Buy some art, support a charity
Mission House of Jacksonville Beach, Dreams Come True, St. Augustine Youth Services and Learn to Read of St. Johns County have something in common.
Each recently became partners of Art 4 Charities, a business working with nonprofits to help raise funds for their causes.
The concept of Art 4 Charities is to offer reproductions of The Old Masters, original art and photography for sale with a substantial portion of the proceeds benefitting charities.
The nonprofits agree to inform their supporters and the public about Art 4 Charities raising funds for them and in turn, the organizations receive 40 percent of the proceeds of sales.
Art showings can be hosted by volunteers or supporters of charities at their homes, businesses, clubhouses and community centers to raise funds to support a charity of their choice.
To learn more about Art 4 Charities or to purchase artwork to benefit your favorite charity, visit art4charities.net.
For information about hosting an art showing to support a charity, call (904) 469-7428.
Weekley renovates cottage for Daniel Kids
Volunteers from David Weekley Homes donated their time fixing a residential cottage at Daniel Kids and then celebrated with activities for the children.
The volunteers completed an almost total renovation of Hillside Home, one of Daniel Kids’ three cottages, in just two weeks.
The renovation will help children living at Hillside Home who are part of Daniel Kids’ statewide in-patient psychiatric program.
It provides intensive residential treatment over several months to children exhibiting severe symptoms of mental and emotional distress.
The homebuilder partnered with local companies and trade partners that donated time and resources for the renovation, which included demolition, painting, landscaping and installing furniture.
In addition, the David Weekley Family Foundation donated $17,500 to the project.
$100,000 for local Alzheimer’s Association
The CVS Health Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to the Central and North Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
It’s part of the foundation’s $550,000 commitment to support expanded provider education and diagnosis resources for people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
The North Florida organization is one of six grantees in the U.S.
The grant will support a physician outreach program that delivers weekly learning videos to educate physicians. The videos help health-care providers detect Alzheimer’s and related dementias in the early stages, assist them in diagnosing the disease and support the disclosure of important information to the patients and families.
The grant also will help physicians connect newly diagnosed patients and their families to the nonprofit for care, education and support programs that are free.
The support will expand physicians’ access and delivery of care consultation services and programs to people with the disease and their families through the development and implementation of a concierge-style suite of services.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, only 45 percent of people with Alzheimer’s or their caregivers said they were told the diagnosis by their doctor.
For more information, visit alz.org or call the 24/7 helpline at (800) 272-3900.
FinFest a success for speech, hearing center
Jacksonville Speech & Hearing Center raised more than $131,000 May 21 during its annual FinFest Rolling on the River at Timuquana Country Club.
The money will benefit people in need of speech-language pathology and audiology services.
The center provides care for those with tinnitus and hyperacusis. More than 4,300 people were treated at the center in the past year.
A study conducted at Johns Hopkins University showed treating hearing loss aggressively may help stave off cognitive decline and dementia. Nearly two-thirds of Americans suffer from hearing loss by the time they are 70.
For information, visit shcjax.org or call (904) 355-3403 to make an appointment.
Drive a race car for Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement of North Florida will hold its second annual JA Grand Prix fundraiser July 28 to benefit JA Boy$.
Participants will have the chance to drive at speeds up to 50-mph in an indoor go-kart race at Autobahn Indoor Speedway.
Since 1963, JA has offered financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs to Jacksonville’s youth with the help of classroom volunteers.
Over the years, JA expanded its offerings to include special initiatives for gender-specific classroom settings.
JA Boy$ was formed in 2013 as a mirror program of the organization’s successful JA Girl$ program.
The concept is to partner with schools, youth organizations and all-boys groups in Duval County, pairing them with male volunteers from the business community who teach JA programs to the students.
Not only do the young men benefit from learning about how to manage their finances or look for a job, they also are exposed to positive role models.
Raising a minimum $250 or paying in full secures a spot in the fundraising race. Sponsorships are available.
For more information, visit JAjax.com.
Sista Strut for breast cancer June 25
The inaugural Sista Strut is a 3K walk to raise awareness for breast cancer, specifically in women of color, June 25 at the Jacksonville Landing.
The walk will raise money for breast cancer research nonprofit, Sisters Network Jacksonville.
Sista Strut is sponsored by Cadillac, BPL Plasma, Cracker Barrel, Gentlemen’s Cutts Barbershop, Metro PCS, Community Hospice, the U.S. Army, Beauty Depot and the Beauty Institute.
The cost is $20 for a single walker and $25 for team members until June 17, when it goes up $5 for each.
Walkers will receive a Sista Strut shirt and those who sign up as a team member will receive a Sista Strut backpack. The rally will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the walk starts at 9 a.m.
The event will be hosted by Carla Ferrell from the Steve Harvey Morning Show.
For more information, go to v1015.iheart.com or wjbt.iheart.com.
Batters up for Big Brothers Big Sisters
Mayor Lenny Curry, joined by representatives from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville Suns, the JaxSports Council and Patriot Rail, announced details regarding a “Week with Baseball Legends,” from Sept. 17-24.
The highlight of the week will be “Dinner on the Diamond with Legends” on Sept. 23 on Bragan Field at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Former Major League Baseball players expected to attend include Andre Dawson, Chipper Jones, Vince Coleman, Frank White, Willie Wilson, Amos Otis and Jim “Mudcat” Grant.
The dinner will raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida and purchase baseball equipment for Jacksonville’s inner-city youth.
Curry is chair of the week’s activities designed to encourage more youth to become involved in baseball and highlight the history of Negro Leagues baseball in Jacksonville.
In addition to appearances by former MLB players, the dinner will feature Sarah Burns and David McMahon, writers and producers of the documentary “Jackie Robinson,” which aired on PBS in April.
Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, will make a presentation on the history of the league in Jacksonville.
Tickets are $200 per person. Tables for 10 can be purchased for $2,000.
The “Week with Baseball Legends” will kick off Sept 17 with a family-friendly, free showing of the movie “42” about Robinson’s life.
The film will be shown at the historic J.P. Small Memorial Park, presented by the city’s Department of Recreation and Community Development.
On Sept. 19, two traveling exhibits from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City will open at the Ritz Theater and Museum. The exhibits are sponsored by The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic.
For information, visit bbbsnefl.org or call (904) 727-9797.