from staff
As our community continues to struggle with a tight economy and shrinking budgets, the Daily Record has established this page that will each week feature local nonprofit organizations. We invite all members of the local nonprofit community to submit news, announcements, success stories and any other information they feel would be of interest to our readers. E-mail to: [email protected].
We also hope that this will enable our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they try to continue to provide valuable services with reduced resources.
Record year for Empty Bowls Luncheon
The 24th Annual “Empty Bowls” event attracted more than 1,200 attendees and raised more than $75,000 for the Second Harvest Food Bank. This year’s luncheon, presented by Bank of America and catered (chicken noodle soup) by Chik Fil-A, placed the spotlight on the issue of hunger and its effect on people and communities in North Florida. School children, senior citizens groups and other organizations crafted ceramic bowls which were taken home by attendees as a symbolic reminder of the struggle hungry people face each day. To view the photo gallery, visit www.wenourishhope.org.
Woody’s BBQ and Blockbuster Video support Second Harvest
Woody’s BBQ restaurants in Jacksonville are holding a holiday food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank. For every nonperishable food donation at the restaurants patrons receive a $10 coupon for their next visit. Blockbuster Video locations are also providing drop-off points for donations to the food bank.
Local film company plays Santa
Thirty children from Triumph Community Development Center (CDC) got a shopping trip to Kohl’s department store on Atlantic Boulevard provided by Nicholas Furris and his partners in Spectrum Films, Inc., Kyle Summerall and Stuart Neal, provided each child a $50 Kohl’s gift card. Kohl’s employees donated their off hours time to escort the children around the store and Kohl’s presented a $500 grant to Triumph CDC, which provides after-school programs to students age 6-16 years. Spectrum Films also produced a short film about the charity — “Be the Loaf” — to help begin a fundraising effort. For more information, visit www.triumphcommunity.org.
Stellar delivers gifts to Community PedsCare
Jacksonville-based design, engineering, construction nd mechanical services firm Stellar played Santa Claus last week. Employees delivered more than 130 gifts to children and their families at Community PedsCare, a pediatric hospice program for children with life-threatening conditions. Stellar “adopted” a child in the program, or a sibling or parent, and bought items on their wish list. Hospice services are employed when a child has a life expectancy of less than six months and has discontinued aggressive curative treatment. Community PedsCare is a program of Community Hospice in collaboration with Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Clinic and the University of Florida.
Red Rose Ball set for February
St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation’s “Red Rose Ball” will feature the work of local artist Elisa Olderman Johnson, who combines photography with X-ray imaging. The 2009 black-tie event is Feb. 9 at the Marriott Sawgrass and will benefit the St. Luke’s Patient-Family Imaging Waiting Center. This year’s title sponsor is Wachovia. Presenting sponsors are Bacardi Bottling Company and Premier Beverage. A limited number of tickets are available for $300 per person. For details, call 308-7338.
Toy train display in Orange Park
The 9th Annual Kids Christmas Railroad Toy Train Exhibit to benefit the Children’s Home Society of Florida will be on display through Monday at First Christian Church at 2876 Moody Ave. in Orange Park. The display will be closed Wednesday and Christmas Day. Admission is free and donations will be accepted for the charity.
Challenge grant for Safe Harbor Boys Home
The Collectors Foundation has awarded Safe Harbor Boys Home a challenge grant of $10,000 to support their Engine Restoration Program. Part of the integrated academic and vocational curriculum at Safe Harbor, the program provides the boys with hands-on restoration and rebuilding skills for all types of diesel and gasoline engines. Funds will subsidize the purchase of program materials including tools and machinery needed and stipends for visiting professionals.
Advertising executive honored for community service
Michael Munz, executive vice president, partner and director of public relations at The Dalton Agency, was honored at the 25th Anniversary Luncheon of the Bridge of Northeast Florida. He received the Exemplary Advocate for Children’s Services Award for his activities in community service and with city leaders to raise awareness of the issues of children who live in poverty and their need for programs for education and after school services.
In-kind contribution for Dreams Come True
TRC Staffing Services, Inc. awarded a community service grant to Dreams Come True comprised of 40 free hours of temporary staff time that was used for administrative help during the holiday season. Dreams Come True is a local nonprofit corporation dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of children battling life-threatening illnesses. Founded in 1984, the organization has created dreams for more than 2,400 children in Northeast Florida and southeast Georgia.
Teddy bears for patients spending Christmas in hospital
While every effort is made to release patients to be home for Christmas, about 75 children are expected to be in Wolfson Children’s Hospital Thursday due to the severity of their conditions. Through the efforts of the (Jaguars head coach) Jack Del Rio Foundation, players Marcedes Lewis, Clint Ingram, Tony Pashos, Quentin Groves, Derrick Harvey, Mike Walker, Derek Landri and Drew Miller visited the hospital Monday and delivered teddy bears to those patients.
Jaguars joins Blue Cross Blue Shield for fundraiser
Jaguars running back Fred Taylor hosted a “Holiday Adoption Program” at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Deerwood campus last week to accept donations from BCBSF employees and make a personal donation of $5,000. Hundreds of employees either adopted a specific family or donated toys, clothing or food items to be distributed to needy families. This year’s designated agencies included the Florida Department of Children and Families, Family Support Services, The Child Guidance Center, DLC Nurse and Learn, Community Hospice, Community Connections and Jewish Family and Community Services.
Symphony audiences donate to Salvation Army
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra partnered with the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree and Forgotten Angels programs for the fifth annual toy drive. People who attended performances of the First Coast Nutcracker, Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra’s “Sounds of the Season” and “Holiday Pops” brought unwrapped gifts and donated money to the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary. More than 400 needy children will receive an “Angel Bag” for Christmas that includes clothing, a Christmas stocking and a toy.
New ‘Mud Run’ event to debut next year
The North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will add a new fundraiser to their roster of events in 2009. The “MS Mud Run Jacksonville” is Feb. 29 marking the first time an event of its type will be held in Northeast Florida. Described as a “boot camp-style obstacle course race” for teams of two or five people, the inaugural event will be held on an open parcel of land at Cecil Commerce Center. Registration is $40 per person and each participant will agree to raise a minimum of $100 for the charity. A Web site will go online for the event Jan. 1 at www.mudrunjax.com.