Last year, 26.2 with Donna fundraisers were challenged to build teams to raise at least $10,000 for a matching donation from Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver. Supporters met the challenge and their efforts resulted in a $100,000 match.
This year, the Weavers are challenging teams to raise $10,000 or more for a maximum matching donation of $125,000.
“This type of incentive will push us to our goal of ending breast cancer so much faster,” said Donna Deegan, founder of 26.2 with Donna.
The event is expected to raise more than $400,000, with all of the money going to breast cancer research at Mayo Clinic and to care for the underserved with breast cancer through The Donna Foundation.
The seventh annual race will start Sunday at ATP Tour Boulevard in Ponte Vedra Beach, continue through the four beach communities, over the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge and finish at Mayo Clinic.
Access to communities along the route may be inhibited for up to seven hours beginning at 6 a.m. on race day. Beaches residents are encouraged to plan for delays.
No vehicles will be permitted to park on impacted city streets beginning after 6 p.m. Saturday through Sunday until the streets are opened for access.
Significant road closures include:
• Boulevard will be closed eastbound at Hodges Boulevard starting at 5:30 a.m.
• A1A northbound at ATP Tour Boulevard will be closed to Corona Road starting at 7:30 a.m. until approximately 8:30 a.m.
• A1A southbound at ATP Tour Boulevard will be closed at 7:30 a.m. until approximately 8:00 a.m.
• Ponte Vedra Boulevard from Corona to 37th Ave South will be closed from 7:30 a.m. until approximately 9:30 a.m.
Download a complete list of course street closures at
breastcancermarathon.com/volunteer/spectators/.
Sharks collecting pet food March 2
The 2013 Arena Football League South Division Champion Jacksonville Sharks will play a free preseason benefit scrimmage for a fourth consecutive year. This season, the Sharks will host their division rival Tampa Bay Storm for a game that kicks off at 4 p.m. March 2, on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.
For the second straight season, the Sharks have partnered with First Coast No More Homeless Pets, a nonprofit working to end the unnecessary killing of dogs and cats in shelters. Admission to the scrimmage is free, but fans are asked to bring a donation of pet food that will be collected outside the arena. Cash donations also will be accepted.
More than 15,000 pounds of pet food was collected during last year’s scrimmage.
While bags of dry dog and cat food are the clinic’s greatest need, canned food will be accepted at the event. The pet food bank is critically low.
A full wish list can be found online at fcnmhp.org/pdf/wish_list.pdf.
Tim Tebow Celebrity Classic at TPC Sawgrass
The Tim Tebow Foundation will host its annual Celebrity Golf Classic on March 15 at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Spectator tickets are available through timtebowfoundation.org for $15 (adults) and $10 (18 and under).
This year’s celebrities include Emmitt Smith, Bubba Watson, Rob Schneider and members of the family featured on “Duck Dynasty.”
Fans unable to make it to the tournament can support the event through the Golf Ball Drop.
Each golf ball sponsored for a donation of $15 will be dropped from a helicopter onto a target on the practice facility immediately following the round.
Prizes will be awarded to the five balls closest to the pin, with a grand prize of two tickets to next year’s exclusive celebrity gala and a meet and greet with Tebow.
For more information, visit timtebowfoundation.org.
K9s for Warriors building at Nocatee
The K9s for Warriors program soon will be able to aid more veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries.
The PARC Group has joined forces with Summit Contracting Group Inc. to donate the land and construction of a new training facility, where veterans from around the country can come to be paired with service dogs that will assist them in making the transition back into civilian life.
Summit Contracting Group will donate construction of the new facility, which will be built on nine acres of land in Nocatee donated by the Davis Family and The PARC Group.
Currently, K9s for Warriors is able to accommodate four veterans per month at its existing three-acre facility in Ponte Vedra Beach. Veterans participating in the program live on-site for three weeks while they are paired and trained to work with their service dogs.
According to K9s for Warriors, 95 percent of its graduates are still paired successfully with their service dogs one year later, while 92 percent are able to either reduce or eliminate their need for anti-anxiety medications within six months of completing the program.
Founded in 2011, K9s for Warriors is a not-for-profit organization that trains the dogs and matches them with soldiers.
For more information, visit k9sforwarriors.org.
Attorneys support mentoring program
Rain, cold weather,and the bitter news of six more weeks of winter didn’t top the ninth annual Groundhog Day Extravaganza, the February tradition put on by the Tritt & Associates law firm.
More than 350 people celebrated their love-hate relationship with Punxsutawney Phil at the Haskell Building in Riverside.
While music and networking maintained the party’s tradition, this year’s party had a different significance.
Through a 50/50 raffle at the event, Tritt & Associates will be presenting the ACE Mentor Program of Northeast Florida a donation of more than $500. The organization encourages high school students to pursue careers in architecture, construction and engineering.
Robert Fernandez with Danis Construction won the drawing and donated his 50 percent earnings back to ACE.
“I wanted to do something different this year. It’s important to give back and influence the youth of the construction community,” said Arnold Tritt Jr., managing partner of the firm.
BB&T helps build eighth Habitat home in St. Augustine
BB&T Senior Vice President Robert C. Mason presented Habitat for Humanity board President Gary Jordan a check for $49,500 to be used to pay for materials to complete the home at 840 Avery St. in St. Augustine.
BB&T also will provide volunteers to assist with construction. It is the eighth home BB&T is sponsoring in St Augustine and will be one of 116 homes built by Habitat in St. Johns County.
BB&T’s local donations to Habitat for Humanity total more than $400,000.
The future homeowner, Althea Williams, is a financially independent single mother of two children.
“It’s going on two years. I’m getting excited,” said Williams, who has been working with Habitat to complete her required 250 “sweat equity” hours. Her new home will be completed in a few months.
Habitat has more potential homeowner applicants than it has the capacity for and has temporarily ceased accepting applications.
While Habitat uses grants and other funding sources, the main source of sustainable funding comes from the community, both individuals and businesses.
To learn more, visit habitatstjohns.org.