Preston Haskell was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award upon nomination by the North Florida Council and the Boy Scouts of America.
The award is granted to Eagle Scouts who, after 25 years, have distinguished themselves in their work and who have shared their talents with their communities on a voluntary basis. The presentation was made Friday during the JAXUSA Partnership Luncheon.
Haskell is founder and president of The Haskell Co., a national design-build firm. The citation noted his service with the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, the Cummer Museum of Art, the Alliance for World Class Education, the JAX Chamber, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and the United Way of Northeast Florida, among other accomplishments.
New free dental clinic opens in West Jacksonville
Community Health Outreach opened its Healing Hands Clinic last month. The new clinic is the only free dental clinic for the nearly 200,000 qualified, low-income adults in Duval County.
The clinic was built largely through community fundraising and in-kind donations and has six dental stations, six primary-care medical exam rooms, a lab, a sterilization room and administrative offices.
Community Health Outreach expects the clinic to serve about 5,000 patients this year. At capacity, the clinic can serve as many as 20,000 patients each year.
Contributors to Community Health Outreach’s Healing Hands Clinic project include The Weaver Family Fund, The Haskell Co., Rotary Club of North Jacksonville, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and The Apple Project.
The Healing Hands Clinic facility is located at 5126 Timuquana Road near Jacksonville Naval Air Station. There is currently a waitlist for services. New patients must complete a pre-qualification questionnaire to join the waitlist.
Community Health Outreach is reaching out to area dentists, doctors and the community to help defray the operating costs of the clinic. Dentists and doctors donating their time to the Healing Hands Clinic will receive sovereign immunity benefits. Monetary donations can be made to Community Health Outreach through their website at chojax.org.
Delores Barr Weaver Fund challenges Memorial Park
The Memorial Park Association has launched a $20,000 community fundraising campaign to support restoration projects within the park along the St. Johns River near Five Points.
The association will receive a $20,000 Matching Restoration Challenge Grant from the Delores Barr Weaver Fund upon completion of the fundraising goal.
“Memorial Park is a true gem in our midst and is important to so many who enjoy its beauty, history and serenity,” said Delores Barr Weaver.
Funds from the campaign will support restoration of the park’s facilities, including the entry gate and the fencing along Riverside Avenue. Contributions may be made at memparkjax.org.
The Delores Barr Weaver Fund at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida was established in 2012 with a $50 million gift. It remains the largest gift in the foundation’s 51-year history.
Children’s commission seeks summer food sites
The Jacksonville Children’s Commission and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have joined forces to provide snacks and lunches to Jacksonville children through Aug. 7.
The commission is seeking partners to help serve free lunches and snacks to alleviate child hunger in low-income neighborhoods.
To qualify as a summer food site, the location must be in an area where there is a school with at least 50 percent of its students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program, allow access to all neighborhood children and provide the food free of charge.
Nutritionally balanced meals will be provided to all children regardless of race, color, gender, disability, age or national origin during summer vacation when school lunches are not available.
To apply to become a serving site, visit the jaxkids.net Nutrition Services, Summer Food Service Program page and download the site application and site letter or call (904) 630-6430.
Each year, more than 12,000 Duval County children receive nutritious snacks and lunches at no cost to parents through the Summer Food Service Program.
Any Duval County child under the age of 18 can receive a lunch by visiting one of the designated summer food sites throughout the city.
A “Free Meals Here” banner with meal times indicated will be posted at each site. Children do not need to be enrolled in other programming at the site to receive lunch, they just need to show up during meal times.
Looking for ‘good guys and gals’
Mike Davidson Ford has partnered with Client Focused Media and HandsOn Jacksonville to help fund local nonprofits.
The iVotetoGive.com “Give to the Good Guys” campaign seeks people who volunteer, work with or support an area nonprofit.
Nominations identified 25 Jacksonville candidates, including representatives of Susan G. Komen of North Florida and the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast.
“We believe there are many ‘Good Guys and Gals’ working to make Jacksonville a better place. We’re happy to bring more awareness to these nonprofits by reaching out to help the individuals making a positive impact within our community,” said Mike Davidson Ford General Manager Rob Henry.
Visitors to iVotetoGive.com have the opportunity to vote for their favorite candidate. The top three with the highest votes will be awarded a combined total of $5,000 in cash and in-kind media services as well as will be featured in an issue of BUZZ Magazine. Voting is open through July 3.
Lemonade for charity Saturday in Nocatee
Coastal Oaks at Nocatee in Ponte Vedra is lending its support to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and its mission to end childhood cancer.
From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, a lemonade stand and activities for children will be set up across from the Coastal Oaks at Nocatee Sales Center. The public is invited to attend.
All proceeds will support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, which shares the cure for children’s cancer vision of founder and creator, Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who died in 2004. To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has raised more than $100 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding more than 475 research projects nationally.
New website for JAX Chamber Foundation
The JAX Chamber Foundation launched a new website that will raise awareness of its initiatives.
The website is jaxchamberfoundation.org.
Founded in 1978 and serving Northeast Florida, the foundation funds community leadership, workforce development and entrepreneurial education programs in support of long-term regional prosperity.
Its initiatives include the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center and its programs; the Small Business Center’s micro-enterprise certification program; and the Earn Up workforce development program to increase the region’s college attainment.
The website will not only raise awareness of the diversity of programs the foundation supports, but also presents participation, volunteer and partnership opportunities.
The foundation’s mission is to promote educational and charitable purposes through regional economic development, fostering a positive business climate and leveraging resources that create and expand businesses in Northeast Florida.
The primary areas of focus include entrepreneurial education, community leadership, education and workforce development.