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Highlighting Jacksonville’s Philanthropic Community
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 informa-tion they feel would be of interest to our readers. E-mail 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.
Fundraiser tops $1 million
In its 13th year, The Single Greatest Night event raised $150,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, putting the event’s total amount raised to date at more than $1 million. The event, presented by Harrell & Harrell and Southeast Spine & Rehabilitation, honored Jacksonville’s finest singles at a black-tie gala at Sawgrass Golf Resort and Spa.
“It is such an accomplishment to have raised more than $1 million for cystic fibrosis research and I want to congratulate our honorees in 2009 for their hard work and dedication,” said Liza Wrobel, director of special events for the foundation. “All the money raised will benefit the foundation and support ongoing research to find a cure for this disease that affects approximately 30,000 people in the U.S.”
The Single Greatest Night event honors single men and women who have exemplified leadership qualities, are active in volunteer roles and have excelled in the Jacksonville business community. Each honoree committed to raising a minimum of $1,500 for continued cystic fibrosis research and programs.
More than 25 honorees were recognized during the event for their support to the foundation. The top individual fundraisers were first place Candace Monroe from Family Support Services of North Florida; second place Kimberly Harrell from Harrell & Harrell; and third place Suzie Hutto from CSX Transportation.
For information about The Single Greatest Night, call the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 733-3560 or visit www.cff.org.
Comcast supports reading program
In observance of January as National Mentoring Month, more than 100 students from local high schools and elementary schools were treated to a reading rally at Frank Peterson Academies of Technology as part of their commitment to the Teen Trendsetters Reading Mentors program. Teen Trendsetters, an award-winning youth mentoring program launched in Florida in 2002, pairs high school teens with 2nd and 3rd graders to boost the reading skills of the younger students.
Volunteer USA, which manages the program, joined the students along with national program sponsor Comcast, as well as others supporters including State Farm, State Sen. Steve Wise, Duval County School Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals and City Council member Glorious Johnson. Comcast vice-president Tim Gage was on hand to present a donation as the national sponsor of the Teen Trendsetters programs. Comcast is the lead national sponsor with $250,000 in cash and $2-million in donated television airtime to support mentoring and literacy efforts.
“Comcast is proud to be a committed year-round partner in the very successful Teen Trendsetters volunteer movement. It has been recognized as one of the best youth mentoring programs in the South with its focus on both improved reading and youth leadership skills,” said Gage. “This award reaffirms our commitment to literacy and to our country’s children who benefit academically and socially by having strong role models.”
Ten years ago, the statewide mentoring initiative was launched by then-Gov. Jeb Bush to help students excel in school and life by recruiting compassionate adults to become their mentors. According to the latest study, after 10 years of promoting mentoring through the Florida Mentoring Partnership, there are nearly 202,000 mentors matched with Florida’s children. In 2000-2001 there were only 22,497 mentors mentoring youth in the state.
“We are thrilled so many of Florida’s students continue to benefit from the wisdom and concern of caring adults,” said Liza McFadden, Volunteer USA president. “Each year, our mentor numbers increase. That’s a tribute to this hugely successful initiative and the recognition that the nurturing experiences created in mentoring relationships really make a difference.”
Jacksonville’s first Teen Trendsetters programs were launched this school year at four area high schools including Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology, Forrest High School, Ribault High School and Terry Parker High School. The teens are paired with students from Gregory Drive, Oak Hill, Parkwood and St. Clair Evans elementary schools. The students spend an hour a week together enjoying reading activities.
There are more than 2,700 students participating in Teen Trendsetters programs. Results show the program is providing rewards to both Florida’s high school and elementary students.
The grant to Volunteer USA from the Comcast Foundation is in recognition of Comcast’s commitment to the communities where its customers and employees live and work. Since its founding in 1999, the Comcast Foundation has distributed more than $65 million in cash support of programs implemented locally in Comcast communities.
Business owners pitch in for Dreams Come True
Women Business Owners of North Florida donated $150 in gift cards and $386 from proceeds of its holiday party to Dreams Come True. Women Business Owners of North Florida is a Jacksonville-based association that works to create and recognize opportunities to lift up the successes of women in the business world, both collectively and individually.
BO donated the proceeds to Dreams Come True’s Special Times program which provides a dream child and his or her family opportunities to momentarily forget the realities of life-threatening illnesses. Special Times include dinner at a favorite restaurant, tickets to a local concert or sporting event or even a special holiday or birthday treat.
“Dreams Come True deeply appreciates the compassion and support of the members of Women Business Owners of North Florida,” said Karen Brune Mathis, executive director of Dreams Come True.
Also, the Jacksonville International Airport Management Council raised $5,548 for Dreams Come True through their sixth annual holiday tree decorating contest at the Jacksonville International Airport.
Twenty-one decorated trees were on display in the JIA courtyard. Travelers and visitors to the airport had the opportunity to vote on their favorite decorated tree through a $1 donation to Dreams Come True. Donations were also collected by businesses who participated in the program.
Since 2003, JIAMC has raised more than $40,000 for Dreams Come True. All the proceeds from the 2009 event will go towards fulfilling a dream for a local child.
JIAMC is a networking organization that has been active for some 34 years at JIA and consists of business leaders and managers. The council meets once a month for the purpose of exchanging information and addressing current issues that affect the area as a whole.
For more information on JIAMC visit http://jiamc.com.
For more information about Dreams Come True call 296-3030 or visit www.dreamscometrue.org.
VPK gets $10k from Wachovia/Wells Fargo
Wachovia/Wells-Fargo Foundation provided the Early Learning Coalition of Duval (ELC of Duval) a grant of $10,000 to help fund community outreaches, so families have the opportunity to enroll their children into Florida’s Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program.
The state’s free VPK program, signed into law by former Gov. Jeb Bush in 2005 and administered in Duval County by ELC of Duval, is open to all 4-year-olds living in Florida. The grant will allow the organization to offer enrollment events throughout the community.
ELC Executive Director Susan Main said, “We are proud to have the Wachovia/Wells-Fargo Foundation as a vital partner on the work we do for the families and children of Duval County through the VPK program. This program has shown time and time again that it is helping prepare children to read and succeed when they enter kindergarten. The more families we can reach, the more children will enter kindergarten ready to learn.”
ELC of Duval is the major funder of child care financial assistance through the city’s Jacksonville Children’s Commission (JCC). In addition to JCC, ELC of Duval partners with Episcopal Children’s Services and the Duval County School Board to place literacy coaches and family involvement specialists in community child care centers. ELC Duval also operates the Child Care Resource & Referral network for all child care providers in Duval County. The network allows parents, guardians or providers of child care to contact one central number to receive information on choosing quality child care, financial assistance or other information to help meet families’ child care needs.
To learn more about Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten or the Early Learning Coalition of Duval call 208-2044 or visit www.elcofduval.org.