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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 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.
Wounded Warrior Project receives $100,000
Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. and Niagara Bottling and Silver Springs Bottled Water presented a $100,000 check to the Wounded Warrior Project July 4 before the Jacksonville Suns-Mobile BayBears game.
The money was raised through sales of specially wrapped packages of Winn-Dixie brand bottled water during the past three months. Ten cents was donated to WWP for every 24-pack of water sold.
More than 37,000 members of the nation’s armed forces have been physically wounded during the current military conflicts. Hundreds of thousands more are estimated to be recovering from invisible wounds, including post traumatic stress disorder, major depression and traumatic brain injury. WWP assists wounded warriors and their families through a holistic approach to their recovery.
Sawgrass Marriott donates $2,500 to American Red Cross
The Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa recently donated more than $2,500 to the Northeast Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross. The money was raised during a month-long fundraising effort, which included personal donations as well as a bake sale and raffle.
The fundraiser was the brainchild of the Associate Activity Committee, which was established to support community organizations and local causes. The goal of the committee is to provide creative activities and events for the resort’s associates.
“We are very fortunate to have some of the finest associates in the resort industry,” said Jeff Mayers, general manager of the resort. “Supporting the local community is important, and we are pleased to be presenting this gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.”
Alhambra Theatre to make a girl’s ‘Dream Come True’
The Alhambra Theatre & Dining is partnering with Dreams Come True to bring a night of joy and excitement to a local child battling a life-threatening illness.
Sydney, 8, will be the guest of honor and a guest star at the Saturday evening showing of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” She will perform in the opening number and ball scene of the performance and will be treated to the entire acting experience, working with the cast, the director and the choreographer of the show.
Ten percent of all ticket sales from the performance that night will go directly to sponsoring her dream to see snow.
“This story is about the ultimate dream come true,” said Alhambra owner Craig Smith. “To help a child, an ill child, achieve her own dream is truly special. Sydney is a special girl in a lot of ways, and we’re excited about making her dream true at the Alhambra.”
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 6 p.m. and the show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $49 for adults and $35 for children. Prices include the show, dinner and parking.
For this night only, there will be the opportunity to purchase VIP Dreams Come True tickets for $100. The VIP ticket includes front-stage seating at the show and an after-show dessert reception with the cast of Cinderella and Dreams Come True’s dreamer, Sydney.
Those interested in attending the event can purchase tickets online at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining website, www.alhambrajax.com, or call the theatre box office at 641-1212. VIP tickets are only available through the box office.
The Alhambra Theatre is the nation’s oldest continually operating professional dinner theatre and the only professional resident theater between Atlanta and Miami. In November 2009, the Alhambra was purchased by Theatre Partners, LLC, headed by Jacksonville entrepreneur and Alhambra patron, Craig Smith, as way to give back to Jacksonville and preserve what he believes is one of its cultural jewels.
Monique Burr Foundation Billfish Tournament planned
The Monique Burr Foundation for Children’s Annual El Pescado Billfish Tournament is Sept. 30-Oct. 2, based at Camachee Cove Marina in St. Augustine with more than $100,000 in cash prizes available.
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the foundation and its programs, which provide child abuse prevention education to children in Florida.
“We’re extremely excited to announce the 22nd year of this prominent event. The tournament is a prestigious World Billfish Series and the IGFA/Rolex Championship sanctioned event and will draw an extraordinary number of avid fishermen,” said tournament co-director Dennis Rosa. “The Monique Burr Foundation awarded $130,000 and raised over $50,000 for the foundation during last year’s very successful event. We anticipate an even greater return this year, thanks to the very generous sponsors and participants.”
The tournament will begin with a Captain’s Dinner on Sept. 30 featuring live entertainment by Jimmy Parrish and the Ocean Waves. Boats will depart at 5 a.m. Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 from Camachee Cove Marina and the first lines will be cast at 8:30 a.m. The tournament will conclude with an awards ceremony, where more than $100,000 in cash prizes will be awarded.
Continuing last year’s tradition and in conjunction with the awards ceremony, the Monique Burr Foundation will host the Second Annual Fish-N-Chips Marina Casino event, which will include casino-style games as well as the “Ladies Tackle Box” featuring shopping opportunities from local artists who support the Monique Burr Foundation for Children.
A limited number of 200 tickets for this event will be sold separately at $75 each. The ticket price includes cocktails, dinner, gambling and chips. At the end of the evening, chips will be cashed in for tickets that can be entered in prize drawings. To purchase tickets for the Fish-N-Chips Marina Casino, e-mail Lynn Layton at [email protected] or call 642-0210.
This year’s tournament also will include the introduction of an Outboard Division. Individuals entering the Outboard Division may also enter the regular tournament. Dennis Rosa and Alan Ferguson will serve as the tournament’s co-directors and Hunter Brant will serve as the director of the Outboard Division. Sammy Vaughn will serve as the honorary chairperson.
The entry fee for the tournament is $2,450 per boat and/or $1,000 per boat for entry into the Outboard Division. Prize winnings will be based upon the number of boats entered. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the tournament.
For more information about the 2010 tournament, sponsorship opportunities and Fish-N-Chips Marina Casino tickets, contact the Monique Burr Foundation at 642-0210 or visit www.elpescadobillfish.com.
The Monique Burr Foundation for Children was created as a nonprofit organization in 1997 to honor the late Monique Burr, an advocate for children and their needs. The foundation’s mission is to provide hope in the lives of children by providing training and education to prevent and reduce the rate of abuse among children throughout Northeast Florida.
Last year, the foundation reached more than 25,000 children with its advocacy programs. Currently, the foundation reaches children in 105 of the 107 public elementary schools in Duval County in addition to several private and Catholic schools in the area. It is expanding its reach to include Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties. The foundation also works with agencies serving children whose primary focus is preventing abuse of children.