James D. Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Memorial Inc.
Mission
To provide quality services for youth and families, improving the odds for children.
Serving Jacksonville
Since 1884. Daniel Memorial is the oldest children’s agency in Florida. It began as an orphanage and has expanded to a multiservice agency serving more than 1,500 children annually.
Those served
All of Northeast Florida. While the corporate office is in Duval County, direct services also are provided to Nassau, Baker, Clay, St. Johns, Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Flagler, Volusia, Putman and Lake counties.
More than 1,500 children and families are helped annually through Daniel Memorial’s program services, including: residential treatment; group homes; foster homes; assistance for homeless teens; delinquency intervention; outpatient and mental health counseling; and adoption services. Additionally, more than 12,000 calls are answered annually for people desiring information about adoptions. Daniel operates the state’s Adoption Information Hotline.
Also, educational material produced by Daniel Memorial Institute is sold to other nonprofits throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada. Daniel’s independent living assessment materials are a standard in the industry for people working with homeless youth.
Biggest challenge
Funding. With the decrease in governmental funding, changes in insurance reimbursement and Medicaid decreases, Daniel relies more on private donations and special events to supplement direct care services.
Biggest satisfaction
Seeing our clients getting their life on track. For example, Kim J. was a homeless youth in our Project Prepare program. Kim manages two Starbucks and has a daughter completing her senior year at the University of North Florida.
Another alumni, Tim, was a Haitian youth who was abandoned by his parents several years ago. Through our Project Prepare program, he is completing his high school diploma and is employed.
Victoria was kicked out of her house by her mother who preferred the new boyfriend. Victoria was homeless, not going to school and began to run with an unhealthy crowd. Victoria is now working at Stein Mart, completed high school, is in college and is receiving a scholarship to assist with incidentals.
As president, I am fortunate to hear from children and families every week who thank us for the positive changes we have made in their child and/or family.
Hometown
Columbus, Ohio
Your first experience with community service
Helping with an inner-city underprivileged camp. My family believed in community service. When I was 10, I was responsible for planting a tree. At age 14, I was expected to have some type of employment. Mine was cutting grass. Part of my earnings was donated to the church or a local charity. My first paid job helping others was as a camp counselor in the inner city of Columbus, Ohio, working with disadvantaged youth at Camp Mary Orton.
I continued that tradition with my own children, who today contribute to Daniel and the United Way. My daughter, a Yale graduate, sits on the board of a boys and girls club in Cincinnati. My son, a Morehouse graduate, started a mentoring program at an elementary school in Atlanta.
Your job before Daniel Memorial
Director of Special Projects and New Programs for The Starr Commonwealth Schools in Albion, Mich. I worked for Starr Commonwealth for 20 years before we learned that Florida is a lot warmer. Starr Commonwealth is known for the phrase, “There is no such thing as a bad boy.” This is a preamble of Floyd Starr, and not Father Flannigan. In fact, if you are ever on “Jeopardy,” this question has been used to stump contestants. I have been with Daniel now for 19 years.
Upcoming events
Aug. 28: 126th Birthday Celebration, noon at the Belfort Road Campus. The cost is free. Contact Volunteer Coordinator Stephanie Cain at 296-1055, ext. 1007, to help.
Oct. 23: Second Annual Gala, Modis Building Downtown. The “Moonlight Masquerade” gala will be 7-11 p.m. Cost is $125 per ticket before Oct. 1 and $150 after.
Contact information
www.danielkids.org, 296-1055, [email protected]