from staff
As our community continues to face a struggling 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.
Helping one family at a time
Want to hear a disturbing statistic? More than 750,000 Americans find themselves homeless each night. Even more frightening is that 40 percent of them are women and their children. But the worst number is nine: the average age of a homeless person in our program.
In 2006 a small non-profit called Family Promise of Jacksonville was established as a way of providing a community approach to this crisis. The business itself is a small operation: an executive director, a case manager and two part-time drivers.
What the organization is able to accomplish is remarkable. Considering its annual budget of $120,000 Family Promise operates with an estimated $300,650 of in-kind donations each year. Simply put, every dollar donated is matched by more than $3 in goods and services.
Family Promise is an interfaith hospitality network which involves 15 area churches and hundreds of volunteers. Each participating congregation in the network provides overnight lodging, meals and hospitality for three families a week on a rotating basis. The church members are referred to as “hosts” and the families are “guests.”
Each night families arrive around 6 p.m. and are greeted by friendly volunteers who’ve prepared dinner for them. After dinner is over, hosts may help the children with homework, provide an activity or just listen and provide support. Each family stays in a private room set aside for them and the network provides inflatable beds for them to sleep on. Overnight hosts are responsible for ensuring their guests’ comfort, safety and privacy. When morning comes, guests are taken to the Family Center where they prepare for their day, meet with staff and most importantly, seek housing and employment.
The network only accepts those willing and able to work full time. Since all living expenses are covered, guests are expected to save at least 75 percent of their income for their first month’s rent and deposit. Creating or updating a resume is the first item of business. Then guests search daily for job leads and are given the use of Internet, fax and bus tickets to aid in their search for employment. Often volunteers that have hosted these families are able to connect them with promising job leads or important contacts.
Length of stay for each family is determined by their level of commitment to the program. The goal is to have each family into their own housing within 90 days of admission. Due to its unique format, Family Promise has a stringent screening process. Those with substance abuse issues, a criminal history, unaddressed and/or major mental health concerns and domestic violence issues are not admitted. In addition, guests must have the proper character, positive outlook and communication skills in order to be a good fit for the program.
The result is an 85 percent success rate for families that have been through the program and remain self sufficient. That is a much easier statistic for anyone to swallow.
For more information about this program, visit www.familypromisejax.org.
– Submitted by Family Promise of Jacksonville Executive Director Mark Landschoot.
Canstruction winners announced
“The Cat in the Can,” an homage to Dr. Seuss’s iconic “Cat in the Hat” character built by Skanska USA Building and Ghyabi & Associates won the People’s Choice Award in the 2009 Canstruction benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank. The installation is made of 1,725 cans of soup, tuna and tomato sauce. This year more than 260 people cast ballots for their favorite display at the Main Library.
The Juror’s Favorite Award went to the Haskell Company’s “Wall-E,” which also won awards for Best Use of Labels and Best Meal. This year’s Structural Ingenuity Award was won by “Shining a Light on Hunger” which was designed and built by HDR.
Honorable Mention awards were also bestowed on “The Cat in the Can” and “The Hole-y Grail,” a replica of the island green at the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass. It was designed and built by Connelly & Wicker and will be again on display at the Landing in May during The Players Championship.
Big debut for Trail of Tails
More than 1,000 people and their pets participated in the Jacksonville Humane Society’s “Trail of Tails” Pet Walk and festival last month at Friendship Park.
“We are so thankful to the people of Jacksonville who solicited sponsorships and walked in our inaugural Trail of Tails,” said Leona Sheddan, executive director of the society. “Thanks to our supporters, we raised a significant amount of money through this event but we are just shy of our goal and hope to raise $10,000 more to help pay for spays and neuters, medicine and shelter for the animals in our care.”
Online fundraising for the event will continue through March 28 at www.firstgiving.com/jaxhumane. All proceeds will benefit the jacksonville Humane Society, which was founded in 1885 and serves more than 4,000 animals each year. The organization is dedicated to finding loving, permanent homes for animals by matching people with the pet that is right for them.
Heart Ball a fundraising success
The American Heart Association’s 2009 Heart Ball, held Feb. 14 at the Sawgrass Marriott, raised more than $235,000 for cardiovascular research.
Humana Jacksonville Market President Bruno Littleton guided the evening’s events with Ch. 12/25 news anchor Deanna Fene and State Rep. Aaron Bean. Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police President Nelson Cuba was surprised by Sheriff John Rutherford when he announced Cuba was the American Heart Association’s 2009 honoree. Cuba was recognized for his commitment to the community and efforts that raised more than $80,000 for children with heart defects to attend Boggy Creek Camp in 2008 and this year’s automated external defibrillator special appeal that raised more than $44,000 to provide the devices to schools and community centers.
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives free of heart attack and stroke. Those diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases cause nearly 870,000 deaths each year. To lean more, visit www.americanheart.org.
Golf tournament to benefit HabiJax
“The Crew,” young professionals for HabiJax, will host its 2nd annual charity golf outing, “Golf Fore Homes,” March 27 at Queen’s Harbour Yacht & Country Club. This year’s title sponsor is Synovus Bank, the presenting sponsor is Coastal Construction Products, Inc. Dan Hicken, sports director for Ch. 12/25, will be the celebrity guest and master of ceremonies.
The greens fee is $150 per golfer and $600 per foursome. participants will check in at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. After the tournament, golfers will have lunch, bid on silent auction items and prizes for first and second place as well as longest drive and closest to the pin will be announced.
“HabiJax’s goal for the 2008-09 fiscal year is to start 40 new homes with sponsorships in Jacksonville’s urban core. Fundraisers like Golf Fore Homes make this an attainable goal,” said Stephanie White, board president of The Crew.
To register to play or learn details about sponsorships, call Ashley Bizarri at 235-3320 or e-mail [email protected]. Registration forms are also available at www.habijax.org.