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.
Shoot For a Cure scheduled
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Ninth Annual Shoot For A Cure sporting clays tournament sponsored by Batson-Cook Construction and Stellar Foundation is scheduled March 23 at WW Sporting Clays, 1445 Otis Rd.
This year’s event will start at 6 p.m. March 22 at the Fraternal Order of Police lodge at 5530 Beach Blvd. with a rib dinner catered by Cross Creek Steakhouse & Ribs, entertainment and live and silent auctions. The tournament will begin the next day with registration at 11 a.m. and lunch at 11:30 a.m. provided by Carrabba’s Italian Grill. A shotgun start is set for 1 p.m. The field is limited to 24 four-person teams. An awards ceremony and prize drawing immediately follow the competition.
“Shoot For A Cure is a unique fundraising event that brings together outdoor enthusiasts to raise money for cystic fibrosis,” said Claudia Werner, executive director of the North Florida Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “In addition to raising money, this event is a great networking opportunity for those in the contracting and construction industry. Last year we raised more than $60,000 and we hope to exceed that amount at this year’s tournament.”
Sponsorship opportunities for Shoot For A Cure are available. Team sponsorship includes a four-person team, lunch, 12-gauge ammunition and eight tickets to the opening dinner. To become a sponsor or register for the event, call the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 733-3560.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the leading organization devoted to curing and controlling cystic fibrosis, a life-shortening genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system, causing serious complications.
Symphony collecting food
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra has partnered with the second annual Orchestras Feeding America food drive. The drive will benefit the Downtown Ecumenical Services Council, an emergency services agency that provides assistance to the elderly, the sick and disabled and the poor, particularly families with young children.
Volunteers will collect nonperishable food at Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra concerts through March 20 at the Times-Union Center. Food donations can also be dropped off at the Times-Union Center lobby at 300 Water St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through that date.
Donors will receive a half-price ticket voucher for any upcoming symphony concert this season, limited to one voucher per household.
Items most needed are canned meats, vegetables, stew and soup, pasta, rice, peanut butter and fruit juice, all in nonglass containers.
“Symphonic music has the power to uplift people, and with the generous participation of our patrons, musicians, staff and volunteers, we can all carry that spirit to uplift those most in need,” said Jacksonville Symphony Executive Director Stacy Ridenour.
Last year’s drive yielded more than 1,500 pounds of food items, thanks to Jacksonville Symphony patrons.
The project is organized by the League of American Orchestras, which represents the nation’s professional, volunteer and youth orchestras, and Feeding America’s network of more than 200 food banks and 63,000 agencies. In 2009, 250 orchestras in all 50 states collected more than 200,000 pounds of food.
Each week, about 5.7 million people receive emergency food assistance from an agency served by a Feeding America member, a 27 percent increase over the number reported in Hunger in America 2006, which reported that 4.5 million people were served each week.
March ‘Hoopla’ coincides with March Madness
The Harvey Bernhardt Foundation, a local charitable organization, announces the third annual “Harvey’s March Hoopla,” a reverse raffle dinner party and silent auction from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at the Holiday Inn Jacksonville Town Center. The grand prize is an all-expenses-paid trip for two to this year’s Men’s National College Basketball Tournament April 2-5 in Indianapolis.
Tickets for the evening are $200 and include drinks and dinner for two and an entry into the raffle for the grand prize trip. The raffle winner will travel to Indianapolis with a guest to attend the Men’s National College Basketball Tournament, including tickets, airfare, and hotel accommodations, courtesy of The Harvey Bernhardt Foundation.
The evening also includes a basketball-shooting contest and a silent auction, including a Bobby Bowden-autographed umbrella similar to the one he used to enter Municipal Stadium for the last time. The auction also will feature Dwight Howard-autographed shoes and an Urban Meyer-autographed football.
All tournament proceeds benefit the Harvey Bernhardt Foundation, which provides one-time financial assistance for hardship cases related to medical or natural disaster or victims of crime. Recipients must be citizens living and working in the North Florida community and must be referred by a member of the community.
The foundation honors the memory of Dr. Harvey Bernhardt, a pathologist from Jacksonville who served the North Florida community for more than 20 years. For more information visit www.TheCompassionateAssist.org or contact Monica Bernhardt at either 386-5662 or e-mail [email protected].
Mud Run a week from Saturday
The North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will hold its annual MS Mud Run Jacksonville March 20. The event, presented by the Suddath Companies, will mark the second time the chapter has held the race, one of its most successful fundraising activities in 2009, said Jennifer Lee, president of the North Florida chapter. Last year’s inaugural event attracted more than 900 participants and raised more than $120,000.
The MS Mud Run Jacksonville is a 10K, military-style obstacle course race with most of the obstacles surrounded by or consisting of mud. Individuals, teams of two and teams of five will compete for prizes.
The MS Mud Run Jacksonville is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cecil Commerce Center. Food and beverage vendors will be available and entertainment is planned throughout the day.
“We were optimistic when we launched this event last year that Jacksonville would show up and support us, and the results far exceeded our expectations,” said Lee.
“Registration for this year’s Mud Run has been strong, with almost 1,500 people already registered to participate. There are people from more than 13 states signed up and just about every major employer in the North Florida area will be represented by a team. Some will be represented by multiple teams, such as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the different branches of the military,” she said.
New this year is the Mud Run Fun Run for Kids at 2 p.m. Boys and girls ages 7 to 12 will run a three-quarter-mile course featuring three to five obstacles, including the large Slip ‘n’ Slide. The registration fee is $30 per child and a signed notarized waiver by a parent or guardian will be required.
Teens 13 to 18 years old may run the full course if accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. They also will be required to submit a signed, notarized waiver by a parent or guardian.
For more information or to register for the MS Mud Run Jacksonville, visit www.mudrunjax.com. Registration fees are $50 per person and each participant agrees to raise a minimum of $100 for the North Florida chapter. Registration closes at midnight March 18. All fundraising contributions are donated to the North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
All participants must turn in their required $100 fundraising minimum and pick up their race materials from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 19 at Wild Wing Café, 4555 Southside Blvd.
Volunteers will be used to run the event. For information about volunteering, visit www.mudrunjax.com, send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 332-6810.
Sponsors for this year’s MS Mud Run Jacksonville include Suddath, Ring Power, Solantic, the PGA Tour, Planet Smoothie, Army Navy Outdoors, Ch. 12/25 and the Hospitality Inn.