Each spring, New England-based Jersey Mike’s Subs celebrates its Month of Giving, encouraging customers at more than 1,000 stores to donate a few extra dollars to a local charity chosen by the franchisers.
The campaign culminates this year with the Day of Giving on March 30 when all of the sales also are donated to the charity.
For Michael Phillips, who owns three Jersey Mike’s stores in Jacksonville, picking the local charity was an easy decision.
When Michael and Lindsay Phillips found out they were expecting twins, the first time parents-to-be were elated and nervous at the same time.
Lindsay’s pregnancy was routine but difficult, and the couple was ready when Sydney and Palmer were born in October 2012 at Baptist Medical Center South.
Even though they were full term, Sydney had medical issues that required a stay at the hospital’s Level II Newborn Intensive Care Unit.
“Sydney had a mild case of jaundice and her lungs needed extra time to fully develop so she spent a week in the NICU,” said Michael Phillips.
The infant was strong enough to go home about a week later.
Now, the girls are healthy 3-year-olds with personalities that drive their parents crazy like all kids their age, Phillips said.
When it was time to pick a local charity for this year’s campaign, Phillips threw Wolfson Children’s Hospital into the ring for consideration.
“Wolfson gives life and attention to so many kids that need it in this community and never asks for anything in return,” he said. “It was an easy organization for our group to support because the hospital touches so many people, and would not exist without the tremendous local support.”
Last year’s Month of Giving campaign raised more than $3 million for 150 charities nationwide.
Since 2010, Jersey Mike’s locations throughout the country have raised nearly $14 million for local charities and distributed more than 1.5 million free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes.
The company’s goal for this year is to raise $3.5 million nationally, most of which will be raised March 30 on the Day of Giving. That day’s sales from Jacksonville-area Jersey Mike’s sales will be to Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
For information about the campaign, visit jerseymikes.com/mog/.Weavers pledge
$900,000 for New Town
Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver announced a commitment of $900,000 over three years to the Local Initiative Support Corp. in Jacksonville.
The grant will be made through the Weaver Family Foundation Fund, a component fund of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
The money will help establish a Financial Opportunity Center in New Town in cooperation with United Way of Northeast Florida, revive LISC Jacksonville’s AmeriCorps program and, in collaboration with HabiJax, revitalize New Town’s commercial corridor along Kings Road.
Two components of a sustainable neighborhood are a vibrant, active commercial corridor and residents who earn a living wage and are working to build wealth through home ownership and savings. In many urban communities, retail corridors are underutilized.
In 2014, LISC MetroEdge analyzed the market area along Kings Road in New Town and in 2015, developed recommendations for transforming the district into a vibrant commercial corridor.
Over the next three years, consultants from Metro-Edge will work with stakeholders to transform Kings Road into a commercial hub for the community.
Based on a model developed by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Financial Opportunity Centers provide services in three areas: employment and career planning assistance; financial education and coaching; and access to income support.
AmeriCorps members help build sustainable communities by engaging neighborhood residents in revitalization efforts.
Founded in 1999, LISC Jacksonville works with residents and community-based organizations to promote neighborhood transformation and build healthy sustainable communities.
For more information, visit jaxcf.org or call (904) 353-1300.
GE Aviation volunteers clean up campuses
GE Aviation of Jacksonville and United Way of Northeast Florida joined forces March 1 and March 3 to celebrate GE Community Days.
More than 150 volunteers participated in 14 projects across Northeast Florida designed to promote goodwill and improve local campuses.
United Way and GE Aviation have partnered for the past six years to plan the annual days of service.
This year’s GE Community Days were made possible by a $9,400 GE community-service grant.
Since the annual program began, the organizations implemented more than 100 projects serving more than 30 local nonprofits and public schools in Duval County that support United Way’s work in education, income and health.
Volunteers focused on improving schools and campuses of United Way-funded agencies, as well as the home of Frances Alexander, a senior citizen in Nassau County.
Foster children meet Harlem Globetrotters
Cheers and laughter echoed throughout Veterans Memorial Arena when the Harlem Globetrotters brought their show to Jacksonville.
For a special group of foster children, the tour stop proved to be an inspiring experience both on and off the court.
Prior to the show, the children attended a private meet-and-greet with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Melinda Brown, circuit director of the Guardian ad Litem program, said the response to the opportunity was nearly double what she usually sees for ticket requests.
She said the volunteers recognized the impact that the once-in-a-lifetime experience could have on the children they serve.
Founded in 1979, the Guardian ad Litem program is the advocate for children in Clay, Nassau and Duval Counties. Volunteers are court-appointed special advocates whose sole job is to serve as the voice of the child.
The Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Florida’s First Coast Inc. supports the program through volunteer recruiting and training and provides necessities like shoes, clothing and school supplies.
To learn more about the program, donate or become a volunteer Guardian ad Litem visit galfirstcoast.org.