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.
Eye care for all ages
Vision Is Priceless Council (VIP) is a local nonprofit dedicated to keeping eyes healthy through early detection of eye diseases and vision problems. Many visual problems can be treated if caught early, such as amblyopia in children and glaucoma in adults. However, many people do not receive care until the problems are severe and harder to treat.
Each year VIP screens more than 30,000 children in Head Start programs, childcare centers, preschools, and independent schools. VIP also provides adults free acuity and glaucoma screenings throughout the community. Once screened, if referred for further evaluation, VIP facilitates services for those in financial need.
This past December the number of requests for assistance tripled and VIP is dedicated to meeting the growing demand. A recent Blue Foundation For a Healthy Florida grant, has given VIP the opportunity to partner with area free clinics to meet this need. More free screenings will be offered and exams will be offered to those in need at The Way Clinic and The Samaritan Clinic.
The importance of early vision screening is never more appreciated than by the thousands of children who, through our screening, are able to receive the treatment early enough to forever impact their lives.
One of our screened students was named honorary chair for this years’ 26th Annual BBQ & Boogie. Like many parents, Tori Hickinbotham’s parents would never have guessed that there was any problem with their daughter’s eyesight. Children learn quickly to compensate and often do not know that what they are seeing is not how everyone else sees the world.
When VIP visited Riverside Presbyterian Day School two years ago, they noticed Hickinbotham had little vision, if any, in her right eye. Those few hours that VIP visited the school were just enough to make a difference for Tori and her family. After receiving a VIP referral, Tori’s parents took her for an exam. Within a week she had surgery to remove the tumor on her eye, which was found to be malignant. This rare form of cancer is extremely hard to identify and may have otherwise gone undetected.
She is also thrilled to be this year’s honorary chair for VIP’s annual fundraising event this year.
For more than two decades volunteers have come together to cook and serve food to raise funds for Vision Is Priceless Council, to help keep First Coast eyes healthy. The 26th Annual BBQ & Boogie will be held on March 14 at 5 p.m. at the St. Augustine Rod and Gun Club. VIP invites everyone to join us for dinner, dancing to the Boogie Freaks Band, and a silent auction. Tickets are $35 each and all proceeds from the event support eye health programs. Miller Electric Company and W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractors have renewed their sponsorship of the event, showing their dedication to our community even during these difficult economic times. For information or tickets call 308-2020.
– Submitted by Stephanie E. Dollings, development coordinator, Vision Is Priceless Council.
Walk to Cure Diabetes Saturday
The 2009 Walk to Cure Diabetes sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation North Florida Chapter will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Metropolitan Park. More than 3,500 people are expected to participate this year with the goal of raising more than $500,000 for research focused on finding a cure for diabetes.
Vistakon Vice President Karin Grantham is the 2009 corporate chair and will lead team Vistakon’s 75 walkers who have pledged $50,000 toward this year’s campaign.
Other sponsors include CSX Transportation, Aetna, MPS Group, PGA Tour, the Gate Foundation, Crowley, the Jacksonville Home & Patio Show, LPS, Gale Force, Balfour Beatty, Family Care Partners and Accu-Chek. To register for the event call 739-2101 or visit www.jdrf.org.
Puckering up for pork and Learn to Read
Learn to Read’s 16th Annual Kiss the Pig for Literacy Campaign begins March 12. The event supports adult literacy programs and since 1993 more than 150 community and business leaders have volunteered for the cause. They solicit votes for the privilege of kissing a pig to advance the cause of helping people learn to read. Candidates raise funds among business and personal contacts at $1 per vote. The one who solicits the most votes will kiss a real, live pig in front of thousands of fans at the Jacksonville Suns game May 3 at the Baseball Grounds.
This year’s possible puckerers are Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief for Community Affairs and Special Events David Stevens, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Rescue Department Division Chief Charles Moreland and Florida Community College at Jacksonville President Dr. Steven Wallace.
The official kickoff rally for Kiss the Pig 2009 will be held March 12 at the Mudville Grille in St. Nicholas, where additional candidates for the kiss will be introduced. For more information call 399-8894.
Ability Housing received $25k grant
Bank of America Charitable Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to Ability Housing of Northeast Florida. The grant will support Ability Housing’s project to create 131 units of permanent housing for homeless families and those at risk of becoming homeless.
Ability Housing is the only local nonprofit agency with a mission focus of developing quality, affordable rental housing
to provide a permanent solution to the issue of homelessness
in the community. For more information visit www.abilityhousing.org.
‘Spring for the Arts’ this month
The Cathedral Foundation will hold its 5th Annual “Spring for the Arts” gala March 20 at Deerwood Country Club. It will be an evening of fine wine, dining and entertainment plus live and silent auctions to benefit Cathedral Arts Project’s after school programs for underserved elementary school students in Duval County. This year’s Guardian of the Arts honorees are Russell and Joannie Newton, the Honorary Chairs for the event are Preston and Joan Haskell.
Tickets are $125 per person, $75 for young professionals. For reservations call 281-5599 or visit www.capkids.org.