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 informa-tion 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.
Organization honors volunteers
HandsOn Jacksonville will be honoring 11 individuals and four groups Thursday at the Times-Union Center.
“Since 1976, HandsOn Jacksonville has celebrated people who do good. We tell stories of the ordinary people in our community who rise above their own needs and worries to reach out and make a difference in the lives of others,” said Judith A.M. Smith, CEO and president of HandsOn Jacksonville.
“We seek out and showcase amazing stories in hopes that we will inspire others to also do something good. In a world that has entirely too much cynicism, selfishness and bad news delivered daily, we lift up goodness, optimism, and selfless service on this inspirational evening. Plus, we deliver the best party in town afterwards,” she said.
Award recipient’s stories will be presented in a video produced by PGA TOUR Entertainment. The awards recognition will be followed by a live auction, entertainment from the University of North Florida Jazz Combo and food from 18 restaurants in Jacksonville.
2011 Award Recipients include:
• Bernard V. Gregory Servant Leader Award - Charles B. McIntosh.
• Tillie Kidd Fowler Spirit of Service Award - The Jacksonville Bar Association.
• Edward R. Hayes Unity in Action Award - The Rev. Davette Turk.
• Art of Caring Award - Dr. Wayne Wood.
• Faith in Action Award - Jim Selzer.
• HandsOn Community Award - Peg Chassman.
• HandsOn Earth Award - Sandy Golding.
• HandsOn Health Award - Joann Manning.
• International Outreach - Ray Storms.
• Literacy Matters Award - The WJCT Radio Reading Service.
• Planned Acts of Kindness Award - The Chamber Professional Women’s Council
• Service in Uniform Award - Lt. Jeff White.
• Volunteers Mean Business Award - Fidelity Investments.
• Young at Heart Award - Helen Ludwig.
• Youth Works Award - Matthew Pendleton.
General admission tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.handsonjacksonville.org or by calling 332-6767.
Youth volunteers support five causes
National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek ways to engage in their community.
Sponsored by the Points of Light Institute and HandsOn Network, the nation’s largest volunteer network, National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and has grown each subsequent year, with thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week.
To honor this year’s National Volunteer Week HandsOn Jacksonville’s Youth Leadership Council came up with five volunteer projects to coincide with National Volunteer Week and Global Youth Service Days, April 15-17.
• Disaster Relief for Haiti and Japan: Pallet-size boxes were placed in more than 25 local businesses in Jacksonville to collect gently used clothing and shoes.
• Best Buddies Friendship Walk at the University of North Florida: A team of Youth Leader Council members created a team of walkers to support children with disabilities and the work done by Best Buddies in Jacksonville.
• Earth Day Festival at the Jacksonville Landing: In partnership with the Duval County Public Schools Teacher Supply Depot, several Youth Leadership Council members hosted activity tables in the Kids Zone. They designed Green Projects for children, designing Ecobags, which are cloth bags intended to replace the use of plastic bags that will be filled with information about reducing, reusing and recycling.
• Adopt a Room at Community Connections: Another team of YLC members adopted several rooms at Community Connections, a transitional housing facility for women and their families. The theme was “Starry Night” and student artists from Douglas Anderson created paintings based on this theme.
• Online tutoring with DuPont Middle School: A Youth Leader Council member found a software sponsor to allow use of private tutoring software that allows students to enter an online classroom with a tutor and gain support with various subject area such as math, science and reading.
For information about other
volunteer opportunities, visit www.handsonjacksonville.org.
Funds raised for Dreams Come True
The 10th Anniversary Jaffi’s and Kyds Celebration and VIP Fashion Show benefiting Dreams Come True hosted on March 26 raised more than $4,500.
All proceeds from the event go directly to Dreams Come True and sponsor the dream of a local child.
“My niece, Eilish, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) three years ago and Dreams Come True was so generous in helping fulfill her dream. Anything we can do to give back and help other children is the least we can do. We are excited to be working with such a wonderful organization for such a great cause,” said Emilie Christenson, owner of Jaffi’s and Kyds.
More than 60 models, some as young as 2 years old, took to the runway to raise money for Dreams Come True. Two Dreams Come True dreamers, Sydney and Kenya, were among them.
Money from the event was raised through event sponsors, model sponsorships, drawings and general donations.
Restaurant chain donates defibrillator
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation donated an external defibrillator worth $2,000 to the Clay County Fair April 7.
The AED is used to regulate the heartbeat during cardiac arrest. The donation presentation kicked off the inaugural Firehouse Subs Charity Golf Tournament Awards Ceremony and reception at River Bend Golf Links in Green Cove Springs.
Since 2005, the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has donated more than $85,000 to public safety entities on the First Coast.
“Having this lifesaving equipment available on-site at the Clay County Fair will benefit all who come to enjoy this annual event throughout the First Coast,” said Dave McConnell of Waste Management, presenting sponsor of the golf tournament.
The Firehouse Subs Charity Golf Tournament benefits the First Coast Fund of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Through the First Coast Fund, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation allocates resources to the five Northeast Florida counties of Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns.
In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the nonprofit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation with the mission to provide first responders with lifesaving equipment, fire safety prevention and educational tools, natural disaster preparedness, and financial resources for training and careers in the public safety sector.
Through the nonprofit 501(c)3, Firehouse Subs has given more than $2 million to hometown heroes, including fire and police departments and EMT organizations.
Easter egg hunts support charities
Adventure Landing will be hosting Easter egg hunts and charity raffles Saturday. The Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine locations will have three age groups while the Blanding location will have two age groups.
The Jacksonville Beach location will begin egg hunts at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11a.m. for children up to 12 years of age.
The St. Augustine and Jacksonville locations will begin their hunts at 9 a.m. and again at 11 a.m. for children up to 10 years of age.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. at Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine and begins at 8:15 a.m. at Jacksonville’s Blanding Boulevard location
For more information, visit www.adventurelanding.com.
There will be a special appearance by the Easter bunny and thousands of eggs will be stuffed with free Adventure Landing passes along with candy and prizes from participating area retailers.
Registration is $3 per child and the proceeds from the Jacksonville Beach location will go to the American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps, while the proceeds from the location on Blanding Boulevard will benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. The Betty Griffin House will receive the proceeds from the St. Augustine location.