from staff
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.
Tennis helping develop youth
The MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation (MWKF) was founded by former tennis professional and 1996 Wimbledon finalist MaliVai Washington. The program began in the Jacksonville area in 1997 by offering tennis lessons to select Boys & Girls Club youth and has since expanded to provide a variety of development activities for young people.
The core program, “TnT” (tennis and tutoring), is now entering its 10th year in Durkeeville, an impoverished area on Jacksonville’s northside. More than 150 students in 1st grade through high school participate in a comprehensive after school program including homework assistance and tutoring, life skills classes, community service and tennis. A complementing summer camp serves approximately 150 students in 1st-6th grades.
In addition to the TnT and summer camp, MWKF offers community based tennis programs, scholarships and a competitive program for youth who are interested in competing in tournaments.
In 2008 MWKF opened the MaliVai Washington Youth Center, a complex including eight tennis courts, three Quick Start mini courts, a basketball court and a 9,200 square-foot center including computer lab, classrooms, recreation space and a community room.
Through all of the programs, MWKF aims to better prepare under-served young people for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of them. The foundation promotes academic achievement and positive life skills in Jacksonville’s youth using tennis as a motivational tool. By correlating success on the court with success in life, MWKF fosters leadership, sportsmanship, self-esteem, confidence, discipline, accountability and the value of hard work, teamwork and individual effort. In the past 13 years, nearly 16,000 young people have been impacted by the programs.
This September, MWKF hosts its primary annual fundraiser, The Kossak Companies Golf & Tennis Gala. The event is scheduled for Sept. 14-15 and includes a tennis pro-am (Monday morning at Deerwood Country Club), Gala Dinner & Auction (Monday evening at Sawgrass Country Club) and Golf Pro-Am (Tuesday morning at Marsh Landing Country Club). Celebrities confirmed to participate include ATP stars MaliVai Washington, Todd Martin, Ricardo Acuna and David Witt (currently Venus Williams’ coach); retired Jacksonville Jaguar Tony Brackens; actors Chris Bruno (“Dead Zone”), Paula Trickey and Jimmy Favidson (“Pacific Blue”) and many others.
In addition to the events, the gala features a raffle drawing ($100 donation) with prizes including trips for two to the 2010 PGA Championships and U.S. Open, a 45” Samsung television (from Best Buy) and a $500 Visa gift card. A live auction at the gala will offer a five-day African safari (including airfare and accommodations), six days in Cancun, a limo ride and pizza for your child and three friends with Jaguar Maurice Jones-Drew and many other prizes.
For more information about the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation or The Kossak Companies Golf & Tennis Gala visit www.malwashington.com. You can also sign up to participate in the gala or for a raffle ticket through the Web site or by calling the MWKF offices at 359-KIDS (5437).
Volunteer opportunities are also available throughout the year.
Pittman-Peele to be honored
Women, Weight & Why, Inc. will honor Ju’Coby Pittman-Peele, president/CEO of Clara White Mission, at its Fifth Anniversary Celebration Saturday from 6-9 p.m. at Orange Park Country Club.
Women, Weight & Why will honor and celebrate the dedication and commitment of women locally and abroad who work to support health education, community awareness and outreach. The celebration event will feature presentations, dinner and charitable initiatives. Tickets are $40 per person.
The mission of Women, Weight & Why, Inc. is to create unity for all women through education empowerment and enrichment opportunities. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Clara White Mission and other charities.
For more information call 631-4706 or visit www.womenweightwhy.com.
Tickets on sale for ‘Transformations’
The Sulzbacher Center’s 11th annual “Transformations” fundraiser is Sept. 10 at the Hyatt hotel. The river deck reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and the “Transformations Tribute” begins at 7:30 p.m.
General admission tickets are $50 each and sponsorships start at $500. The event will also include a silent auction.
Tickets are available at www.Transformations2009.org or by calling 394-8084.
Help for military personnel and families
The Florida BrAIve Fund concluded its first year of grantmaking awarding almost $2 million in grants to organizations that help military service personnel and their families during the difficult transition from active duty in Afghanistan and Iraq to civilian life.
The fund awarded 10 grants to Northeast Florida organizations supporting a wide range of services including reintegration services, medical and mental health services, information services and emergency financial assistance.
“The military community is an important part of North Florida and we are honored to have the opportunity to provide this level of support,” said Kathleen Shaw, program director with the Florida BrAIve Fund at The Community Foundation in Jacksonville. “The community organizations with whom we have worked have demonstrated a deep commitment to this community and an understanding and sensitivity to the unique needs of these service men and women.”
The grants for 2008-09 included:
• American Red Cross, Capital Area Chapter, $150,000 for emergency financial assistance to meet the needs of military personnel, veterans, and families affected by deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
• American Red Cross of Northeast Florida Chapter, $607,256 for emergency financial assistance.
• Florida Alliance of Information & Referral Specialists, $152,990 to establish the BrAIve Helpline, a toll-free number accessible throughout the State of Florida and operated through regional 211 call centers. The Helpline will offer information and referral services for active military personnel and veterans serving or who have served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan and their families. Military personnel and their families will also be able to search for services in their area via a BrAIve Helpline Online Resource Database.
• National Guard Foundation, $425,956 to establish the Florida National Guard Emergency Relief Fund, assisting eligible Florida National Guardsmen and families impacted by deployments to Iraq and/or Afghanistan with financial emergencies as well as reintegration assistance following a deployment.
IBM aiding Learn to Read
Adults and families throughout the state will soon have access to new technology provided by IBM that can help adults and families improve their reading skills.
The Florida Literacy Coalition, Inc. received a grant by IBM for the company’s “Reading Companion” software which will be used by thirty-four Florida-based literacy programs, with a total in-kind value of $340,000. Learn to Read Jacksonville is the local recipient.
“The support of IBM enables programs throughout the state to employ breakthrough technology in the classroom, alongside traditional curriculum to help students achieve greater English literacy and language skills,” said Greg Smith, Florida Literacy Coalition executive director.
Established in 1985, The Florida Literacy Coalition promotes, supports and advocates for the effective delivery of quality adult and family literacy services in the state of Florida. Established in 1969, Learn to Read Jacksonville provides free literacy instruction and self sufficiency skills to adults, creating empowered, active and positive role models. Learn to Read serves adults over the age of 16, not enrolled in a traditional school program and reading below the 6th grade level through free one-on-one tutoring, small groups, basic literacy classes and computer lab.
For more information about Learn to Read’s programs, services, volunteer opportunities, special events or how to make a financial contribution call 399-8894 or visit www.LTRJAX.org.