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.
Subaru of Jacksonville contributes vehicles, time and money
Subaru of Jacksonville and its employees had a busy December supporting nonprofit organizations. They hosted the inaugural “Doggy Day” at the dealership in cooperation with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and found adoptive homes for many dogs and cats. The dealership also hosted a pizza party for the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Florida beaches location.
The local chapter of the Meals on Wheels Association of America also benefited from a Subaru of Jacksonville project. Six employees donated a day to drive three new Subaru Foresters all over Jacksonville to deliver food. On a national level, Subaru created the “Share the Love” event, through which new vehicle buyers can select one of five charities to receive a $250 donation from Subaru of America. The program is expected to raise as much as $5 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs, Meals on Wheels, ASPCA, Habitat for Humanity International and the National Wildlife Federation.
State legislator partners with Navy to help seniors
State Rep. Audrey Gibson was joined by the Jacksonville Children’s Commission and squadron VP-30 from Naval Air Station Jacksonville for the annual Dist. 16 fruit distribution to seniors. Gibson and the aviators presented bags of fruit to people at Riverview, Clanzel Brown, Moncrief and Longbranch Community Centers as well as Arlington Senior Center, Mary Singleton Senior Center and Hogan Creek Towers.
Police officers play Santa Claus
The Police Athletic League (PAL) partnered with FM-95.1 for a week-long toy drive that collected Christmas gifts for more than 300 children. In another PAL project, retired Police Chief Steve Weintraub and PAL board member Steve Vining organized an effort that raised more than $16,000 to make Christmas a better day for some children. PAL provided transportation to Wal-Mart for 85 children who each received a $200 gift card to use for shopping.
The Jacksonville chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) held its 6th annual “Shop with a Cop” day Dec. 22 at the Avenues Mall. Police officers were paired with 100 deserving children from local organizations including Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, 100 Black Men of Jacksonville, Police Athletic League, the Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Board and the Jacksonville Housing Authority. Each organization selected 20 children to participate based on grades in school, behavior and attitude. Each child received a $75 mall gift certificate. “Our officers want to be known as a positive resource for children. This event provides an opportunity to reward deserving children in the area and increases the interaction between police officers and the youth of Jacksonville. We hope the children will forge friendships and develop lasting respect for law enforcement,” said FOP President Nelson Cuba.
Children’s Home Society receives $10,000 donation
Insurance agents Greene-Hazel & Associates delivered a $10,000 check to the Children’s Home Society for a named endowment and legacy gift. The company opted to give the money to charity this year in place of its annual holiday party and gifts for clients. The Children’s Home Society of Florida was founded in 1902 and provides program services including adoption, foster care and Child abuse prevention.
Mardi Gras party in LaVilla
Community Connections Day Care Center will hold its 2nd annual Mardi Gras party Jan. 30 at the Ritz Theatre and LaVilla Museum. The organization provides homeless women and their children with housing and support services including day care for preschool children and after-school programs for school-age children. For details and reservations, call 350-9949.
Architects raise money for homeless
The Jacksonville Section of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) raised $2,400 for the Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless. Steve Lovett, ASLA member and founding partner with Ervin Lovett & Miller, hosted the event at his home with more than 100 guests. Presenting sponsors included the Tremron Group and ValleyCrest Companies.
Christmas breakfast at Sulzbacher Center
More than 250 homeless men, women and children woke up at the Sulzbacher Center on Christmas morning and discovered that breakfast was ready to be served. In addition to omelets, bacon and sausage and hash browns people also received gift stockings stuffed by the Stone family, The Bolles School girl’s soccer team, St. Catherine’s Catholic Church and Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church. Christmas cards were provided by residents of Sweetwater and Bank of America’s Hearts for the Holidays campaign. Bishop John J. Snyder High School donated poinsettias for the event.
Marines get help with Toys for Tots
Logistics and warehouse operator The Grimes Company partnered with the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program through a company-wide drive and donated more than 300 toys. Employees turned the effort into a competition between the company’s two locations on Ellis and Hyatt roads to see which office could collect the most toys. The inaugural toy drive was an effort to help the USMC meet its toy distribution goal this year while so many service personnel are deployed overseas.