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Rotary donation to help Rodeheaver Boys’ Ranch
Krista Purcell, director of development with Rodeheaver Foundation, accepted a $19,818 grant award from District 6970 Rotary Foundation for a project to modernize a learning lab at Rodeheaver Boys’ Ranch.
The grant was a project of clubs known as “The Quad Club” whose members include Coastal Rotary of St. Johns County, St. Johns Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Downtown St. Augustine and Sunrise Rotary. For the past four years, the clubs have pooled resources and leveraged District 6970 grant funds to maximize giving in the community. Previous projects have included assistance to the Wildflower Clinic, St. Francis House and the Boys and Girls Club. Nonprofits are invited to submit proposals annually between January and March.
Rodeheaver Foundation serves 50 youth in residence on a 725-acre ranch in Putnam County. The facility has operated in Palatka for the past 65 years, believing “it is better to build boys than to mend men.”
An open house is planned in June for Rotarians to visit the ranch and tour the upgraded facility.
The Coastal Rotary meets at noon every Wednesday at the St. Augustine Yacht Club, 442 Ocean Vista Ave., across from the St. Augustine Lighthouse.
The club is celebrating its 10th year in “Service Above Self.” The public is invited to learn more about the international organization at rotary.org.
New grant process being put in place by United Way
United Way of Northeast Florida is changing its funding practices to broaden the organization’s reach and respond more effectively to community needs.
The changes, which will begin this summer, will affect how area nonprofits can apply for and receive United Way funding and will define which community challenges United Way seeks to address through its community partners.
“Communities are not static, they are dynamic, changing places,” said Michelle Braun, president and CEO of United Way of Northeast Florida, in a news release. “Our community’s needs are changing, our nonprofit sector is changing and charitable giving in our community is changing. United Way needs to be responsive to these changes and, going forward, we need to be agile and nimble enough to do the most good where we are most needed,” she said.
With the launch of the “Basic Needs” application process, United Way is opening all of its funding opportunities to any 501(c)3 nonprofit providing services in Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau or Northern St. Johns counties.
The United Way historically has engaged in negotiated grantmaking with a pool of about 50 grantees that has changed little through the years.
Under the new process, funding will be competitive, with decisions based on the strength of the application and its alignment with the goals of new priority areas.
Basic Needs applications will be submitted online by Aug. 11 and awards will be announced in October. Funding will begin in January.
This summer, United Way will convene groups of stakeholders to develop parameters for youth success, financial stability and health funding priorities.
With those established, the application process will begin in November.
Funding decisions will be announced in April and funding will begin in July 2018.
The new application process will include mandatory workshops to ensure applicants understand clearly the funding area goals and the steps needed to apply.
Technical assistance will be provided to those organizations that need it.
For more details, visit unitedwaynefl.org.
Cliff’s Bar & Grill donates $10,600 to Special Olympics
Cliff’s Bar & Grill in Arlington delivered more than bar bites and trivia for more than 1,500 Special Olympics Florida athletes and partners this season.
Special Olympics Florida-Duval County was chosen as the recipient of the money raised during the sports bar’s 13th annual golf tournament at Hidden Hills Golf Club.
Through the tournament and a silent auction, $10,600 was raised and matched by a Special Olympics Florida state grant supporting new partnerships for a total of $21,200 for programs in Jacksonville.
Special Olympics Florida-Duval County provides year-round sports training and competition in Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities, giving them opportunities to develop physical fitness and experience joy and friendship.
To learn more, visit specialolympicsduval.org.
Excellence in Medicine award goes to Burt
The board of directors of the American Medical Association Foundation has selected Dr. Jim Burt as a 2017 Excellence in Medicine award winner.
He will receive the Jack B. McConnell, MD Award for Excellence in Volunteerism for his dedication to helping Northeast Florida resdents by co-founding Volunteers in Medicine-Jacksonville.
Burt retired from the McIver Clinic in 2001, but has long been active in community affairs and advocacy for the medically underserved.
Volunteers in Medicine brings retired and active medical professionals together in a volunteer capacity to provide treatment to an overlooked population — the working uninsured. The volunteer service approach makes it possible for the clinic to deliver more than $5 in services for each $1 it receives.
Volunteers in Medicine provides free medical care for people with jobs who cannot afford health insurance or do not have it available from their employers,
Burt will receive the award June 9 at the AMA’s annual meeting in Chicago.
Firehouse Subs tennis tourney nets $130,000
The 43rd annual Firehouse Subs Men’s Doubles Tennis Tournament raised more than $130,000 to provide life-saving equipment to first responders and public-safety organizations.
The tournament was May 19-21 at Jacksonville Golf & Country Club.
Since its creation in 2005, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has given more than $25 million to hometown heroes in 46 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, including more than $4.3 million in Florida, $1.9 million of which has been awarded in Northeast Florida.
Ability Housing, Quality Resource Center apartment partners
Ability Housing and Quality Resource Center have partnered to develop Veterans Landing, a 23-unit apartment community.
Ability Housing will develop the property, including securing financing and overseeing construction; QRC will own and operate the property.
Veterans Landing will provide permanent supportive housing for adults with a disability who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Veterans who meet eligibility criteria will be prioritized for placement.
This collaboration brings together the expertise of two nonprofits with aligned missions. Ability Housing is an affordable and supportive housing provider. QRC is a provider of behavioral health services and counseling.
The development will be in Southside at 11265 Alumni Way, adjacent to the Quality Life Center, QRC’s outpatient community mental health center. The location was chosen for its proximity to public transportation, shopping, employment opportunities, community centers and primary care clinics.
Plans for the 19,220-square-foot building include 23 one-bedroom apartments, a leasing office, an office for case management services, an on-site laundry facility, a computer lab, a multipurpose room, a break room and dedicated spaces for physical therapy services.
Construction is expected to begin before Jan. 1.