from staff
As our community continues to face a tight economy and shrinking budgets, the Daily Record has established this page that will each week chronicle the efforts of local nonprofit organizations. Bailey Publishing & Communications invites 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 encourage 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.
Girls learn healthy habits on the run
In a society where one in 10 5th grade girls is on a diet, girls today are in need of a space in which to find acceptance, play, learn, admit fears and most of all achieve success in a safe, noncompetitive environment that prepares them for the increasingly competitive world.
That’s where Girls on the Run (GOTR) comes in.
The mission is to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. Locally, Girls on the Run is in its fifth year and reached the milestone of serving more than 1,000 girls this past year at area schools and community centers.
During a 12-week program, 3rd through 6th grade girls are led by more than 120 trained volunteer coaches in a national curriculum that teaches them how to activate the power that they have within themselves. The curriculum uses interactive games to teach the lesson of the day on subjects such as healthy eating, making good decisions or learning how to deal with bullying. After 12 weeks, the running portion of the lesson has increased to 3.1 miles, or a 5K.
“This program celebrates what is going right with girls today,” says Chris Lester, GOTR board member and parent of a participant. “In a society so focused on prevention, it is wonderful to find a program that accepts girls for who they are right this very moment.”
The organization’s spirit is largely one of celebration. Coaches are encouraged to meet each girl on an individual level whether they are primarily a walker, runner or future track star. At the end of the season, all GOTR girls participate in a celebratory 5K event for participants and their families. Each girl wears a bib number with the number 1, reinforcing the noncompetitive aspect of the program and each girl receives a medal at the end of the race.
GOTR is not only transformational for girls in the program, but has a ripple effect on anyone involved with the girls, including parents, siblings and coaches. Coach and parent Lori Demeter said, “I can honestly tell you, it has transformed me, a former couch potato, to a marathoner and I continue to love running.”
Executive Director Meagan McKissick said, “I am torn between which is our biggest success story, the one that we will hear years from now, when a girl has changed her habits, or the story that we hear today about how one of our girls deals with daily 5th grade life.”
McKissick is not surprised when parents share that their daughters are better equipped to handle life situations because of tools learned at GOTR.
“Our girls are physically and emotionally better prepared to face the world,” she said.
The New Balance Girls on the Run 5K presented by Publix Super Markets is May 9 at 8:30 a.m. at FCCJ’s North Campus. Runners and walkers of all ages are invited to participate in the 5K event which includes a Family Festival for both participants and spectators. The run is one of several hundred nationwide that celebrates the accomplishments of GOTR girls and their families.
For more information on the 5K, visit www.gotrneflorida.org or pick up an entry form at any Publix Super Market. Online registration is also available.
For more information on Girls on the Run, call 730-9670 or visit [email protected].
March for Babies Saturday
The March of Dimes’ annual fundraising event, “March for Babies,” is Saturday morning at Metropolitan Park. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the 5-mile walk through Downtown and San Marco will step off at 9 a.m. A $10 minimum donation is requested of all participants.
Since 1970, the national campaign has raised $1.8 billion for programs that help mothers have healthy, full-term pregnancies and support birth defect research.
For more information or to register, call 398-2821 or visit www.marchforbabies.org.
Stellar Foundation Golf Classic Raises $50,000
Stellar, an international design, engineering, construction and mechanical services firm, donated $20,000 each to two local nonprofit organizations at its annual Stellar Foundation Golf Classic at the St. Johns Golf and Country Club.
This year Stellar selected Hope Haven Children’s Clinic and Family Center and Community PedsCare to be the major recipients of the tournament proceeds.
Hope Haven provides educational, psychological and related therapeutic services for children, families and young adults with special needs. The donation from Stellar will go toward a handicap accessible playground that will be used primarily by youth and young adults enrolled in their “after-school” type program BASICS. Many of those enrolled in the BASICS program have Down Syndrome, autism, developmental delay, muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy.
“This playground is badly needed and will provide a welcome a addition to the indoor activities,” said Laurie Price, executive director of Hope Haven.
Community PedsCare is the pediatric hospice and care program of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida. The Stellar Foundation’s donation will fund the program’s overall mission of providing support to an average of 100 babies and children per day.
“By supporting Community PedsCare, Stellar is helping to ensure that these children and their families are getting the support and care they need to manage pain and symptoms, enjoy quality time and create special memories,” said DeAnn J. Collins, Community Hospice Foundation executive director.
The event raised a total of $50,000. The funds remaining after the the two primary donations will be allocated to other local nonprofit groups.
Golf tournament benefits daniel clients
daniel’s 9th Annual Charity Golf Tournament raised $175,000 for daniel kids. Funds raised
at the event help the organization supplement their sub-acute care residential treatment programs, foster care services and more.
“With government support and even private donations shrinking, fund-raising events have played a critical role in filling the gap so we can maintain our quality services,” said daniel President and CEO Jim Clark.