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 believe would be of interest to our readers. Email to: [email protected]. We encourage our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they continue to provide much-needed services with reduced resources.
Food trucks rally for Children's Miracle Network
The Landing Downtown and the Jax Truckies have scheduled the inaugural "Truckin' on the River Food Truck Rally" at 6 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot between the Landing and the Hyatt.
The event will feature local food trucks The Happy Grilled Cheese, All That Jazz, Brucci's Pizza, Beke's Grab N Go, Cubarico Café, Corner Taco, Driftwood BBQ, Monroe's On The Go, Mother Fletchers, The Salty Fig, Scrappy's Mobile Kitchen, Super Food Truck and Kona Ice.
Diners can vote for the Children's Champion Truck Award winner that will be announced at the event.
The participating vendors will donate a portion of the proceeds to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to benefit the pediatric units at Wolfson Children's Hospital and UF Health Jacksonville.
Also on the schedule are:
• Live entertainment provided by the Boogie Freaks and DJ Kevin Tos.
• Drawings for prizes including a 6-foot Jack Daniel's statue, tickets to Legoland in Orlando, Jacksonville sporting event tickets, accommodations at the Hyatt Downtown and more. Tickets are $1 and will benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars and Jacksonville Suns will be onsite selling tickets to their games.
Admission is free. Cash is preferred for food trucks and prize drawings.
Parking will be available in the Downtown parking garages for $5-$10. Parking is free at meters along the Downtown streets.
The event is sponsored by Sleiman Enterprises Inc., Coca-Cola, Miller Lite, The Happy Grilled Cheese, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Bacardi and the Landing.
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children's hospitals in North America.
Locally, Children's Miracle Network of Jacksonville/Brunswick benefits the pediatric programs at UF Health Jacksonville and Wolfson Children's Hospital.
Law firm organizing poker run for charity
Holbrook Law presents the inaugural "Ride for Kids," a motorcycle poker run to benefit Neighbor To Family Inc.-Jacksonville.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the ride begins at 10 a.m. Saturday from Holbrook Law at 6817 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 1503.
The ride ends at Bayard Rooster and includes prizes, raffles, a silent auction, food and more.
A poker run is a motorcycle event in which each rider travels a designated route, stopping at checkpoints to draw a playing card to comprise a poker hand. At the end of the run, the best hand and the worst hand will win prizes.
Stops include Mojo Old City BBQ, Cheyenne Saloon, Lucky Dog Saloon, Rehab Saloon and Bayard Rooster.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Neighbor To Family Inc., a sibling foster care program serving the Jacksonville community with a mission of keeping siblings together.
Event sponsors are Mojo Old City BBQ, Bailey's Powerhouse Gym, Coast Cycle Consignment LLC, Starbucks, Queen's Harbour Yacht and Country Club, Fat Kat and Untouchable Tattoo.
Firehouse Subs raising funds for HabiJax
Firehouse Subs is raising funds for Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville by hosting fundraising nights.
Events are scheduled 5-9 p.m. Aug. 14 at Firehouse Subs, 1949-1 San Marco Blvd., and 5-9 p.m. Sept. 11 at Firehouse Subs, 4347 University Blvd.
Firehouse will donate a percentage of the evening's proceeds to help make the dream of homeownership a reality for North Florida residents.
HabiJax has provided homeownership to more than 1,900 families since 1988. Combined with its other homeownership services, HabiJax has served more than 7,500 families.
Nominations sought for Sapphire Awards
Florida Blue Foundation seeks nominations through Aug. 30 for the 2014 Sapphire Awards.
The Sapphire Awards, given annually since 2005 by the Florida Blue Foundation, promote excellence in nonprofit community health leadership and programming in Florida.
Three categories of awards are available: program, organization and individual.
Recipients must demonstrate leadership, success and high merit while improving health-related outcomes of, or access to health-related services for, Florida's at-risk populations and communities.
"We need community members to help identify the best of the best in nonprofit health care," said Velma Monteiro-Tribble, Florida Blue Foundation director of grants and programs.
A total of $360,000 will be shared among the honorees for organization, program and individual.
Each winner will receive a prize for continuation of the initiative being recognized.
Applications and eligibility requirements are available online at bluefoundationfl.com.
The deadline to submit an application is Aug. 30.
The 2014 Sapphire Awards will be announced April 23-24 during the 2014 Sapphire Awards and Symposium at the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort.
Florida Blue Foundation is Florida's only statewide health care philanthropy dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the people of Florida and their communities.
It is a separate, philanthropic affiliate of Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company.
Student earns college scholarship
Dayshon Mathis, a 2013 graduate of Stanton College Preparatory School, was chosen by The Jim Moran Foundation as this year's North Florida African-American Youth Achiever. The award includes a four-year, needs-based scholarship to Florida State University.
Each year, a Duval County high school senior who qualifies for financial aid and receives admission to FSU is chosen for the award.
Funding is provided through The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at FSU.
"The Jim Moran Scholarship has been a blessing to me and my family. With it, I can now go to Florida State University with little financial stress," Mathis said.
Mathis will begin classes at FSU in the fall semester.
"As an exceptionally smart young man, Dayshon has a bright future ahead of him, but for Dayshon, his success isn't enough. He wants to motivate and help others reach their greatest potential," said Jan Moran, foundation chairman and president.
Founded by automotive executive Jim Moran, the mission of the foundation is to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of programs and opportunities that meet the needs of the community.
The foundation has invested more than $40 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.
To learn more, visit jimmoranfoundation.org.
School supplies needed to 'Stuff the Bus'
For more than 3,000 low-income children in North Florida, "First for You Stuff the Bus" will help prepare them for the first day of school.
Continuing a partnership that has provided thousands of children with school supplies in previous years, The Salvation Army, First Coast News, Publix Super Markets and the United Way are seeking community donations for the Stuff-the-Bus barrels in Publix stores in Duval, Clay, St. Johns and Nassau counties.
The annual drive runs through Aug. 5.
"The families served by 'Stuff the Bus' are not always sure of their next meal, so we want to help them by taking worries about school supplies off the table," said Maj. Thomas McWilliams, The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida area commander.
For a list of needed supplies and donation locations, visit the First Coast News website at firstcoastnews.com and click the "Stuff the Bus" tab on the home page.
To make a monetary donation, please visit salvationarmynefl.org and click the donate button.
Be sure to earmark donations "Stuff the Bus."