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.
Advocates for children honored
Florida’s Children First, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the legal rights of foster and other at-risk children, has honored several Jacksonville child advocates for their ongoing support of children’s issues. They were honored at a cocktail reception and fundraiser, raising more than $20,000 to further the mission of Florida’s Children First.
This year’s honorees included child advocates Dr. Gerold and Audrey Schiebler, advocates of the medical needs of Florida’s children since 1958, and Ch. 4’s Jennifer Waugh, recognized for shining the light on children’s issues in Jacksonville with investigative reporting and “Jen Cares 4 Kids.”
Foster and adoptive parents George and Delores Wilson, who have opened their home to more than 1,000 youth since the early 1960s, and foster care “graduates” Lauren Lindgren and Terale Drake were also honored.
“These individuals are the reason why we are all a part of FCF,” said Florida’s Children First Vice President Brian Cabrey. “Their stories remind us all why the need for raising awareness and drawing attention to the needs of Florida’s foster children is so great.”
Cabrey is a partner with the Jacksonville law firm Zisser, Robison, Brown, Nowlis, Maciejewski & Cabrey, P.A., a longtime Florida’s Children First sponsor and supporter.
Caring Chefs Oct. 24
Children’s Home Society’s 27th Annual Caring Chefs is planned from 7-9:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at The Avenues Mall.
Caring Chefs is the original food-tasting event in Northeast Florida and remains the biggest. Over a quarter of a century, Caring Chefs has raised more than $2.2 million for the Children’s Home Society of Florida to help families in Northeast Florida.
Through the generosity and support of the area’s chefs, donors, volunteers and sponsors, 100 percent of all ticket proceeds continuously benefit the Children’s Home Society.
A sellout crowd of more than 2,000 is expected to attend this year. Guests will sample cuisine from more than 50 restaurants on the First Coast. Caring Chefs tickets are $60 and include admission, food, drink and live entertainment.
For more information, sponsorship opportunities and tickets, call Nanette Vallejos at 493-7739 or visit the event’s website at www.chscaringchefs.com for an up-to-date list of participating restaurants.
Jaguar Josh Scobee kicks off fundraiser
Josh Scobee, place-kicker for the Jacksonville Jaguars, will serve as the 2010 honorary chair for “A Night with Nemours,” an annual fundraising gala to benefit children at the Nemours Children’s Clinic. The event is scheduled at 6 p.m. Friday in the Terrace Suite at EverBank Field.
Net proceeds from the third annual gala will benefit child-
ren being treated by the Divi-
sion of Hematology/Oncology at Nemours Children’s Clinic, Jacksonville, for cancer and blood diseases.
Tickets are $200 per person and can be purchased by calling Lynn Betros at 697-4244. A portion of the ticket is tax deductible.
‘Dogtoberfest’ Saturday
“Dogtoberfest” is planned from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Metropolitan Park as a fundraising trick-or-treat walk, costume contest and carnival midway with vendors, food and a 5K run. Entertainment will be provided by the Disc Connected K9 Frisbee dog team. There will also be a “Doga” class (yoga with your dog).
New this year, the Dogtoberfest 5K and Fun Run is hosted by Milestone Race Authority and all funds raised will benefit First Coast No More Homeless Pets. Run registrations include entry into Dogtoberfest 2010.
The mission of First Coast No More Homeless Pets is to eliminate the killing of dogs and cats through free and low-cost spay and neuter programs. For more information and race registration, visit www.fcnmhp.org.
Arc Jacksonville opens new warehouse
On Sept. 23, The Arc Jacksonville celebrated the grand opening of its new 5,000-square-foot warehouse for Triumph Industries.
For more than 25 years, Triumph Industries (www.triumphindustries.net), a division of The Arc Jacksonville, has provided active employment for individuals with developmental disabilities while fulfilling the manufacturing needs of local businesses. Triumph Industries is a production facility with a team of workers specializing in low-cost, high-value tasks, such as assembling, packaging and mailing a wide range of products and materials.
To learn more, contact The Arc Jacksonville’s Employment Services Department at 355-0155 or employment [email protected].
Disco raises dollars
The Jacksonville Speech and Hearing Center’s Annual Charity Fundraiser, the “Saturday Night Fever Staying Alive” Disco Ball, raised more than $44,000 to support the center’s mission to provide speech and hearing services to all families in Jacksonville regardless of their ability to pay. The event, held Sept. 25 at 5 Points Theatre, was attended by more than 200 supporters.
Proceeds raised through the event will be used to support center programs that provide speech and hearing services to socially and economically underprivileged children, adults and seniors living in the community.
For more information, contact Janet Irvin at [email protected] or 355-3403.
Assistance for seniors
The Senior Life Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides Duval County low-income seniors with emergency assistance, received a $5,000 grant from The Community Foundation, through funds provided by the Grace H. Osborn Endowment and the I.R. Bowen and Katherine H. Bowen Fund.
The grant provides for five musical concerts in Duval County Senior Centers over the coming year. The concerts are the Senior Life Foundation’s gift to the community in celebration of its 10th anniversary.
The Senior Life Foundation was formed 10 years ago as an all-volunteer organization to help low-income seniors with emergency needs. To qualify for assistance, a senior needs to be at least 60 years old, be living in his or her own home or apartment, and have a total household income of no more than $1,000 per month. Should a senior who qualifies need help, call 268-9128 and leave a message.
Girl Scouts receive grant
Girl Scouts of Gateway Council has received a grant from Volunteer Florida and the Commission on National Community Service for 10 AmeriCorps members to manage Girl Scouts Get Real! Mentoring, a 30-week school-based program currently taking place in 19 middle schools in Duval County.
Get Real! Mentoring uses individual and group mentoring to improve girls’ attendance at school, decrease instances of disciplinary actions, decrease substance abuse, improve self-care, understand tools for conflict resolution and improve skills in communication.
Girl Scouts of Gateway Council began implementing the Get Real! Mentoring program in 2004 at four schools serving 62 girls. Today it serves 347 girls in 19 middle schools in Duval County. Since its inception, partnerships have helped facilitate participant referrals, program hosting and mentor recruitment.
For more information, call 388-4653.