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. Email 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.
Train for marathon in Las Vegas
Team Challenge is a half-marathon training program of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America designed to raise funds to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Team Challenge participants commit to help the millions of people who suffer from the diseases by training for and taking part in an endurance event.
This year the half-marathon is in Las Vegas, where participants walk or run the Last Vegas Strip at night. It’s is the largest night race in the world.
In exchange for their commitment, the foundation equips participants with all they need to cross the finish line, including 15 weeks of training by professional coaches, transportation and lodging during race weekend.
Professional coaches train participants to run or walk a half marathon. Participants train with each other on the weekends at a local venue and optional training sessions are scheduled around Jacksonville.
Participants also learn about fitness, injury prevention, nutrition and other relevant topics through clinics offered after training sessions.
Participants raise funds to help people suffering from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and are given all the necessary fundraising tools to do so, including a free Web page for fundraising support, advice and assistance.
Information meetings are taking place now. For information and meeting times and locations, email [email protected] or visit www.ccteamchallenge.org.
City in running for national grant
Thanks to more than 8,700 local animal lovers who voted for Animal Care & Protective Services during an online qualifying phase earlier this year, the City has won a spot in the 2011 ASPCA $100K Challenge, competing for grants from ASPCA totaling $300,000, including a top prize of $100,000.
The 2011 ASPCA $100K Challenge is a nationwide competition for animal shelters and their communities aiming for more animals to be adopted or returned to their homes.
Through Oct. 31, Animal Care will compete to find homes for more cats and dogs than it did during the same period in 2010.
Competing against 49 other shelters, Animal Care’s goal is to save at least 300 more animals than last year.
“This is a great opportunity to save even more homeless animals by placing them with new adoptive families or returning them to their owners,” said Scott Trebatoski, chief of the City’s Animal Care & Protective Services Division.
“At the same time, we could win $100,000, which could support micro-chipping for approximately 20,000 pets. That means 20,000 more pets that can be identified through permanent identification and immediately be returned to their owners if they become lost,” he said.
“We must have the support of the Jacksonville community to achieve this lifesaving goal and obtain this much-needed money.”
Throughout the competition, Animal Care will feature several discounted adoption specials at its main shelter. More information about the events will be available on the City’s website at www.coj.net/pets.
For more information about the ASCPA $100K Challenge, visit challenge.aspcapro.org.
Stadium run Saturday
The Florida Blue 5K Stadium Challenge is a “stadium run” that will take runners up all seven levels of EverBank Field.
Scheduled for 6-10 p.m. Saturday, it’s a fundraising event with proceeds to help save athletic programs in Duval County’s public high schools.
1st Place Sports will manage the event with a course both inside and outside the stadium. The run is for all ages complete with a Fun Run and walking courses. T-shirts and medals will be available for all participants. There will be live entertainment and food and beverages for sale.
To register, visit www.1stplace-sports.com.
Wounded veterans receive new suits and training
Ten wounded warriors are dressed for success and ready to enter the civilian workforce, thanks to Haven Hospice and Dignity U Wear’s partnership to present them with new suits.
“It is so moving to see these soldiers wearing the new suits,” said Dignity U Wear Executive Director Bob Bryan.
“They are starting a new chapter in their lives and these suits, along with the skills and education they have received through the Wounded Warrior Project, will give them the confidence they need to excel in the community and in the workforce,” he said.
The wounded veterans are participating in the Wounded Warrior Project TRACK, a 12-month program preparing them for educational and career success.
They participated in academic classes at Florida State College at Jacksonville and learned job training skills while also receiving rehabilitative care for injuries sustained while serving overseas.
“Working alongside Dignity U Wear to provide these veterans with suits has been an honor,” said Haven Hospice President Tim Bowen.
Dignity U Wear distributes new clothing it receives from apparel manufacturers, distributors and retailers through a network of nonprofit social service agencies throughout the United States.
The organization specializes in receiving, warehousing and distributing new clothing to people in need at no cost to them. Since it was founded in 2000, the organization has provided more than 6.6 million pieces of clothing, valued at $120 million, to more than 450,000 people.
For more information, visit www.dignityuwear.org.
Students celebrate with art walk
Students participating in a Communities In Schools’ summer program showed off what they learned at their own art walk.
The Pinedale Art Walk took place July 28, offering family and friends the opportunity to see what the students learned over the summer.
The students were part of Communities In Schools’ summer program at Pinedale Elementary School called TEAM UP, which taught children about expressive art forms, including painting, singing and sign language.
Students, family and friends walked the school grounds viewing the student-created art that included pencil art, canvas paintings and images of positive self-esteem messaging.
Attendees also watched the students perform a variety of songs and dances, including performances where the children had learned to sign the words.
“Seeing the joy on the students’ faces as they show their friends and family what they have worked on this summer is very special,” said Communities In Schools CEO Jon Heymann.
“We find when students take pride in what they’ve accomplished they tend to stay engaged in school. Student engagement translates to a decreased risk of school dropout and that’s what all our programs are about,” he said.
Communities In Schools’ TEAM UP program is an enrichment program providing a safe environment in which students can thrive during after-school hours and summer breaks. The program reaches at-risk students in challenged schools, engaging them to stay focused on school.