from staff
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.
‘Partners for Dreams’ raises more than $32k
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 enjoyed 10 days of 20 percent discount shopping at 320 First Coast merchants including retailers, restaurants, boutiques, automotive care shops, home care centers, jewelry shops and specialty stores.
The money raised 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.
Founded in 1984, Dreams Come True has made dreams come to life for more than 2,500 children in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. The organization is unique in that 100 percent of all donations, unless otherwise specified, go directly to the dreams of children battling life-threatening illnesses. For more information about Dreams Come True call 296-3030 or visit www.dreamscometrue.org.
New hire and promotions at DCT
Speaking of Dreams Come True, Andrea Siracusa has joined the organization as special projects coordinator, Lauren Weedon Hopkins has been promoted to director of development and Joanna Blinn has been promoted to dream manager.
Siracusa has five years of experience in public relations and marketing. As special projects coordinator she will be involved with third party events and media relations for the organization.
Weedon Hopkins will oversee grants and Dreams Come True’s two signature events, the annual Sam Kouvaris Golf Tournament and Partners for Dreams.
Blinn was promoted from director of program development to dream manager, where she will work with the director of dreams and assist in the granting of dreams for local children. Blinn will also continue to oversee the functions of the Kids Helping Kids program, a Dreams Come True program that brings together students and young people with dream recipients.
Golfer supports tennis program
Jim Furyk, a 13-time PGA Tour event winner, has designated a check in the amount of $30,000 to the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation. The contribution is a portion of the charitable proceeds generated from The Presidents Cup 2009 at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco in which Furyk participated as a member of the victorious U.S. team for the sixth time in his career.
The Presidents Cup is a unique golf event in that there is no purse or prize money. Players are not personally paid for their participation, but each competitor, captain and captain’s assistant is allowed to allocate funds to chosen charitable causes.
Furyk is a longtime supporter of the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation, a local non-profit organization that was founded by former Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington. MWKF’s flagship program, TnT (Tennis-n-Tutoring) provides free after school homework assistance, mentoring, tutoring, life skills classes and tennis lessons to more than 150 underserved youth. For more information on the programs and services of MWKF visit www.malwashington.com.
More than $4.2 million was distributed to charitable causes from the Presidents Cup 2009, a record-typing amount for the competition and part of the nearly $22 million raised since the inception of event in 1994.
The Presidents Cup, a team match play competition featuring 24 of the world’s top golfers — 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe — is held every two years, and since 1996 has alternated between United States and international venues.
Haven Hospice receives donation
W.W. Gay Fire & Integrated Systems employees raised $2,824 to benefit Haven Hospice and the company’s president, Nandu Paryani, rounded their donation to $5,000.
Michael Morse, Haven Hospice’s vice president of organizational advancement, accepted the donation from Paryani and Dennis Bishop, vice president.
“We are thankful to W.W. Gay and the support they have shown Haven,” said Morse. “The funds donated will help our patients and families in the communities we serve.”
Funds raised will benefit Haven Hospice’s unfunded programs and services.
Haven Hospice is one of three 2008 Circle of Life Award winners nationwide to be recognized as leaders in improving the care of patients near the end of life or with life-threatening conditions. Haven Hospice has also been recognized as a Florida Pacesetter for its leadership in promoting living wills. The organization has served nearly 50,000 patients and families since 1979 and has been licensed in Florida as a not-for-profit hospice since 1980.
For more information visit www.havenhospice.org or call 800-727-1889.
Physician joins Walk to Cure Diabetes
One local physician is taking some big steps and asking others to follow her in stepping up to help find a cure for diabetes.
Dr. Nelly Mauras, chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at the Nemours Children’s Clinic in Jacksonville and chief of the Section of Endocrinology at Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital, has taken on the role of Champion Endocrinologist for the 2010 Walk to Cure Diabetes benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Mauras is the founding member of the endocrinology division at Nemours and has built an academic group presently with seven pediatric endocrinologists, five diabetes educators and several nurse practitioners and research nurses.
As Champion Endocrinologist for the Walk to Cure Diabetes she will be a leader for children having type 1 diabetes and their families participating in the walk. Mauras also will speak at upcoming events and help increase awareness of type 1 diabetes and its complications and encourage people to sign up to walk with her in the April 10 event which has the goal of raising $500,000 for diabetes research.
“It is a particular honor for me to be the Champion for the Walk for the Cure this year. JDRF is an outstanding organization and does a world of good, particularly funding the necessary research to help improve the lives of millions of people with diabetes, especially children & adolescents. The efforts of JDRF are inching us closer to a cure and we all should support it,” said Mauras.
The Walk to Cure Diabetes is a national event that has raised more than $93 million globally. Last year Jacksonville supporters raised more than $500,000 and drew more than 6,000 out at Metro Park. The 3-mile walk will have a new location this year at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds due to planned renovations at Metropolitan Park.
Sponsors already on board for the walk include Accu-Chek, Balfour Beatty Rail, Coastal Veterinary Hospital, CSX Transportation, Firehouse Subs, Gale Force Web Pros, Hospital Physician Partners, Lender Processing Services, The Players Championship, The PGA Tour, TSG Realty and Vistakon.
“JDRF could not have a better Champion Endo for the 2010 Walk. Dr. Mauras is a legend in the diabetes community and has helped so many children adapt to and manage their diabetes. She is highly regarded among her
peers and we feel truly honored to have her partnership in this common cause for a cure,” said Brooks Biagini, executive director for the local JDRF Chapter.
To learn more about, volunteer for, sponsor or to register for the 2010 Walk to Cure Diabetes visit www.jdrfnorthflorida.org or call 739-2101.