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.
Runners raise $50,000
On Dec. 11, more than 3,000 First Coast residents laced up their shoes, put on their jingle bells and headed to the Baptist Outpatient Center to run, walk or stroll through the luminary-lit streets of San Marco in the 14th annual Children’s Miracle Network Festival of Lights event.
The more than $50,000 in proceeds will go directly to pediatric programs at Shands Jacksonville and Wolfson Children’s Hospital, both of which are Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.
Festival of Lights was made possible by sponsors including Firehouse Subs, Daily Billboards and 1st Place Sports.
“Festival of Lights is a great annual event that Children’s Miracle Network is proud to host,” said Children’s Miracle Network Director Kerri Solomon.
Shoes for Christmas
The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation is distributing 500 pairs of new athletic shoes donated by Reebok to area low-income children and teens, just in time for the Christmas holiday.
“Through the NFL/Jaguars Play 60 Challenge program in partnership with Baptist Health, we encourage children to have at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, 30 minutes during school and 30 minutes after school,” said Jaguars Foundation Chair and CEO Delores Barr Weaver.
“Having good athletic shoes is important for these children to be physically active,” she said.
Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver said Reebok is a major partner with the NFL. “And being part of the ‘NFL family’ here in Jacksonville has allowed the Jaguars organization to access this generous donation,” he said.
The Reebok athletic shoes were distributed to children and teens from various youth-serving agencies, including The Bridge of Northeast Florida, The Sanctuary on 8th Street, Woodland Acres Boys & Girls Club, Community Connections and Heart for Children.
In addition, shoes were distributed to foster-care children at St. Augustine Youth Services, Panama Youth Services and the Youth Crisis Center’s Touchstone Village.
Since 2009, Reebok has donated 1,500 new pairs of athletic shoes to the Jaguars Foundation to distribute to local youth.
Realtors support Family Foundations
Prudential Network Realty sales professionals Dennis and Kathy Lang, a husband-and-wife team from the company’s Beaches office, recently hosted a charity yoga and music benefit that raised more than $1,300 for Family Foundations.
Family Foundations is a Northeast Florida financial, family counseling and education organization that provides services to uninsured and underinsured families on an ability-to-pay basis.
“Prudential Network Realty professionals are leaders in the community, and it is always rewarding to watch them positively affect the lives of others,” said Christy Budnick, executive vice president of residential real estate for Prudential Network Realty.
“The Langs have used their yoga talents and passion to support the needs of this community, which has been an inspiration to all of us,” she said.
The event at Cobalt Moon in Neptune Beach included guided yoga movements and meditation led by the Langs.
The Langs are among Prudential Network Realty’s top producing agents and are recipients of the Honor Society award. They are also certified yoga instructors and teach numerous charity-based classes and workshops throughout Northeast Florida.
The Langs will be leading a New Year’s Day class at 10 a.m. at Selva Marina Country Club in Atlantic Beach to benefit the Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry.
They also teach an ongoing Movement for Peace yoga class at Cobalt Moon on Sunday mornings.
“Kathy and I are passionate about sharing our love of yoga and its many benefits with others, and we like to use our yoga teaching and practice as a means to reach out and support different charitable efforts,” said Dennis Lang.
“For us, yoga is a source of inspiration and an offering we want to share with others,” he said.
USO receives donation
On Dec. 7, TPC Sawgrass Storytellers celebrated the holidays by hosting representatives from the USO for a holiday tour of the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse and presented a check for $10,000 toward services provided to area military families.
For the third year, TPC Sawgrass Storytellers selected a charity to support with funds received from guest gratuities. The Boselli Foundation and Clarke Jacksonville Auditory Oral Center have been previous beneficiaries. This year’s donation went to the USO as part of the TPC Network’s ongoing support of the military.
“We are especially thankful for this very generous gift from the TPC Sawgrass Storytellers, especially during the holiday season when many of our local troops are serving overseas defending our freedoms,” said John Shockley, executive director of the Greater Jacksonville Area USO.
“This donation will increase our ability to support them with additional holiday care packages, fully assist the families awaiting their safe return and provide help to the 250,000 troops and their families in the Jacksonville area,” he said.
Grocer helps City Rescue Mission
Native Sun Natural Foods Market presented City Rescue Mission with in-kind food and monetary donations collected throughout the month of November as part of Native Sun’s Green Apples Charity program.
The donations totaled more than $850 and more than 1,000 pounds of food, which exceeded last year’s amounts.
“With temperatures dropping, the donations from Native Sun come at a very opportune time at City Rescue Mission as we prepare to provide additional services to those in need,” said Penny Kievet, director of resource development for City Rescue Mission.
“These services include opening the overflow area in the Downtown emergency shelter and increasing the amount of food prepared for those in need any time the temperature dips below 40 degrees,” she said.
Native Sun has been a longtime supporter of City Rescue Mission, donating food items from its stores year-round. To date, the locally owned and operated grocer has donated more than $15,000 in goods.
This is the second year that Native Sun has selected City Rescue Mission as its November Green Apples charity.
“Our customers and staff are always very supportive of City Rescue Mission and we are pleased to provide them with these much-needed resources to help Jacksonville’s needy and homeless population,” said Sarah Butsch, Native Sun’s Green Apples Charity coordinator.
Builders supporting charities
The Northeast Florida Builders Association is participating in several holiday activities to support local charitable organizations.
The NEFBA Sales and Marketing Council sponsored a holiday auction to raise funds to provide gifts for local children and youth through the Daniel organization, and the NEFBA Clay Builder’s Council is hosting its annual holiday basket giveaway to support the Green Cove Springs Food Pantry.
“Community service has always been central to NEFBA’s mission,” said Andy Chambers, association president.
“During the holidays, it is particularly important to focus on the needs of children and families. The work being done through our individual councils to support the local community this year is truly outstanding,” he said.
During the Dec. 10 monthly NEFBA Sales and Marketing Council breakfast program at the University of North Florida University Center, a holiday auction was held with items donated by council members.
Daniel will receive proceeds from the auction for the purchase of gifts for the children and youth the organization serves.
For additional information, visit www.danielkids.org.