from staff
As our community continues to face a challenging economy, the Daily Record provides this page that each week chronicles 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 encourage our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they continue to provide valuable services with reduced resources.
Fidelity volunteers at middle school
On July 31, more than 100 volunteers from Fidelity Investments and HandsOn Jacksonville, a HandsOn Network local action center, teamed to refurbish the learning environment at the Alfred I. duPont Middle School.
The school’s “Transformation Day” was part of Fidelity Investments’ new national partnership with the HandsOn Network to help revitalize middle schools and expand Fidelity’s commitment to help students make the transition to high school and graduation.
Improvements to the building included painting and general refreshing throughout the school, landscaping and renovations to the media center.
The duPont Middle School project started several months ago when representatives from Fidelity and HandsOn Jacksonville met with administrators, teachers and students from the school to develop a plan for the improvements.
Fidelity employees volunteered to do the work and the company provided the materials and equipment to make it happen, while HandsOn Jacksonville coordinated the activities.
Golf tournament for City Rescue Mission
City Rescue Mission will host the second annual Champions Challenge Golf Tournament Aug. 30 and is seeking community support and sponsorships for the event.
“The golf tournament was a huge success last year,” said Bill Duguid, City Rescue Mission COO. “We are looking forward to another great tournament. We are so grateful for the community support that we receive as it helps the homeless and needy in our community.”
City Rescue Mission is seeking supporting sponsors who will receive two dinner seats and recognition at the tournament, dinner and in marketing materials for the event. Hole sponsorships are also available, which include recognition at one hole along the course and recognition at the tournament, dinner and in the program guide.
Additionally, City Rescue Mission is seeking volunteers to help plan and run the event.
“Our staff is very appreciative of the assistance our volunteers provide,” said Duguid. “Because of their dedication and effort, we are able to host a fun event and raise money to help the homeless.”
The Champions Challenge Golf Tournament will be at the TPC Stadium Course with dinner being served in the Sunset Room at the clubhouse. Dinner is open to tournament participants with a limited number of tickets available for spectators. For more information about sponsorships or to register for dinner, contact Kathi Crothers at 421-5157 or e-mail [email protected].
Angelwood’s annual fashion show
Angelwood Inc. announces the return of its annual fundraising event, the “Fashion Walk ... Art You Can Wear” fashion show and luncheon Aug. 27 at the Sawgrass Marriott.
The event is a lunchtime gala and networking opportunity featuring fashion, food and fundraising that includes a silent auction, lunch and a fashion show. The lobby will open for registration, a silent auction and networking at 11 a.m. and the luncheon and fashion show will begin at noon and last until 1:30 p.m.
It has become an opportunity to see the latest fashions from local boutiques with the chance to win prizes. Many recognizable models will walk the runway, including Angelwood program participants, local celebrities and business leaders.
“The ‘Fashion Walk’ has become an annual tradition that just keeps getting better year after year,” said Diane Tuttle, Angelwood executive director.
“It’s so gratifying for us to host an event that is so well received by the community and continues to provide funding for such important work,” she said.
Reservations for the luncheon and show are $1,500 for a VIP table of eight and individual tickets are $50 each. Contact Angelwood for reservations and sponsorship opportunities at 288-7259 ext. 19, or [email protected].
Fundraiser for Women’s Center
The 15th Annual “Celebration of Women,” the fundraiser for the Women’s Center of Jacksonville, will be 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Deerwood Country Club. The evening will include dinner, drinks, a silent auction and a performance by Margaret Kaler to commemorate the 90th anniversary of women’s suffrage.
Delores Weaver, co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and the chair/CEO of the Weaver Family Foundation, is the event’s honorary host. Eden Kendall of FM-99.9 will be the master of ceremonies for the evening.
Tickets are $90 each, or $170 for two, and can be purchased at www.womenscenterofjax.org or by calling 722-3000.
Humane Society in national competition
The Jacksonville Humane Society is competing in a national contest to save the lives of more cats and dogs.
As one of just 50 organizations nationally who made it into a national Challenge, the Jacksonville Humane Society will compete with shelters across the country to save at least 300 more cats and dogs locally during the months of August, September and October compared with the same three-month period in 2009.
“For JHS, this competition is about finding homes for as many dogs and cats as we can,” said Leona Sheddan, executive director of the Jacksonville Humane Society. “All the contestants in this challenge are winners just because they are increasing the number of animals finding homes.”
The Jacksonville Humane Society will increase the lives saved in the community through an increased focus on adoptions, more transfers of animals from overcrowded shelters, mobile adoption locations every weekend and a renewed community involvement campaign.
More than 700 organizations in the United States applied to participate in the $100K Challenge. The Jacksonville Humane Society is the only Northeast Florida animal welfare organization participating in the contest. The ASPCA will announce the winner of the $100,000 prize at the beginning of December.
More information about the ASPCA $100K Challenge is available at http://challenge.aspcapro.org.
Jessie Ball duPont supports Salvation Army
The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund to support its emergency services programs. Those programs aid families during emergency situations by providing assistance such as food, clothing and counseling services, as well as financial help with utility bills and other expenses and the Child Development Center, a nationally accredited child care facility.
“In this economic climate, we are receiving an unprecedented number of requests for emergency help and we are so grateful to the Jessie Ball duPont Fund for these critical funds which will allow us to provide emergency aid to children and families who are in great need,” said Maj. Jim Arrowood, area commander for The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida.
The Jessie Ball duPont Fund is a national foundation that makes grants to a defined universe of organizations, whose eligibility is determined exclusively by Mrs. duPont’s personal philanthropic decisions. There are more than 300 organizations that have received funding from the foundation.
Hospice construction on schedule
Construction on the Bailey Family Center for Caring, a new hospice inpatient care center of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, is more than 45 percent complete and plans for a January opening are on schedule.
“Since we broke ground last fall, construction has progressed smoothly and on schedule largely due to the combined efforts and cooperation among our team working with the Flagler Hospital facilities management, contractors, construction crews, as well as the county officials and community members throughout St. Johns County,” said Jim Reddick, Community Hospice’s director of facilities. “We expect to complete construction and permitting in time to open for patient care the first weeks of January.”
When it is completed, the 11,700-square-foot building will serve the short-term, acute end-of-life care needs for residents of St. Augustine and the surrounding communities.
Community Hospice medical staff, nurses, certified nursing assistants, social service specialists and spiritual counselors will provide 24-hour care, seven days a week, in a homelike setting, complete with gardens and walkways. The unit will include 12 private patient rooms and staff offices, as well as family gathering areas, a chapel, kitchen and lounge for use by family members, visitors and employees.
“We have been honored to serve this community for the past 25 years. It is a dream come true to see progress toward bringing this level of care to the St. Augustine area,” said President and CEO Susan Ponder-Stansel. “Generous support from our community is making this happen.”
Construction will cost about $5 million and is being funded by a Community Hospice capital campaign, currently at 82 percent of goal. Mark Bailey, president of The Bailey Group insurance firm, made the lead gift to name the center and is serving as chairman of the capital campaign committee.
To learn more about the support and services of Community Hospice, visit www.communityhospice.com.