The Daily Record invites the local nonprofit community to submit news, announcements, success stories and other information they believe would be of interest to our readers. Email to: [email protected].
Christ’s Church Mandarin part of Tim Tebow Foundation’s prom night
More than 100 churches have been selected to host The Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine 2016 on Feb. 12. And the number continues to grow.
Night to Shine is a prom night experience centered on God’s love for people with special needs students ages 16 and older. The foundation will serve as the sponsor at each location by providing financial support, a prom kit complete with decorations and gifts for the guests, and staff support.
Christ’s Church Mandarin in Jacksonville is among those participating. The church also hosted a prom in February.
The churches that have been approved to host represent 41 states and six countries around the world.
“The Tim Tebow Foundation has a heart for people with special needs, and we want to show these amazing people that they are loved, valued and all kings and queens in God’s eyes,” said Erik Dellenback, executive director of the Tim Tebow Foundation.
This year’s event included 44 churches and 15,000, where 7,000 guests were allowed to shine.
For more information, to see a list of the host churches and to donate, visit timtebowfoundation.org/index.php/night-to-shine/.
Tennis tournament Sept. 18 to benefit Salvation Army
The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida will present the inaugural LOVE LOVE tennis tournament to raise funds for its Child Development Center on Sept. 18 at San Jose Country Club.
While the round-robin tournament is women-only, all tennis playing abilities are welcomed. The event includes tournament matches on the San Jose Country Club courts, lunch and a goodie bag. Registration is $65 per person.
To register go to salvationarmynefl.org or contact Kelly Belich at (904) 301-4845 or [email protected].
The Salvation Army’s Child Development Center Downtown has been given the five-star rating from the Early Learning Coalition of Duval since its inception. The center provides care for children 6 weeks though the voluntary pre-kindergarten program, and serves families from all socio-economic backgrounds, including children of families living at The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Lodge shelter.
For more information, visit salvationarmynefl.org.
Thirsty Thursday Sept. 17 at North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is hosting a Thirsty Thursday Garden Workday at its office at 2038 Gilmore St. from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 pm. Sept. 17.
The organization invites everyone to an afternoon of tidying up the river-friendly and edible yard at the office. Val Hermann of The Food Park Project will lead the effort and do an introductory talk on seasonal gardening tips. Local craft brews will be served on the porch afterward.
For more information and to RSVP, contact Genevieve Fletcher at [email protected] or call (904) 479-1967.
September is Hunger Action Month
Feeding Northeast Florida joined more than 200 affiliates of the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks to promote Hunger Action Month in September.
Hunger advocates from Northeast Florida and across the country are working together to focus on the one-in-six people who face hunger in Northeast Florida, including about 38,000 here who receive food assistance each day.
“Of those we serve, nearly half are working families, about 29 percent are children and 15 percent are seniors, so Feeding Northeast Florida is eager to rally around Hunger Action Month as we continue our fight to solve this issue,” said food bank President and CEO Bruce Ganger.
Feeding Northeast Florida also is participating in a new online initiative.
To get involved, supporters can share a “spoon selfie” or video of themselves balancing a spoon on their nose — a utensil that is most often used to prepare and provide food for others — and challenge friends and family to join them to generate awareness of the 49 million Americans who may not know where they’ll find their next meal.
To learn more about Hunger Action Month, visit hungeractionmonth.org.
Give blood and drive fast through September
Feeling the need for speed? Through September, The Blood Alliance in partnership with the Autobahn Indoor Speedway will give every blood-drive donor a free “speedway license” –– a one-year membership card to the Autobahn.
Also, one randomly selected blood-drive donor per week will win a free race, while the fastest racing donor who turns in his/her lap time sheet at the Autobahn will be entered into a drawing for a party for eight with three free races.
To make an appointment to donate, visit igiveblood.com, use the free iPhone or Droid app at “iDon8” or call The Blood Alliance at (888) 998-2243.
AARP partners with Jacksonville Public Library
The Jacksonville Public Library announced the start of JPL50+, a new resource for Duval County residents age 50 or older.
The eight-month pilot program is based at the Main Library and provides one-on-one sessions with staff to connect seniors with information and support for job searches, housing, food, public benefits and more.
The program is funded by a grant to the library foundation from AARP Foundation as part of its Integrated Services for Older Adults initiative.
Information gathered will be used by the AARP Foundation and the Jacksonville Public Library to improve and expand services for older adults.
For more information, visit Room 319 on the Main Library’s third floor, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, email [email protected] or call (904) 630-2972.
Anyone interested in participating in the sessions must have an email address. Programs related to health and wellness, finances, legal issues as well as literary and cultural experiences begin in October.
More information is available at jaxpubliclibrary.org/JPL50/.
Holland & Knight volunteering at Clara White Mission
The Jacksonville office of the Holland & Knight law firm in partnership with several other companies is giving back to the community as part of the nationwide campaign to honor those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
More than 100 volunteers will assist The Clara White Mission with painting, landscaping and maintenance projects in the classrooms and playground areas of the facility.
Helping the law firm are representatives from Advanced Furniture Solutions, Dunkin’ Donuts, Baptist Medical Center, BNY Mellon, Deutsche Bank, Environmental Resource Solutions, Fifth Third Bank, Florida Coastal School of Law, Florida East Coast Railway, Jacksonville University, Krystal Klean, Raymond James and Synovus Bank.
The Clara White Mission was founded in 1904, but traces its origins to the 1880s, when former slave Clara English White fed hungry neighbors from her two-room house on Clay Street. The Clara White Mission helps at-risk individuals gain new perspectives through job training, educational programs, daily feedings and other forms of advancement.
The day of service has special meaning to Holland & Knight. Glenn Winuk, a partner in the New York office and a volunteer firefighter, died trying to save people at the World Trade Center.