The Daily Record invites the local nonprofit community to submit news, announcements, success stories and other information they believe would be of interest to our readers. Email to: [email protected].
Challenge raises $400,000 for Wolfson Children’s Hospital
More than 3,000 people took part in activities linked to the eighth annual Wolfson Children’s Challenge.
Nearly two-thirds of the participants — 1,900 — ran in the events at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. There were 11 solo runners in the 55K Ultra Marathon; 47 in the 30K individual run; 144 Ultra Relay teams made up of two to 11 runners; and about 320 runners in the 1-Mile Fun Run.
The top three male finishers in the 55K Ultra Marathon Individual Run were Dan MacGregor, 46, of Jacksonville; Adam Holmes, 39, of Middleburg; and Ed Ferrell, 53, of Grayson, Ga.
The top three women were Jennifer Joy, 47, Bambi Pennycuff, 39, and Natalia Terreros, 36, all of Jacksonville.
The day also featured performances by the Jacksonville Jaguars’ D-Line, Karate America and the band flipturn, as well as activities for children and families and barbecue from 4 Rivers Smokehouse.
Proceeds from the challenge, with a match from Baptist Health, will contribute $400,000 to the Wolfson Children’s Challenge endowment.
Wal-Mart offering grants to fight hunger
The Wal-Mart Foundation is offering grants of $25,000-$200,000 to nonprofits with hunger relief programs, including food pantries and SNAP outreach.
The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Friday.
The retail giant and its foundation have committed to provide four billion meals from 2015-20, through grants and food donations, according to a news release.
Last year, Wal-Mart and the foundation provided Florida nonprofits with more than $78.1 million in cash and in-kind donations, as well as 41 million pounds of food.
“We see these grants as opportunities to use our size and strengths to help others,” said Monesia Brown, Wal-Mart’s state giving program council chair.
Grant applications are accepted online only at bit.ly/walmartgrants.
Mayo donates laptops to The Bridge
The Bridge of Northeast Florida received 10 laptops from Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.
The HP EliteBooks will be available to high school students participating in programs highlighting job-skills training, membership and enrichment opportunities, according to a news release.
The students are part of the nonprofit’s Bridge Urban-Springfield After School programs.
Many of the students do not have internet access or a computer at home. The computers will allow them to work on homework, college and scholarship essays and job applications.
The Bridge of Northeast Florida provides opportunities and support to overcome barriers to success to more than 3,500 children in low-income, high-crime areas.
Scholarship application deadline is April 1
April 1 is the deadline to apply for scholarships for women through Elizabeth Edgar Hall Inc.
The nonprofit provides financial aid to women seeking post-secondary education in Jacksonville, according to its website.
There are three scholarship types available:
• Della M. Levin Scholarship: Applicants must be full-time students, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 and have completed 24 semester hours. There is one $2,500 award available.
• Elizabeth Edgar Hall Founders Scholarship: Applicants must be full-time students, have a GPA of at least 3.0 and have completed 24 hours. There is one $2,000 award available.
• Elizabeth Edgar Hall Scholarship: Applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA, be full-time students and have completed 12 semester hours. There are 10 awards available, ranging from $1,000-$2,000.
Only the first 30 completed applications will be considered. Winners will be announced in June.
For information, visit eehinc.org.
Fashion show benefits young cancer patients
The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation is hosting the inaugural Jacksonville Fashion Funds the Cure on March 4.
Girls and boys battling cancer will make their debut on the runway, modeling clothes from Dillard’s. Proceeds benefit the foundation.
The fundraiser is at 1:30 p.m. at Dillard’s at St. Johns Town Center. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/jaxfashioncure.
Arts nonprofit helping Vilano Beach group
Ponte Vedra-based Art 4 Charities has added a seventh nonprofit to the list of groups it helps.
Vilano Beach Main Street’s mission is to educate the public about the significance of that area’s architecture, history, environment and culture, according to a release.
Art 4 Charities is organizing charity auctions at upcoming events, such as First Friday Art Walk, Dish and Fish and a tennis tournament. The group also will have live and silent art auctions at Vilano Beach and St. Augustine area hotels.
For more information on hosting an art auction to support a charity, call (904) 469-7428 or email [email protected].
Other nonprofits helped by Art 4 Charities include Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, Learn to Read of St. Johns County and St. Augustine Youth Services.
Wearing the same dress 5 days is good
Junior League of Jacksonville members are participating in the Little Black Dress Initiative this week.
The social media-driven campaign seeks to raise awareness of poverty, according to a news release.
Launched in London in 2014, Junior League members there wore the same black dress every day to work, parties and other events to increase awareness and raise funds for poverty.
The dress represents the limited choices and resources of people who live in poverty, the release said. The successful campaign spread to Junior Leagues worldwide.
One in four Duval County children live in poverty, the release said.
Local Junior League members will wear a pin that reads, “Ask Me About My Dress” to let people know about the initiative.
For information or to donate, visit jljacksonville.org/LBDI2017.
Follow the campaign on social media with hashtags #theLBDI and #JLJaxBuildIt.