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, successstories 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.
Wells Fargo supports HabiJax
HabiJax received a $400,000 matching grant from Wells Fargo Nov. 16. The affiliate was named one of a select group of Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the nation awarded funds from the financial institution.
The funds are designated for The Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative in the New Town community in northwest Jacksonville. HabiJax is one of several organizations working to improve the health and education of children and their families in that area.
“This is a critical time for nonprofits like ours, and to receive this much needed injection of funds is important to helping us respond to the overwhelming need for affordable housing in North Florida,” said Mary Kay O’Rourke, CEO of HabiJax. “This money will help us with housing assessments in New Town and our efforts to provide housing solutions.”
Wells Fargo will contribute $8 million to Habitat for Humanity International and its local chapters this year as part of its “Leading the Way Home” initiative, a national effort focused on preventing foreclosures, stabilizing communities and promoting sustainable homeownership through education.
“We’re excited to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville to help revitalize housing in the city,” said Scott Coble, Wachovia’s regional president for North Florida. “Our team members will also volunteer their time and talents to work with HabiJax to help more people in North Florida achieve the dream of home ownership.”
Meninak charity grant
On Sept. 27, the Meninak Club of Jacksonville celebrated 91 years of “bringing help where none is available” to local nonprofit organizations when it announced Haven Horse Ranch was the winner of the 2010 Charity Grant of $30,000.
Haven Horse Ranch, a SpiritHorse International Therapeutic Riding Center and a nonprofit organization, is the area’s only full-time and licensed center providing equine-assisted therapy for children with autism, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and traumatic brain and spinal injuries.
It also provides riding lessons, camps and clinics to the general public to help fund its therapy programs and related activities for thousands of children in this area.
Since 1919, Meninak has supported area youth through charitable contributions for capital projects and scholarships throughout the community.
Lacrosse teams raise funds for children’s hospice
The Jacksonville Lacrosse Club’s inaugural fall benefit Oct. 9-10 raised $5,000 to benefit Community PedsCare, North Florida’s pediatric hospice.
“The athletes were moved by the challenges these children face daily. They wanted to share their love of lacrosse, have some fun and help support the Community PedsCare program. There was overwhelming support from the teams, their staff and the local lacrosse community and we’re excited to put together a top flight event for 2011,” said Patrick Harnett, executive director for the Jacksonville Lacrosse Club and volunteer assistant coach for Jacksonville University men’s lacrosse.
Chartrand Foundation makes grants for 2010
As school districts throughout the country are responding to new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education about their responsibilities in addressing bullying and harassment rooted in sex-role stereotyping or religious differences, JASMYN (Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network), a local nonprofit committed to improving the conditions and well-being for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, has been awarded more than $85,000 from the Chartrand Foundation.
JASMYN is one of eight area nonprofit organizations that will receive more than $300,000 in grant funds from the Chartrand Foundation.
“There is some tremendous work being done right here in our community,” said foundation Chair Nancy Chartrand. “We are incredibly honored to help bolster the efforts of organizations that are committed to improving the lives of Jacksonville’s children.”
Grants included:
• JASMYN, $85,000 to provide student and educator support services and training designed to create safe and supportive school environments in Northeast Florida.
• Jacksonville Public Education Fund, $60,035 for the Stakeholders Leadership Academy.
• Healthy Start Coalition, $35,000 for “Make a Noise, Make a Difference” and $45,000 to hire a part-time development coordinator and create a website.
• KIPP Impact Middle School, $34,390 for “On the Road to Find Out.” KIPP will use the grant funds to host nine academic- and character-building field trips throughout the year and operate a two-week summer enrichment camp.
• Jacksonville Community Council Inc., $81,000 for “Early Learning for Future Success.” JCCI will study actions and policies the community could implement to foster early learning success for children 1-3 years old.
• Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, $15,000 for “Voice of the People.” Students and families at S.P. Livingston Elementary School will continue a partnership with MOCA as supported by the Chartrand Foundation grant.
• University of North Florida Foundation, $10,767.52 for music mentors. The Chartrand Foundation grant supports a partnership between UNF’s Department of Music and Eugene Butler Middle School. UNF music education students provide weekly lessons to Butler band students during the school year, conduct band performances and host a summer band camp.
Other Chartrand Foundation grant awardees for 2010 are The Bridge of Northeast Florida, Teach for America, the Cummer Museum’s “Start with the Arts” program, Baptist Hospital (“Tipping the Scale”), the Children’s Campaign, the Cultural Council, St. Vincent’s Medical Center and the Birthing Project, a Healthy Start Coalition mentoring initiative.