health Care program grants are awarded to diverse, philanthropic, community-based solutions that improve program capacity and reduce barriers to access, among other factors.
"With these investments, we're targeting our resources to the communities that need them most," said Susan Towler, foundation vice president.
Mentoring program for students
The Jacksonville Port Authority has partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida and Jean Ribault High School to launch Beyond School Walls, a workplace-mentoring partnership that pairs 21 port employees with students for one-on-one mentoring.
The pairs will meet biweekly throughout the school year at the port's main offices.
The program is an extension of the school-based version of the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program, except that students travel from school to the business to meet with mentors.
This partnership provides students a steady mentor and brings them to a positive work environment, where they learn about new career paths and life goals.
"We are extremely thankful for the participants at JaxPort for joining Comcast, The Haskell Company, Mayo Clinic and JPMorgan Chase who have all become our workplace mentoring partners," said Warren Grymes, local Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO.
To learn more about the organization and mentoring program, visit bbbsnefl.org.
Food donations needed
The Landing and Second Harvest North Florida have teamed to fight hunger.
Donations of nonperishable food items may be dropped off at the Landing next to Coastal Cookies from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Friday this month. Collected items will help the nonprofit's effort to stop hunger in Jacksonville.
The Landing will offer each individual who donates a spin on its prize wheel. Prizes include Landing merchandise, restaurant and Landing gift certificates, food items and more.
Benefit concert at Underbelly
A local benefit concert organized by the Ronan School of Music generated a $900 donation to Family Support Services of North Florida, the lead agency for foster care, adoption and family preservation in Duval and Nassau counties.
Darren Ronan, professional musician and owner of the Ronan School of Music, staged the Oct. 20 benefit concert at Underbelly, a live music venue Downtown, to support the agency.