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 feel 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.
Comcast supports medical-legal
partnership
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid has received a $15,000 grant from Comcast Cable for the Northeast Florida Medical-Legal Partnership. Bill Ferry, vice president of government affairs for Comcast’s Coastal Region, presented the check at the Sulzbacher Center.
“We at Comcast are proud to be part of Jacksonville and appreciate the opportunity to help this organization make a difference in our community,” said Ferry.
The Northeast Florida Medical-Legal Partnership works to improve the health and well-being of marginalized and at-risk families. The partnership began in 2002 with Shands Hospital and the University of Florida and has recently expanded to include Jacksonville Health and Transition Services (JaxHats) and the medical clinics at the Sulzbacher Center.
Doctors at the clinics are trained to identify patients and families who are experiencing legal problems and make appropriate referrals to the NFMLP. Patients with legal needs are assisted by pro bono attorneys and by JALA staff attorneys.
“The Northeast Florida Medical- Legal Partnership is very grateful to Comcast for its generous support,” said JALA attorney and Pro Bono Development Coordinator Kathy Para. “Our goal is to improve the health outcomes of low-income and vulnerable children and adults by providing a medical/legal team approach to patient care in Northeast Florida. Physician advocates, pro bono attorneys and legal services staff provide direct services to patient-clients with the goal of eliminating barriers to good health and wellness.”
The grant is part of Comcast’s annual community investment funding. Grant applications are awarded by the Comcast Community Investment Panel made up of Comcast representatives and appointees from the mayor’s office and City Council. Since 2005, Comcast has contributed more than $1.1 million in community investments and Comcast Foundation grants throughout North Florida.
Grants from Uptown
Civitan Club
The Uptown Civitan Club awarded three organizations with donations at its meeting Aug. 24:
• Horse Sense & Sensitivity, $500 to provide facilities and support for therapeutic horseback riding for persons with disabilities. The organization is operated entirely with volunteers who care for the horses, maintain facilities and assist during physical therapy and therapeutic riding sessions. The use of the land is an in-kind contribution from the Boys Home Association. The expenses of the program are covered by individual and organization donations.
• The Sanctuary on 8th Street, $1,000 to provide a stimulating environment for inner-city children and youth. Its After School Program and Summer Program offer activities designed to minister to the whole child, helping children develop into healthy, productive adults. The Sanctuary also offers a small Home School for elementary and high school students where each receives scholastic support and enrichment activities.
• L’Arche Harbor House, $1,000 for the residential community for adults with developmental disabilities and assistants who choose to live with them as family. The success of the concept depends on a dedicated staff, active community volunteers and benefactors and a close, mutually supportive relationship with L’Arche communities around the world.
Run canceled but still a success
Despite heat and thunderstorms that canceled the inaugural Heart & Sole 5K Run for Community PedsCare, nearly 500 runners and 19 sponsors combined their efforts to raise more than $14,000 at the event in San Marco in late June.
“Thanks to the sponsors’ and runners’ commitment to this cause, we are so proud of the amount raised from this first-time effort,” said Nancy Lantinberg, event chair. “Although the force of Mother Nature canceled the 5K, we are still thrilled that everyone participated.”
Community PedsCare is a pediatric palliative and hospice program for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. The program was established in 2000 by Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, in collaboration with Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Clinic and the University of Florida–Jacksonville. The program offers in-hospital and in-home medical, nursing, spiritual, volunteer and other services to support, comfort and care for children and their families.
Most Community PedsCare services are not reimbursed by insurance and are provided without charge to patients’ families. Charitable gifts, through individual donations and fundraising events, provide funding for care.
Supporters of the event included the DuBow Family Foundation; Fieldstone Apartment Community; Millstone Village; The Arnold Family; the Michael DeSanto Family; Ellison Vein Institute; Farah & Farah; The Petway Family; Stein Mart; Sandy, Brooke and Leah Zimmerman; The Emans Family; EBS Family Foundation; Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute; the Lantinberg Family; Joan and Ronnie Levin; The McGriff Group; Pet Paradise; Vandroff Insurance Agency; and Winn-Dixie.
Established in 1979, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida is the first and only community-based, nonprofit hospice provider to serve residents of the First Coast. Each day, through the support of nearly 700 employees and 850 volunteers, the organization helps more than 1,000 patients live better with advanced illness. During its more than 30-year history, the organization has served more than 62,000 adults and children in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties at home, in long-term care and assisted living facilities, hospitals and at its four inpatient care centers.
To learn more about the support and services of Community Hospice, visitwww.communityhospice.com.
Margaritas for charity
Through the sponsorship of the PGA Tour and TPC Sawgrass, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida will host the Seventh Annual “Margarita J’Ville” Sept. 24.
The Key West-themed event offers Caribbean cuisine, margaritas, beer and live entertainment. It’s a relaxed atmosphere where everyone comes dressed in their favorite island attire.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest one-to-one mentoring organization in the world. Results show that critical issues affecting the community, such as violence and high school dropouts, are positively impacted.
BBBS has joined the Sawgrass Marriott and Hilton Garden Inn to provide Margarita J’Ville guests with an opportunity to stay on-site after the event. Both locations will provide transportation to and from the event and offer affordable packages to pair with tickets to Margarita J’Ville. Visit www.bbbsnefl.org to learn more.
For information about the event or about becoming a sponsor,
contact Nicola Barnack at 727-9797, ext 252, or e-mail [email protected].
Students get school supplies
On Aug. 21, children living at the Sulzbacher Center celebrated the new school year with a day of activities provided by community partners. More than 100 children spent the morning enjoying a bounce house donated by He Is Able Youth Ministries, cotton candy from Sweet Pete’s and face painting from Amazing Face Painting by Linda.
Each child received a backpack filled with school supplies made possible through donations from the Public Defender’s Office, the Northeast Florida region of the Young Agents Council (FAIA), William Highsmith and Bank of America. Through a donation from North Jacksonville Baptist Church, the children were able to shop at Old Navy for new school outfits.
“We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from the Jacksonville community to ensure that each and every one of our children are excited and ready for a new school year,” said Sulzbacher Center President and CEO Audrey Moran.
Sulzbacher Center provides the opportunity for homeless men, women and children to achieve a better life. The center’s comprehensive services include street outreach, daily meals, safe shelter, case management support, job placement assistance, medical, dental, and mental health care as well as scattered-site housing. Every day, the Sulzbacher Center is home to more than 300 homeless members of the community, many of whom are children.
For more information, visit www.sulzbachercenter.org.