Highlighting Jacksonville’s Philanthropic Community
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.
Celebrities serve to raise funds for hospice
The tips were overflowing for the “Spectacular Servers” who helped raise more than $30,000 for families caring for special needs children during the second annual Kelsi Young Gift of Care Luncheon at Carrabba’s Italian Grill May 18. Proceeds from the luncheon and tips for the individual efforts of the servers will help provide respite care for children in the Community PedsCare program of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida.
“The neighborhood teenage babysitter or even other family members can’t always meet the specialized medical care needs of children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, like those in the Community PedsCare program,” said DeAnn Collins, executive director of Community Hospice Foundation. “When a caregiver needs to run errands, take care of another child or just take a break, Community PedsCare families can rely on qualified medical professionals to provide respite care because of the Kelsi Leah Young Respite Care Fund.”
The Young family created the fund in honor of Kelsi, who was a Community PedsCare patient when she died in December 2005. The fund gives parents and guardians of Community Peds Care children access to qualified, professional caregivers for respite time to care for themselves or their other children.
Sponsored by the DuBow Family Foundation and The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, the Kelsi Young Gift of Care Luncheon offered about 200 guests the opportunity to enjoy lunch at Carrabba’s Italian Grill at 9A and Baymeadows Road. Carrabba’s, which usually only serves dinner, was the presenting sponsor and donated a portion of the food and restaurant staff time.
Augmenting the Carrabba’s staff were 17 “Spectacular Servers,” people who knew or cared for Kelsi and wanted to lend their support by helping to raise money for the fund. Spectacular Servers included: Fernando Acosta-Rua, Jim Burkhart, Dr. Jerry Bridgham, David Dunston, Tabitha Furyk, Dr. Jeff Goldhagen, Randy Goodwin, Dr. Lloyd Granat, Dr. Phyllis Hendry, Dr. Kelly Komatz, Ali Korman, Marty Lanahan, Jill McGriff, Teala Milton, Debbie Parker, David Stein and Elli Zimmerman.
Established in 1979 as the first hospice program in Northeast Florida, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida helps nearly 900 patients live better with advanced illness each day in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties through the support of about 700 employees and 900 volunteers.
The nonprofit organization has served more than 53,000 children and adults at home, in long-term care facilities, hospitals and through four inpatient care centers throughout Jacksonville.
Community Hospice Foundation generates philanthropic and community support for patient care services, family needs and community programs such as Community PedsCare, a pediatric palliative and hospice program. No one is ever denied care due to an inability to pay. To learn more about the support and services of Community Hospice, visit www.communityhospice.com.
Undie Sunday, Undie Monday a success
This year’s Undie Sunday Undie Monday campaign has come to an end and the 2010 grand total was 51,431 pieces of underwear and socks.
Since 2005, Dignity U Wear has collected more than 375,000 pieces of new underwear and socks with the Undie Sunday Undie Monday campaign. All of the underwear collected is distributed through schools, social service agencies and others to disadvantaged children and families who need them most.
Garage sale Saturday at ReStore
More than 10 nonprofits in Duval County will participate in the first nonprofit garage sale Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. hosted by Habitat for Humanity’s “HabiJax ReStore” next to Staples at University and Beach boulevards. The event is open to the public.
Participants in the garage sale include Commission for Rural Communities, Community Hospice Thrift Shop, Dreams Come True, House of Transition, Jacksonville Humane Society, St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop as well as The Sharing Place Thrift Shop.
The purpose of the event is to create a community atmosphere among participants who have been serving the Jacksonville area for years. Each nonprofit will be selling separate merchandise from their storefronts and all of the proceeds from their sales will go directly back to each organization to assist them in their efforts to improve the community.
“This has never been done before to my knowledge. We have gotten great feedback and it is our goal to make this an annual event,” said Rod Borom, general manager of the HabiJax ReStore.
The HabiJax ReStore has been serving the Duval County area for two years, supporting Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville. All of HabiJax ReStore’s merchandise is donated by individuals and businesses in the Jacksonville area and all of the proceeds go directly to improving housing in Jacksonville through Habitat for Humanity.
Treatment conference set for April
Cecil W. Powell & Company will sponsor Gateway Community Services’ Second Annual Spring Conference - Innovations in Treatment.
The conference, scheduled April 6-8, will bring together more than 250 participants to investigate innovative methodologies of care. Participants will explore the future of treatment tactics and attitudes in the context of today’s changing world. Some of the specific tracks of study will include breakthroughs in research, diversity and leadership.
Fitzhugh Powell Jr., president of Cecil W. Powell, has been a supporter of Gateway Community Services for years. In 2010, Cecil W. Powell took a leadership role in sponsoring Gateway’s first annual Spring Conference – Integrating Technology into Treatment: Therapy Anywhere/Anytime.
As a sponsor of the conference, the company was part of a successful inaugural event that brought professionals and experts from across the country to Jacksonville to discuss how technology can help overcome barriers to behavioral and mental health treatment.
Through support of community leaders like Cecil W. Powell, Gateway has become a national leader in using cutting-edge innovative technology to treat addiction and related mental health disorders. Gateway Connect, an online treatment program, offers clients a comprehensive treatment program customized to meet individual needs.
Since inception of the program, Gateway Connect has served more than 300 clients through its e-therapy program with 80 percent of clients remaining crime- and drug-free six months out of treatment.
Gateway Community Services is a private nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation agency committed to building a better community by taking action against addiction. It is Northeast Florida’s largest provider of rehabilitation and recovery services to those suffering from the disease of addiction.
Bank partners with elementary school
Deutsche Bank Jacksonville sponsored a daylong Junior Achievement Day at Windy Hill Elementary, where a team of seven employees spent the day teaching third-grade students the “Our City” program.
The program examines topics that include zoning, blueprints, business, banking and newspapers. Students learn about city planning and its importance to the community’s economic development. They role-play opening a business and working with consumers, and they produce a newspaper and write their own stories. The students also learn why banks are important to the finances of a city. The hands-on activities include financial transactions, such as writing a check and completing a deposit slip.
“It is so important to educate and inspire young people at an early age, and help them understand the importance of business and economics,” said John Lafond, head of Deutsche Bank Jacksonville. “These students are tomorrow’s business leaders, and we are proud to support Junior Achievement and its efforts to encourage young people to think about their futures and strive for success.”
Attorney named to Sanctuary on 8th Street board
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia D. Barksdale has joined the board of directors of the Sanctuary on 8th Street.
Barksdale has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1996. She currently serves as the vice president of the Bar’s Federal Court Practice Committee and as vice president of programs for the Federal Bar Association.
Best known for its after-school program and summer camp, the Sanctuary on 8th Street also offers a small home school for elementary and high school age students where each receives scholastic support and enrichment activities. The staff and volunteers work with the youngsters to help them overcome their circumstances to make positive choices that will put them on the path to a productive future.
Learn more about the Sanctuary at www.sanctuaryon8th.org.