While proceeds from the 26.2 with Donna marathon’s 10th anniversary race weekend won’t be finalized for a few weeks, there still is an opportunity to contribute to the cause.
Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver are continuing the effort to raise money for the Donna Foundation by issuing a new Weaver Challenge for 2017.
The Weavers will match pledges through March 31 dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000 to help the foundation provide financial assistance to those living with breast cancer.
Since the challenge began in 2011, the Weavers have donated $500,000 to the organization.
Contributions may be made online at breastcancermarathon.com or via check mailed to The Donna Foundation at 11762 Marco Beach Drive, Suite 6, Jacksonville, 32224.
The 2018 Donna Marathon Weekend is Feb. 9-11. Registration opens May 22.
Wounded Warrior enlists 100,000th vet
Jacksonville-based Wounded Warrior Project reached a milestone by registering its 100,000th post-9/11 injured veteran.
While the number is a significant landmark, it also symbolizes the need for services for a generation of wounded veterans is great — and growing, according to a news release.
The organization was founded in a Virginia basement in 2003 with the goal of providing comfort to injured men and women as they returned from war.
Over the past 14 years, thousands of backpacks have been delivered to hospital bedsides, providing clothing, toiletries and other personal items.
The organization also serves injured veterans with free programs and services funded by donations from the public.
In 2016, Wounded Warrior’s career and benefits counseling resulted in more than $175 million in economic impact to injured veterans and their families.
To learn about programs, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.
Guns N’ Hoses selects junior ring announcer
Connor Bennett will be the junior ring announcer for the 19th annual Guns N’ Hoses boxing event April 22 at Veterans Memorial Arena.
Connor, the 9-year-old son of a police officer, is a champion in his own right after battling a rare disease for many years.
He is fighting common variable immune defiance, a disorder that impairs the immune system. Connor was diagnosed with the disease at birth and is a Dreams Come True child, an organization the FOP Foundation will be partnering with this year.
Bennett’s duties at the event will be to start the fights by saying, “Let’s get ready to rumble.”
Tickets can be purchased at gunsnhosesjax.com, ticketmaster.com or the Fraternal Order of Police office at 5530 Beach Blvd.
Club seats are $53, reserved seats are $38 and general admission is $13.
Yoga 4 Change wins $30,000 in awards
Yoga 4 Change won second place — and a $25,000 prize — and received the $5,000 “Best Social Venture” award in the recent VetSmallBiz Growth Challenge.
The national competition offers award recipients coaching and business capital. The competition, put on by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families and through the support of the Marcus Foundation, also offers award recipients coaching and business capital.
It is open to U.S. service members and veteran entrepreneurs.
Kathryn Thomas, Yoga 4 Change founder and executive director, is a medically retired Navy pilot. She found yoga to be valuable to her recovery.
The organization, which recently celebrated three years in operation, won the social good category at the 2015 One Spark crowdfunding festival.
The prizes awarded by the VetSmallBiz Growth challenge will sustain programming for three months.
Yoga 4 Change has partnered with more than 80 organizations and has impacted the lives of more than 23,000 people since January 2016.
The curriculum is delivered by qualified, trauma-informed yoga teachers who lead 21 classes a week, 50 weeks a year.
Services are provided regardless of a student’s ability to pay.
The nonprofit’s mission is to heal and empower veterans, incarcerated people, vulnerable youth and those dealing with substance abuse through a purpose-driven yoga curriculum.
Fit-4-Life duathlon April 8 in Riverside
Children will come together at 8 a.m. April 8 at Riverside Presbyterian Day School to participate in the second annual Daily’s Fit-4-Life Kids Duathlon.
The event is a run, bike and run for children ages 5-15.
The route begins at the school at 830 Oak St. and takes participants along the streets of historic Riverside.
The race will conclude with a festival of family activities on the campus.
Funds raised will support the school’s programs.
To register or volunteer, visit rpds.com/duathlon.
DuBow honored by Junior Achievement
At its Hall of Fame Luncheon on Monday, Junior Achievement of North Florida presented Jacksonville philanthropist Lawrence “Laurie” DuBow with the 19th annual Thompson S. Baker Award.
The award is given to someone who has influenced business and education in the Jacksonville community. It is named for Thompson S. Baker, the founder of Florida Rock Industries who contributed to the betterment of the community.
Previous recipients include Gary Chartrand, Tillie Fowler, Harry Frisch, Nat Glover, Hugh Greene, Preston Haskell, Delores Kesler, Shad Khan, David Stein and Wayne and Delores Weaver.
Sponsors of the JA Hall of Fame were Publix Super Markets Charities, Beaver Street Fisheries, Florida Rock & Tank Lines, The Players Championship, Wells Fargo, David Stein and Howard Korman.
Proceeds are used for financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness programs for Northeast Florida youths.
Arc still benefits from canceled tourney
The Arc Jacksonville Village was chosen as the beneficiary for the 21st annual Gate Foundation Charity Golf Tournament that was canceled in October due to Hurricane Matthew.
Through support of event sponsors, the foundation presented a check for $90,000 from the tournament proceeds.
Since inception of the event, Gate has donated more than $1 million.
The Arc Jacksonville Village was created at the request of young adults and their families who wanted a safe environment where those who need support could independently establish a home.
The Village is an apartment-style, affordable neighborhood for 121 adults age 18 and over. It has become a national model for custom design to promote socializing and sharing among residents plus engagement with the community.
Residents live among peers and choose educational, employment and recreational opportunities they wish to pursue. The facility opened in May and was fully leased by August.
The Arc Jacksonville serves people with Down syndrome, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy and other conditions of developmental delay.
Griffin Center sponsors calendar contest
Betty Griffin Center is accepting submissions from students for the 2018 A Day Without Violence Art & Poetry Contest.
It’s open to St. Johns County students in kindergarten through 12th grade, whether they attend public school, private school or are home-schooled. Last year, there were more than 1,200 entries.
Prizes are awarded for the winners, who are selected by a group of independent artists, are:
• First place: $100
• Second place: $50
• 11 honorable mentions: $25 each
All winning artists and poets will have their work reproduced in the center’s A Day Without Violence 2018 calendar. The agency will print more than 3,000 calendars for distribution throughout the county.
To be eligible, artwork must be in color and suitable for framing (horizontal format only). All original 2D media is acceptable. The theme “A Day Without Violence” must be reflected in the art or words.
The deadline is March 31.
For more information, visit bettygriffincenter.org or contact Event Coordinator Kenlie Kubart at (904) 808-8544.