The Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network is capping its 20th anniversary year serving LGBTQ youth (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) with a celebration at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.
The event will feature an exclusive “Equality Ale” brewed for the occasion by Intuition Ale Works. Entertainment includes performances by Plumb Honey, featuring Jessica Pounds and Pete Mosely of the local band, Canary in the Coalmine.
Disc jockey Sammy Jo will spin tunes throughout the evening. Food and a brief program will round out the event. Tickets are available at jasmyn.org.
Equality Ale will be available at local bars and restaurants through Nov. 15, with $1 donated to JASMYN for every pint sold. For a complete listing of where the special brew will be available, visit the Equality Ale Facebook page at facebook.com/events/561683133966445.
JASMYN was founded in 1994 when a young gay teen, responding to his own suicidal thoughts, reached out for support.
The celebration event’s co-chairs are Greg Foster and Lori Shad, and Citi is the title sponsor. Other sponsors include Chase Bank, Fidelity National Financial, Intuition Ale Works and O’Malley Real Estate.
The event is open to all and JASMYN alumni, current and former board members, friends and supporters will be in attendance. For tickets and more information, visit jasmyn.org.
Paul Davis completes renovation
Mike and Marguerite Mumford, owners of Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida, have completed the home repairs for a Jacksonville resident and homeowner.
James Aldridge now has a safe and comfortable home, plus he now is eligible for homeowner’s insurance.
Aldridge in 2011 hired a now-defunct general contractor to fix a damaged roof and handle other improvements. The contractor was given close to $30,000 to complete the project.
The contractor left the project, leaving the house with a faulty and leaking roof, torn-out kitchen, unusable bathroom and a hazardous carport. The property was unsafe and Aldridge had to move in with a family friend for more than a year. The contractor was arrested but the money was not recovered.
Aldridge found help from the local Paul Davis franchise and the company’s Restoring America program, which provides restoration and repairs to many individuals and families in Northeast Florida. Work began in August.
Paul Davis employees volunteered and worked with trade partners including Stonebridge Construction, a local firm that donated labor and materials to complete the roof. Other local companies donating time, materials and expertise included Gama Contractors LLC, Electric Plus Inc., Mike Brown Plumbing, Barnett, ABC Supply and Let’s Face It Inc.
Paul Davis serves customers in Baker, Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties. For more information, call (904) 739-6047 or visit the local office website at pdrestorationnf.com.
Edible Arrangements donating to veterans
Through Nov. 12, Edible Arrangements International is launching a Power of the Pop Campaign to support veterans and celebrate those who protect what is good in life.
“It is with great pride to raise funds for the veterans in our community,” said Lauren Little, owner of Edible Arrangements of Avondale and Bartram Park. “I come from a lineage of veterans from my father to my husband who both served in the U.S. Navy.”
Little served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps and in 2013 was selected as the Small Business Administration’s Veteran Business Leader of the Year for the North Florida District and the State of Florida.
Edible Arrangements International has partnered with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the first and largest organization for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families, with nearly 300,000 members and supporters nationwide. Little will donate $1 from the sale of each Pineapple Pop to the organization.
Justice Coalition awards at The Potter’s House
The Justice Coalition has named the recipients for the sixth annual Champions for Justice Awards Dinner, which will be Thursday at The Potter’s House, 5119 Normandy Blvd.
Awards will be given in three categories, plus the sheriffs from six Northeast Florida counties have named individuals in their jurisdictions to receive the Sheriff’s Choice for Extraordinary Citizen Award.
The Extraordinary Citizen Award will be given to Beverly McClain, founder of Families of Slain Children Inc. She began the organization after the murder of her son eight years ago. McClain offers a support system to those who have lost a child to murder by providing comfort, as well as clothing and food. She also has helped the Justice Coalition to provide emergency assistance of food, clothing and transportation to a victimized family.
The Extraordinary Business Leader Award goes to Steve Halverson, CEO of the Haskell Co. Halverson has given both his time and financial support and has been a mentor to the organization. He also provided assistance in raising awareness for the Justice Coalition among his fellow area business leaders.
The Extraordinary Government Official Award will be given to state Sen. Rob Bradley and state Rep. Charles McBurney. Both legislators have recognized the Justice Coalition’s work and have helped increase recognition of the organization’s efforts in Tallahassee. They have joined the Justice Coalition in the fight for tougher laws on criminals and the fight against crime.
The sheriffs from the six counties named the following as the Extraordinary Community Volunteer Service award winners: Baker County Sheriff Joey Dobson named Judge Phyllis M. Rosier; Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith chose Dale Murphy; Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler selected Javardo and Cindy Jones: Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford picked the Rev. John Guns; Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper named Dana Fitzgerald; and St. Johns Sheriff David Shoar chose Tom and Anne Robert.
Firehouse Subs is the presenting sponsor of the event. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit justicecoalition.org
Tebow Foundation hosts special-needs prom
To celebrate its fifth anniversary, the Tim Tebow Foundation will sponsor up to 50 churches around the country willing to serve as hosts for the foundation’s “Night to Shine” special needs prom.
“Our goal for this nationwide event is to sponsor a church in 50 different cities, creating an unforgettable prom experience for people with special needs,” said Erik Dellenback, executive director of the Tim Tebow Foundation.
The Feb. 13 event, for youth ages 16 and older, will be held simultaneously at participating churches across the country. Each prom will include a red carpet entrance with paparazzi, limousine rides, hair and makeup beauty stations, shoe shines, a dance floor and food. At least 100 people with special needs are expected to attend at each church.
“We are so excited to be able to create this opportunity for thousands of people around the country with special needs,” said Tim Tebow, founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation. “This event perfectly fits our mission to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.”
For more information on the Night to Shine special needs prom or how you or your church can be involved, visit the events section of timtebowfoundation.org.
Brightway Insurance supports Exchange Club
Local independent Brightway Insurance franchise owner Bobby Raymond and Safeco Insurance are giving the Safeco Make More Happen Award to The Northeast Exchange Club Family Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
The award includes a $3,000 donation to help local families.
The Safeco Make More Happen Award is available for all Safeco carrier agencies.
“We are grateful to present this award. This donation will go a long way toward the prevention of child abuse and the strengthening of local families,” said Raymond.
The Northeast Exchange Club is now entered in the online Make More Happen contest with other winners from around the country.
Organizers encourage the public to vote for charities through Nov. 17. The winning charity could receive up to $10,000. To vote for The Northeast Exchange Club, go to safeco.com/make-more-happen.
Local bank helping to 'Light the Night’
CenterState Bank is taking its community service to the next level through its corporate walk team for the Northern and Central Florida Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2014 Light The Night Walk. The annual Jacksonville walk is Thursday at The Jacksonville Landing.
“The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society funds more than $1.6 million in our area to researchers trying to find cures for blood cancer, and we think it is important for CenterState Bank to be part of that effort,” said Matt Maynor, special assets manager of CenterState Bank’s North Florida Region.
Maynor serves as Chairman of the LLS Board and is the captain of CenterState Bank’s walk team.
Some of the fundraising ideas the walk team is using include a bake sale Friday at several Downtown buildings featuring 50 pies that will be given away in exchange for donations to their walk team.
Customers at each branch have an opportunity to buy paper balloon pinups in support of Light The Night. The bank instituted a “Dress Down for a Cause Day” where staff members may donate $5 and wear jeans on designated Fridays. Top individual fundraisers on the team are eligible for prizes like a steak lunch freshly-prepared to their specifications at their branch and a two-night stay in St. Augustine during the holiday lighting festivities.
Jacksonville is one of approximately 185 communities across the United States and Canada in which the society holds walks each fall. The society hopes to raise $500,000 through this year’s event.
To find out more about supporting a team or participating in a Light The Night Walk, contact the Northern & Central Florida Chapter at (904) 332-6414, ext. 2463, or visit lightthenight.org.