Fifteen local children’s charities that benefit from The Players Championship gathered Friday for a shootout on the 17th hole at The Players Stadium Course.
Each charity selected a celebrity or representative to take a shot at the famous island green, with the person who ended up closest to the pin in earning a $10,000 donation for that organization. Second through sixth-place finishers advanced to a second round for a shot at $5,000. The Boselli Foundation, represented by Tony Boselli, was the first-round winner after Boselli put his ball 5 feet, 7 inches from the pin.
The First Tee of North Florida, represented by First Tee graduate and member of the Flagler College Men’s Golf Team Spencer Schindler, took second place when Schindler’s shot landed 2 feet, 4 inches from the pin.
New this year, Gordon Davis, one of the scuba divers from North Florida Golf Ball Co., added to the fun and fundraising. One randomly selected charity benefitted from the “Scuba Bonus” as Davis retrieved as many balls as possible in 41 seconds – in honor of the 41st playing of The Players – to earn $100 per ball for the charity. The Police Athletic League of Jacksonville received $3,000 after Davis pulled up 30 balls in 41 seconds.
Nazworth recognized for advocacy
Ability Housing Executive Director Shannon Nazworth received the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s 2014 Eastern Region Advocate of the Year Award in recognition of her work to promote supportive housing for high-need and chronically homeless people in Jacksonville, Duval County and Florida. In a news release, Nazworth was cited as “a true advocate using her talent, position, and tenacity to develop supportive housing solutions for some of Florida’s most vulnerable residents.”
Winn-Dixie customers can help feed hungry pets
Winn-Dixie has launched the first PAWS “Feed the Love” community donation program to benefit area food banks and nonprofits, including First Coast No More Homeless Pets, which are dedicated to eliminating hunger for pets.
“It is awful to imagine, but there are many people with limited financial means who face a difficult dilemma each week: feed themselves or feed their pets,” said Rondel Hartwell, director of community involvement and charitable giving for Winn-Dixie. “Each year, we dedicate countless resources to our area food partners to help feed the hungry. In the month of April we want to do a little more for our furry friends.”
Through April 29, Winn-Dixie customers can purchase a $5 pre-packaged bag of pet food with their Winn-Dixie Reward Card or give a monetary donation of their choice at any store register. Each bag contains a week’s worth of dry and canned packages of PAWS Premium, Winn-Dixie’s brand of cat and dog food.
For every bag purchased, Winn-Dixie customers will receive an additional 5 cents per gallon in fuelperks! Rewards, Winn-Dixie’s program that saves customers money on gas.
$47,500 for Junior Achievement
The Jim Moran Foundation has donated $47,500 to provide Junior Achievement summer programs to 10,000 students in Duval County.
The funding will enable Junior Achievement of North Florida to purchase materials that will be used at community and school sites it has partnered with to bring financial literacy and workforce preparation education to students this summer.
The agency will partner with 23 community sites that serve low-income children between the ages of 5-15.
Junior Achievement programs reinforce standard curriculum taught by educators during the school year. According to the National Summer Learning Association, most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency skills over the summer months.
Access to summer learning opportunities and the added component of Junior Achievement’s educational experience encourages increased student engagement and enables students to acquire the economic education and skills required for success in post-secondary institutions and the future workforce.
Founded by automotive industry executive Jim Moran, the mission of The Jim Moran Foundation is to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of innovative programs and opportunities that meet the ever-changing needs of the community.
The foundation has invested more than $45 million in education, elder care, family strengthening, after school and youth transitional living initiatives since its inception in 2000, with efforts focused in Broward, Palm Beach and Duval counties.
Attorneys on the auction block
Members of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association and the Young Lawyers Section of The Jacksonville Bar Association will be strutting their stuff on the catwalk as “cupids” during the 2014 Charity Date Auction benefiting Jacksonville Area Legal Aid on Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
Attendees will bid on date packages that include weekend getaways in Amelia Island and Jacksonville Beach, horseback riding, Florida Theatre tickets, and a private chartered jet and lunch in South Florida. “Cupids” are not included in the packages. All proceeds will benefit the legal advocacy of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
“We’re all aware of the unfortunate cuts in funding that JALA has had to endure over the years,” said Lindsay Tygart, secretary of the Young Lawyers Section. “The volunteer committee has put in countless hours to make sure the date auction is a first-class fundraiser so JALA can continue to provide the critical legal services to Jacksonville and the surrounding communities.”
Tickets for the 2014 Date Auction are $35 for individuals or $60 per couple and include appetizers, cocktails, and admission to the event. For more information, call (904) 224-1557 or visit dateauctionforjala.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets.
Bowling for Big Brothers Big Sisters
The Northeast Florida community came through for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida during the Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser “Thank You” event April 5 and 12 at Batt Family Fun Center.
Donors contributed more than $72,500 to support more community matches between local youth and caring adults.
For 100 years, the agency has provided mentors to students in Duval and surrounding counties, supported community service projects and enriched students’ academic learning experience. Its mission is to provide to children facing adversity professionally supported one-to-one relationships.
For more information about how you can get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, go to bbbsnefl.org
HEAL Zoo Walk April 27
The Ponte Vedra-based HEAL Foundation (Healing Every Autistic Life) will bring families together April 27 for a day of animals, music and children’s activities during the HEAL Zoo Walk For Autism at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
More than 1,300 people participated in last year’s Zoo Walk, raising $65,000. The funds were disbursed through grants to local schools, programs and educators in support of individuals on the Autism spectrum.
HEAL is a nonprofit founded by Bobby and Leslie Weed. They recognized a need in the community to assist the families of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a neurological and biological condition that affects one in 68 children at varying levels of severity in four key areas: communication, social skills, behaviors and learning.
To date, HEAL has contributed more than $1 million in grants to autism-related camps, support groups, seminars, and schools that provide therapy and support services for children with Autism and their families. HEAL’s latest initiative is iHEAL (iPads Helping Enrich Autistic Lives), which donates iPads to ESE classrooms for communication for nonverbal students.