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 believe 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.
Walkers raise funds for research
More than 5,000 people participated in North Florida’s 2010 Walk to Cure Diabetes April 10 at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation raised $440,000 from the event. Proceeds from the walk support research vital to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications.
“It was a perfect day. Great weather and 5,000 people there, all with love and support of JDRF in their hearts. It does not get any better than this,” said Bill Hughes, 2010 Walk corporate chair and general manager of TPC Sawgrass. Hughes led Team TPC Sawgrass/PGA Tour in exceeding its goal from last year by $10,000 with six teams.
“We enjoyed the spirit of the fundraising initiative and the opportunity to make a difference in a young person’s life,” he said.
Corporate and family teams and individual walkers trekked the three-mile route beginning on Franklin Street with the help of the Ponte Vedra Sharks Drumline and ending at the fairgrounds, following a stroll along East Bay Street and the Riverwalk. Participants enjoyed carnival games provided by Space Walk, live music by Grimm White Steed and lunch by Firehouse Subs, Piccadilly Cafeteria, Coffee Perks, Coca-Cola, Planet Smoothie, Publix and other local sponsors.
“The Walk to Cure Diabetes keeps growing each year and it’s because of the wonderful volunteers and staff that help make it a continuing success,” said Brooks Biagini, executive director of the North Florida Chapter of JDRF. “We are all working for one common goal, to find a cure for diabetes. The innovative research funded by JDRF is bringing us closer and closer to having a cure for this devastating disease and in the meantime developing so many advanced control options.”
To learn more about JDRF, visit www.jdrfnorthflorida.org.
Massage Envy supports Dreams Come True
This spring, Jacksonville-area residents will have the opportunity to receive a professional massage while helping seriously ill children in the community. Throughout May, proceeds from appointments at six local Massage Envy clinics will be donated to Dreams Come True, the First Coast’s only locally based nonprofit organization dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of local children with life-threatening illnesses.
“We feel it’s a privilege to be able to help support the local community. I and fellow Massage Envy owners Sandy Flaschner and Johanna and John Logue are very excited that the Dreams Come True organization was willing to work with us on this first ever, month-long event,” said Sue Kowalewski, regional developer for Massage Envy.
“Massage Envy is all about helping people achieve optimum wellness, both physically and mentally, so it is very fitting for us to support a cause dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of seriously ill children,” she said.
All of the Massage Envy clinics are open seven days a week. Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended.
In addition to the month-long donation program, four of the participating Massage Envy clinics will host special events for Dreams Come True on Wednesdays in May. Location and event dates are Fleming Island Spa, May 5; Jacksonville Beach, May 12; Southside, May 19; and Bartram Park, May 26.
To make a reservation at one of the Massage Envy clinics or for additional information regarding the Wednesday Dreams Come True events, call 821-3689 or visit www.massageenvy.com.
Rotary Club raises funds for local charities
The Rotary Club of South Jacksonville’s Seventh Annual Gingerbread House Extravaganza will distribute funds to several beneficiaries. More than $500,000 has been raised through the annual holiday exhibits over the past seven years.
“The economy may have been at its worst last year, but we had wonderful sponsors who continued to support our more than 20 charities through hard times,” said R. Dean Scott, chair for the 2009 Gingerbread House Extravaganza and president-elect of the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville.
“We netted more than $38,700 for our charities and, under last year’s challenging circumstances, we are proud to be able to provide these extra funds to our charities,” he said.
The event will award Habijax, Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Historical Society $8,000 each as the primary beneficiaries of the event. The remaining funds will be distributed to charities that applied for Rotary grants in 2009.
The Rotary Club of South Jacksonville is planning to return Dec. 8-23 to the Jacksonville Historical Society on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard, between the Baseball Grounds and Municipal Stadium, for the Eighth Rotary Gingerbread House Extravaganza. Sponsors are needed and are encouraged to contact the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville at [email protected] or visit www.rotarycharity.org.
VPK enrollment opens Sunday
The Early Learning Coalition will host an enrollment for the state’s free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. The event is for families who are residents of Florida and want to enroll their eligible children in the VPK program for the 2010-2011 school year at a qualified program provider in Duval County. This community effort will be in partnership with Wachovia, a Wells Fargo company.
Eligible 4-year-olds will receive free admission to the zoo with a paying adult and a free book when they enroll at the event. Entrance into the zoo is not required to register children at this enrollment. The event is part of a series of community outreach efforts that will give parents the opportunity to enroll in the free VPK program.
Parents will need to bring proof of their child’s age and proof of Florida residency. Proof of age includes: birth certificate, blue immunization record signed by doctor, passport or military ID. Proof of residency includes: driver’s license, utility bill, lease agreement or pay stub.
Other opportunities to enroll are scheduled in May and June. Registration is also available year round at the Early Learning Coalition offices.
To learn more about Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, child care resources and referrals or the Early Learning Coalition of Duval County, call 208-2044 or visit www.elcofduval.org.
Comcast employees volunteer for children
More than 150 local Comcast employees, families and friends volunteered Saturday for a day of service at the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation as part of Comcast’s Ninth “Comcast Cares Day.” At the same time across the country, more than 55,000 Comcast volunteers participated in the annual day of service, which is one of the largest single days of corporate volunteer efforts in the country.
“We’re so honored to partner with MaliVai Washington’s Kids Foundation to work together to improve our community,” said Tim Horn, market vice president and general manager for Comcast of Jacksonville.
“I’m grateful to the Comcast Cares Day volunteers who donated their time to help make such a big difference,” he said.
The Comcast Foundation was founded in 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified nonprofit organizations. It invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The foundation’s focus areas are expanding digital literacy, building tomorrow’s leaders and promoting community service. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $77 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves.
More information about the foundation and its programs, visit www.comcast.com/inthecommunity.