People and organizations who have made significant contributions to development in Jacksonville’s urban core neighborhoods were recognized last week at the inaugural LISC Jacksonville Community Development Awards Celebration.
Those honored by the Jacksonville affiliate of Local Initiatives Support Corp. were:
• Delores Barr Weaver received the Igniter Award for serving as a catalyst for urban neighborhood revitalization. She pioneered the renewal of a Northwest Riverside neighborhood through the condominium conversion of John Gorrie Junior High School.
• The Building Block Award went to First Coast YMCA for advancing the urban core community through a redevelopment project. The organization contributed to the redevelopment of Brooklyn by building the Winston Family YMCA.
• Edward Waters College was selected for the EPIC Award for enhancing the community and providing leadership and resources for the revitalization of the New Town neighborhood and Kings Road commercial corridor.
• Black Sheep Restaurant Group received the Champion of Main Street Award for advocacy and leadership in strengthening Jacksonville’s urban core communities, focusing on reviving commercial activity. The group serves as a major catalyst in the renewal of Five Points.
• Mayor Lenny Curry, City Council member Garrett Dennis and the Eureka Garden Tenants Association received the Power of Community Award for bringing together diverse voices to improve the neighborhood. They helped transform the living conditions for more than 800 residents in Eureka Garden Apartments, one of the city’s most challenged urban housing developments.
For more information, visit liscjax.org.
Salvation Army sets record for annual turkey drive
Casey Jones, local survivor of the “Miracle on the Hudson” airliner crash in 2009, delivered 510 turkeys to The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida’s Towers Center of Hope.
For the past seven years, Jones has made it his mission to have a turkey drive for the nonprofit’s distribution to families. This year, he exceeded his previous record of 322 turkeys, which he set in 2014.
Media attention from “Sully,” the motion picture about the plane crash, combined with Jones creating a GoFundMe account for the drive for the first time resulted in the record-setting donation.
More than 1,200 Thanksgiving baskets were distributed to families Tuesday at The Towers Center of Hope.
In addition to Jones’ turkeys, Sonny’s BBQ provided 700 turkeys through its annual Hope for the Holidays in-store promotion and businesses, schools and civic organizations collected canned food, which was included in the gifts.
$2.3M for veterans from Southeastern Grocers and customers
With contributions from customers and associates, Southeastern Grocers and the company’s foundation, donated more than $2.3 million to Hope For The Warriors.
The nonprofit connects service members, veterans and military families focused on transition, health and wellness and peer engagement with community resources.
Southeastern Grocers is the parent company of Bi-Lo, Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie.
During the two-week Veterans Wall of Honor program, customers could buy a $1 dedication card and write a message to a military hero.
The cards were placed on displays at each store as tributes to those who served and continue to serve.
Established in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a sense of self, family and hope for post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families.
For information, visit hopeforthewarriors.org or the organization’s Facebook or Twitter pages.
MBF Champions golf tourney Monday
The MBF Champions for Child Safety Pro Am golf tournament, hosted by the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, is Monday at The Palencia Club in St. Augustine.
This is the foundation’s 19th annual tournament and will offer the opportunity to play with professional golfers, including honorary chairs Fred Funk, Jim Furyk and Mark McCumber.
Proceeds support MBF Child Safety Matters, a school-based prevention program that provides information and strategies to prevent bullying, cyberbullying and child abuse.
The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. Sunday with a pairings party sponsored by Heritage Capital Group.
A jewelry trunk show by designer Dao Fournier will help with holiday shopping needs, courtesy of Underwood Jewelers.
The tournament will tee off at 10 a.m. Monday.
Foursomes are $7,000 or single players may register for $1,750 at mbfchildsafetymatters.org.
For information about sponsorship or team opportunities, contact Tammy Long at [email protected] or (904) 562-1849.
Three local nonprofits receive grants from Florida Blue Foundation
Programs such as using Uber to transport people to doctor appointments and helping consumers take control of their health earned 10 Florida nonprofits, including three from North Florida, a share of $2.5 million from the Florida Blue Foundation.
Community Hospice of Northeast Florida was awarded $300,000 to partner with Flagler Hospital to provide services for 400 underserved end-of-life patients who are not eligible for hospice.
The Florida Department of Health in Duval County received $289,000 for a project to increase awareness among children and their parents about the link between mental health, nutrition and wellness.
St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation was awarded $89,983 to expand St. Vincent’s Mobile Health Outreach Senior HUD Housing program to a retirement community in Putnam County serving 76 residents who are struggling to remain independent.
Young collectors preview art and antiques show
The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital recently hosted a successful Young Collectors’ Party.
Presented by BB&T and Scott & Stringfellow, about 120 guests gathered at Bar X to preview the Art & Antiques Show’s 1970s theme and raise money for Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Food was catered by Bistro X, Il Desco and Ovinte.
Led by chairs Holly Hepler and Megan O’Steen, the event raised awareness of the work of the board among supporters age 40 and under. Many Young Collectors are second- and third-generation Women’s Board members.
Presented by the Women’s Board, the 40th anniversary show is Dec. 2-4 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
Tickets are available at artandantiquesshow.com, by phone at (904) 202-2886 or by email at [email protected].
For more information, visit artandantiquesshow.com.
Players visits North Shore Elementary School
PGA Tour golfer Jim Furyk, Duval County School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti and The Players Championship staff visited North Shore Elementary School to learn about its improvement in academics and the impact City Year and its AmeriCorps members have on the school.
The Players funds the City Year AmeriCorps math intervention team at the school.
City Year works to bridge the gap in high-poverty communities between the support that students need and what their schools are able to provide.
AmeriCorps members commit to a year of full-time service in schools, where they tutor students, provide support in classrooms and organize initiatives to improve school culture.
Furyk delivered The First Tee golf equipment to the school and tournament volunteers surprised the students with the donation of a new Imagination Playground.
The Players will return to the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass May 9-14. More information is available at theplayerschampionship.com.