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.
New scholarship programs at UNF and FSCJ
The Players Championship announced a commitment to two local colleges, the University of North Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville, expanding its current partnership by creating a $500,000 scholarship endowment at each school over the next five years.
By the completion of the new and enhanced endowments, the funds will become the largest scholarships in the Jacksonville area.
The announcement falls in line with the tournament’s renewed charitable focus: a goal of generating $50 million for local youth-related charities over the next 10 years.
The Players Championship has generated about $27 million for charity over the past 10 years, $15 million of which has benefited youth-related organizations.
Through this shift in focus, the event will more than triple the financial impact on area nonprofits that promote youth education, character development, and health and fitness.
Since 1977, when the tournament moved to Ponte Vedra, more than $40 million has been generated for Northeast Florida charities, including a record $4.8 million in 2010.
“This scholarship fund reflects The Players’ commitment to the Northeast Florida community and our renewed focus on education and youth development,” said Curtis Hazel, 2012 tournament chairman.
Under the commitment to UNF, The Players Championship Endowed First Generation Scholarship has been created to assist and recognize students who are the first in their families to seek a four-year college degree.
“The university is thrilled that The Players Championship has made an additional investment in our students’ futures,” said UNF President John Delaney.
“The Players’ continued support of the First Generation Scholarship program demonstrates a strong and sincere commitment to providing access to higher education to young men and women in Northeast Florida. This gift will no doubt impact the lives of students and their families for generations to come,” he said.
Additionally, The Players and the Florida State College Foundation have partnered to create The Players Championship Scholarship, which will provide scholarship aid to deserving students from the five-county area attending the college.
“This new scholarship program builds upon the highly successful and valuable community partnership between The Players Championship and our college. We are deeply grateful for this extraordinary support of so many deserving students,” said FSCJ President Steven Wallace.
To launch the First Generation Scholarships, UNF hosted an event Friday that included scholarship recipients, past tournament chairs and staff.
Recipient Latoya Harris spoke about her upbringing in Orange Park and the impact the scholarship will have on her future. Her father died when she was 10, leaving her mother to raise five children and Harris with many obstacles to overcome. Today, Harris is a pre-med student at UNF in hopes of attending medical school.
“Becoming a pediatrician has been my ultimate goal. Thanks to The Players Championship First Generation Scholarship, I am one step closer to realizing my dreams.” said Harris.
The Players Championship is scheduled May 7-13. Each year, youth 18 and younger are admitted free to the tournament when accompanied by a ticketed adult. There is no limit to the number of youth who can attend with a ticketed adult.
More information about The Players Championship is available at www.pgatour.com/theplayers.
Doctors vs. doctors at softball game Sunday
Nearly 25 area doctors are taking their lifesaving efforts to the ballpark at 5 p.m. Sunday as participants in Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition’s second annual “Rounds at the Grounds: Baseball for Babies” celebrity softball tournament in observance of National Infant Mortality Awareness Month.
Obstetricians, gynecologists, surgeons, pediatricians, family practitioners, oncologists and other medical professionals from area hospitals and offices are stepping up to the plate at the Baseball Grounds.
They will help Healthy Start reach audiences with health strategies and practices that prevent infant mortality. Jacksonville is a state and national leader in the number of babies who die before their first birthdays.
Co-sponsored with the Jacksonville Suns, the event will feature celebrity participants including Jacksonville Jaguars tackle and Healthy Start ambassador Eugene Monroe. Teammate Eben Britton will join Monroe as coach of the opposing team.
“I’m happy to lend my support to an organization like Healthy Start that is making a difference in the lives of babies, moms and families in our community,” said Monroe.
“We should all step up to help tackle the issue of infant mortality to make Jacksonville a healthy place for all babies and families,” he said.