from staff
Highlighting Jacksonville’s Philanthropic Community
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 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.
Restaurants rally for MDA
A fundraising campaign conducted by Sailormen, Inc. at Popeyes restaurants in the Jacksonville area and across the country will provide customers with valuable discounts while garnering support for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s worldwide research and services programs.
Through March 15, associates at participating Popeyes locations will sell coupon cards worth $30 for only $1. Coupons are good for a free drink and discounts on future purchases.
“The Appetite for a Cure campaign is an exciting program from a business that’s clearly committed to helping bring the community together and supporting a worthy cause,” said South Florida MDA Executive Director Colleen Sparks. “It’s a win-win for everyone.”
The Appetite for a Cure program helps local families affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases by supporting the Association’s worldwide research program as well as MDA’s network of more than 200 medical clinics. Medical services in Jacksonville are provided through clinics at Mayo Clinic, Nemours Children’s Clinic and Shands Hospital in Gainesville.
In addition, area children with neuromuscular diseases enjoy a free week of MDA summer camp.
Sailormen Inc. CEO Bob Berg said coupon card sales offer a double benefit.
“In tough economic times like these people in the communities where we do business need all the breaks they can get,” he said. “At the same time, we understand that MDA, like many nonprofits, is facing daunting challenges today to maintain its unparalleled delivery of services. We’re unwavering in our commitment to support both these needs.”
MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The association also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.
Sailormen, Inc. is the largest domestic franchisee of Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits restaurants, with 163 locations in seven states. The company has raised more than $1 million for MDA since 2002.
To learn more about the Appetite for a Cure program, call (800) 572-1717 or visit www.mda.org.
Grant awarded for Hubbard House marketing campaign
The We Inspire Grant team has awarded Hubbard House their national grant. Hubbard House has been providing shelter and outreach services for domestic violence victims and their families in Duval and Baker Counties since 1976, and will now receive up to $75,000 worth of creative marketing services including strategy development, a new brand identity, new print collateral, a new Web site and custom photography.
The We Inspire team, which is based in Jacksonville, is comprised of designer and grant founder Emily Rawitsch, photographer Tiffany Manning and Web developer Fred Boyle. The team was looking for a non-profit that best answered the question: “What do you inspire?”
Hubbard House was selected out of four finalists from all over the country including the Center for Human Services in Sedalia, Mo., the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz. and SKIP of New York from New York City. The finalists were selected out of 33 applications received from 12 different states.
“The final decision came down solely to inspiration. We were looking for an organization that was open to collaboration and was passionate about their cause. In the end, we were surprised to find this amazing non-profit in our own backyard,” said Rawitsch.
Jami Gaff Bueker, chief development officer at Hubbard House said, “We are truly grateful to be the recipient of the We Inspire Grant. We know that with the help of Emily, Fred and Tiffany, Hubbard House’s mission will be better understood throughout the community. We are excited to start work with them and look forward to seeing the results.”
Hubbard House is a certified, comprehensive domestic violence center that serves victims and their children in Duval and Baker counties. In addition to shelter, the agency provides extensive adult and youth outreach services, school-based education, therapeutic childcare, batterers’ intervention programs, court advocacy and volunteer and community education opportunities. Visit www.hubbardhouse.org to learn more.
daniel seeking volunteers and golf fans
daniel is recruiting young professionals to form a new group, Kids at Heart, which will be focused on raising awareness about the child-serving non-profit and operating fund-raising events to benefit daniel’s abused and emotionally troubled kids. The group is open to anyone 21 through 35 years of age.
“Not only will these young professionals get the chance to help out daniel, but they’ll also be able to network with other young professionals and add valuable experience to their resumes,” said Jimmy Kelly, daniel’s director of development.
For more information visitwww.danielkids.org.
Daniel is also selling 1,000 tickets at $100 each for the 2010 Majors Golf Getaway drawing, with net proceeds benefiting daniel programs.
The package includes:
• Two tickets to the Masters, April 5-11.
• Four tickets to The Players Championship, May 6-9.
• Four tickets to the British Open at St. Andrews, July 15-18.
• Four tickets to the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (including airfare and four nights lodging for four), June 17-20.
• Four tickets to the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits (including airfare and four nights lodging for four), August 9-15.
The drawing will be held March 15.
For more information or to purchase drawing tickets contact Nicole Mishko at 296-1055, ext. 1033 or [email protected]. Ticket sales are also available online at www.danielkids.org.
Grant program continued
The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville has reported the continuation of its grant making partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF).
The BCBSF Arts and Cultural Education Grant Program will provide $5,000 grants to small and mid-sized cultural organizations with a focus on programs that foster art education, appreciation and awareness as well as promote multicultural awareness and diversity. The program is administered by the Cultural Council.
Designed to strengthen the programs and institutions that allow the arts to flourish, the grant program benefits the residents of the five-county Northeast Florida region. A committee comprised of members from the Cultural Council’s Cultural Service Grant Review Panel and BCBSF representatives review eligible applications and make award recommendations.
“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is a leader in our community in its support of art and culture. We are pleased to continue this productive partnership to further the artistic programs of Northeast Florida’s cultural organizations,” said Robert Arleigh White, executive director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville.
The grant program is open to cultural organizations with annual revenues under $1 million located in Duval, Nassau, St. Johns, Clay and Baker counties. Grants of $5,000 each will be awarded for programs that foster art education, appreciation and awareness as well as promote multicultural awareness and diversity through music, dance, visual arts, theater, literature, media arts, folk arts, history or humanities. Preference will be given to proposals that serve or include children.
For grant guidelines and applications visit culturalcouncil.org/organizations/cultural-council-grants/. Deadline for applications is March 10.