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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 information 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.
Foundation endows children’s care
An endowment that will benefit children who need hospice and palliative care that is not funded or not covered by insurance is being dedicated in honor of longtime supporters of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida. Through a $2.5 million gift from the Neviaser Charitable Foundation, the endowment now will be named the Neviaser Family Community PedsCare Endowment Fund.
“We are immensely grateful to the Doris and Charles ‘Buddy’ Neviaser family for their strong support of Community Hospice,” said Susan Ponder-Stansel, Community Hospice president and CEO. “During their lifetimes, Doris and Buddy were dear and generous friends of the organization. We are humbled and thankful that their children have chosen to continue this legacy through their commitment to the Community PedsCare Endowment Fund for Community Hospice.”
A self-made multimillionaire, Neviaser gave generously to Jacksonville charities before his death in 2006 at the age of 83. In 2000, he made a $1 million gift to Community Hospice that enabled the construction of the Charles M. Neviaser Educational Institute on Sunbeam Road. One of only a few in the nation, the Neviaser Institute provides clinical education on end-of-life care for clergy, physicians and other health care professionals as well as the community at large. Neviaser and his wife moved to Jacksonville in 1984 from Fairfax, Va., where he owned a men’s clothing store and a real estate company before becoming a private investor.
Doris Blankenship Neviaser died Jan. 24, 2008 at Community Hospice’s Hadlow Center for Caring on Sunbeam. She was married to Buddy Neviaser for 59 years and together they had two sons, Michael John Neviaser of Jacksonville and Jon Joseph Neviaser of Boise, Idaho; a daughter, Nancy Neviaser Baker of Jacksonville; and seven grandchildren.
The latest gift follows two founding gifts to the endowment from the Weaver and Petway families, each for $500,000.
Community PedsCare is a pediatric palliative and hospice program for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. The program was established in 2000 by Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, in collaboration with Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Clinic and the University of Florida–Jacksonville. The program offers in-hospital and in-home medical, nursing, psychosocial, spiritual, volunteer and other services to support, comfort and care for children and their families.
Holiday shopping benefits nonprofit
Dreams Come True reported the Sixth Annual Partners for Dreams program netted $32,400. The program was established to raise funds for Dreams Come True while offering the public a head start on holiday shopping. Through the purchase of a Partners Card for $50, participants took advantage of 10 days of discount shopping at 320 local merchants including retailers, restaurants, boutiques, automotive care shops, home care centers, jewelry shops and specialty stores.
The money raised from Partners for Dreams will go directly to the programs and services of Dreams Come True, the First Coast’s only locally based nonprofit organization dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of children battling life-threatening illnesses.
Mavericks hosts concert for CMN
Mavericks Rock N’ Honky Tonk Concert Hall along with FM-99.9 will present Big Kenny and Houston Country Saturday night for the Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon.
Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals like Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Shands Jacksonville.
Each year the 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, lifesaving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind.
Last year the event raised more than $65,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network, Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Shands Jacksonville. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30. The cost is a minimum $5 donation to the Children’s Miracle Network.
Tango by Moonlight a big success
After an evening of passion and tango dancing Downtown at The Carling, attendees to the Wellington Homes Tango by Moonlight event raised nearly $60,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and its mission to cure and control cystic fibrosis.
“I was proud to be the title sponsor of this event and would like to thank everyone who worked tirelessly to make it a success and raise money for such an important cause,” said Richard J. Dalton, president and CEO of Wellington Homes. “Proceeds from the event and auctions will benefit the foundation and help those in our city and across the nation fight the daily battle that is cystic fibrosis.”
Bruce Hamilton, news anchor for Ch. 4, emceed the event while guests sampled hors d’oeurves by Bistro AIX and signature cocktails. Later in the evening, Aaron Bean hosted a live auction where guests bid on an array of prize packages. The auction items included tickets to Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn’s Final Farewell Tour and Major League Baseball games as well as private dinner parties, family fun packages, a Daytona Experience and more.
Sponsors for the evening included Deutsche Bank, GreenPointe Holdings, Clockwork Marketing Services, Financial & Retirement Planning Associates, LLC, Dr. & Mrs. Albert Wilkinson, III, Rayonier, McNeal & White General Contractors, CFO Strategic Solutions, Moen Faucets, Insurance Office of America, and Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Hartley.
Since the first Moonlight event in 2002 more than $750,000 has been raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s research and care programs.
Young people needed for day of service
The Jaguars are out of the running for the Super Bowl, but local youth aren’t. They are invited to be a part of the Souper Bowl of Caring to help City Rescue Mission and other nonprofit organizations in Jacksonville.
The Souper Bowl of Caring Feb. 6 at 8:15 a.m. Youth are invited to attend the breakfast and inspirational program at Lakewood Presbyterian Church (2001 University Blvd. W.) to kick off the event. Then teams will disperse throughout the city to help organizations in need such as City Rescue Mission.
“We are thrilled to be part of such a great program,” said Patrick Hayle, executive director of City Rescue Mission. “Our youth are the future of our community. The Souper Bowl of Caring is a great way to teach them the impact that they can make by serving their community, as well as to offer resources about the kind of issues, such as homelessness, that are prevalent in our community and how they may help.”
Youth interested in being part of the day of service can learn more and register at www.souperbowl.org/jacksonville.
Last year the Souper Bowl of Caring raised more than $85,000 in Jacksonville, with 12,700 youth participating.
City Rescue Mission is a non-profit, faith-based organization in downtown Jacksonville that has provided help to the homeless and needy in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida since 1946. In addition to providing emergency services for the homeless, they offer life-changing programs like the New Day Workforce and LifeBuilders to help homeless people get off the streets and back on their feet.
For more information about City Rescue Mission visit www.crmjax.org.