A two-week supply drive concluded Friday with the delivery of approximately 40 bins of food and supplies to six nonprofits.
As a result of the Courthouse Neighbor2Neighbor Supply Drive, 1,000 pounds of food, 400 articles of clothing and many hygiene products and toys were collected.
The food was distributed to the Clara White Mission and the Nourishment Network; clothing was taken to the City Rescue Mission and Trinity Rescue Mission; hygiene products were given to the Salvation Army; and the toys were donated to MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation.
The Neighbor2Neighbor drive was initiated by Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper to support nonprofits near the courthouse that assist those who are struggling.
The drive was organized by the Duval County Clerk of Courts, which collected and delivered the goods, coordinating with the seven other agencies: Court Administration, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office’s Courthouse Security Unit, State Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Regional Conflict Counsel and Florida Guardian ad Litem Program.
Makeover for Springfield Boys & Girls Club
The Springfield location of the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida is looking a lot nicer thanks to a partnership between Comcast and the club for the 13th Comcast Cares Day.
Comcast employees, their friends and families, and volunteers worked together Saturday to give the Laurence F. Lee Club a much-needed makeover.
Projects included painting, woodworking, landscaping and cleaning. Volunteers also planted a new vegetable garden so youth members can experience growing their own food.
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corp. in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified nonprofits. The foundation has three community investment priorities: promoting service, expanding digital literacy and building tomorrow’s leaders.
Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated nearly $140 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the foundation and its programs is available at comcast.com/community.
Zoo Walk raises $55,000
More than $55,000 was raised Sunday at the HEAL Zoo Walk forAutism held Sunday, with 1,400 walkers participating.
Patty Crosby, First Coast News anchor and HEAL board president, and the Jacksonville Jaguar Roar
Cheerleaders led the way through the zoo. Walkers saw exotic animals along the route, which led to the HEAL After Party – “Party with Patty” with a climbing wall, bounce houses, games, face painters and music.
Proceeds benefit children, teens and adults through specialized autism programs, camps and educational enhancements for classrooms in public and private schools throughout Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.
Donations will be accepted through May for the HEAL Zoo Walk. Visit firstgiving.org/HEAL to donate or view the final outcome of the Zoo Walk.
Amy Grant concert to benefit children’s chorus
The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus presents multi-platinum, six-time Grammy Award winning artist Amy Grant in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.
Grant will perform songs from her extensive repertoire along with selections from her newest album, “How Mercy Looks From Here.”
Grant’s career spans more than 25 years from her roots in gospel music to her experience as a pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist.
Proceeds will benefit the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus, which provides music education and performance opportunities to children ages 6-18 living in Northeast Florida. The chorus will perform and also join Grant in a final number.
The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus is a nonprofit children’s chorus founded in 1995. Its performance choir program includes more than 220 young singers. Participating children come from diverse racial, religious and socio-economic backgrounds, live in five counties in Northeast Florida and represent more than 100 schools. More than 30 percent of the members receive scholarship support.
Sponsors for Grant’s concert include Winn-Dixie, Compass Consulting Group, Fidelity Information Services, Stein Mart and Kathryn and David McGehee. Tickets are available through the Times-Union Center box office, by calling (904) 354-5547 or by visiting jaxchildrenschorus.org.
Special Olympics Florida: ‘The Art of an Athlete’
More than two dozen business and community leaders had the task of selecting the final 13 photographs to be used in the 2015 The Art of an Athlete calendar, an awareness and fundraising initiative of Special Olympics Florida of Duval County.
The calendar will be used to showcase athletes as they compete in sporting competitions.
Fifteen area photographers submitted 151 photographs in the categories of Photojournalist, Creative and Portrait. The photographs were narrowed down to 25 by a committee made up of professional photographers Agnes Lopez (PoseWell Studio); Susan Michal (Portrait Studio); Tonya Austin (City of Jacksonville); Chris Condon (PGA TOUR); Sam Greenwood (Getty Images); and, Rick Wilson (Rick Wilson Photography).
The final images selected for the 2015 calendar will be revealed at a VIP Viewing and Fundraising Reception on Friday at CoRK Arts District.
The community will select the calendar’s cover during a social media campaign following Friday’s event.
Southern Oak Insurance is the presenting sponsor for the big reveal event.
Special Olympics Florida of Duval County is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition.
Fundraising group to host all-day seminar
The Association of Fundraising Professionals First Coast Chapter will host “The Art of the Ask,” a full-day interactive workshop for novice and intermediate fund development staff, CEOs and board members from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. May 28 at the Florida State College at Jacksonville Technology Center.
Cost is $55 for members of the fundraising chapter, $65 for non-members in advance. Tickets at the door are $65 for members, $75 for non-members.
Jay Goulart, NewSci LLC co-founder and chief data artist, is presenting the event. According to a news release on the event, Goulart is known for advancement models that have generated attention from nonprofits.