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.
Comcast supports reading program
Comcast has donated $15,000 to the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation to fund a new component of its TnT program. The gift will provide a comprehensive academic enrichment program for K-2 as part of the TnT after-school program.
Each Friday, local volunteers will read their favorite childhood books to a group of kindergarten, first- and second-graders enrolled in TLC (The Learning Center) at the foundation.
Comcast employees have planned several learning activities to help students listen and spot important sight words. Elected officials slated to join include State Reps. Mia Jones and Reggie Fullwood, State Sen. Tony Hill and City Council member Warren Jones.
Comcast has performed past community service projects with the foundation, including Comcast Cares Day in April 2010, when 200 employees assisted with Spring Play Day, landscaped the grounds and spruced up the MaliVai Washington Youth Center.
The foundation also offers competitive tennis programs, a summer camp, community partnerships and outreach programs. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the foundation.
UNF gamers host fundraiser
Team PWN!, a student gaming club at the University of North Florida, is hosting PWN! from 6 p.m.-midnight Friday in the Student Union Ballroom to raise money to aid an international children’s charity.
PWN! is a new gaming charity event founded and developed by UNF students, including seniors Sam Smith, Ian Kochevar and Chelsea Rose, as well as junior Patrick Duffy and UNF alumnus Casey Ayers.
Gamers will have the opportunity to harness their passion for gaming to help others and become involved in the community. All proceeds from the event will benefit Child’s Play, a charity that provides toys and games to more than 70 children’s hospitals worldwide.
“This is a great opportunity for both UNF students and Jacksonville at large to get involved with a charity that brings smiles to the faces of children in very difficult circumstances,” said Smith, president of Team PWN!.
The event will feature food catered by Moe’s Southwest Grill, Chick-fil-A and Libretto’s Pizza. More than $850 in prizes and gift cards from local businesses will be distributed to the top players in each tournament as well as to participants in a raffle.
Since 2003, more than 100,000 gamers worldwide have banded together through Child’s Play, a community-based charity grown and nurtured from the game culture and industry.
More than $10 million in donations of toys, games, books and cash for sick kids in children’s hospitals across North America and the world have been collected since the inception of Child’s Play. For more information about Child’s Play, visit www.childsplaycharity.org.
For more information about the PWN! event, call 449-9738.
Contractor launches community program
LandSouth Construction, a Jacksonville-based general contractor specializing in multifamily construction, has launched a new corporate philosophy program.
The “Kaizen” program, the Japanese word for improvement, emphasizes positive changes and encourages principles such as teamwork, personal discipline, improving morale and caring for the community.
Under its new program this past year, LandSouth Construction team members were involved in many community projects. Examples include working with Builders Care to help a family with home improvements, donating in-kind construction services to Ponte Vedra United Methodist Church, raising nearly $10,000 to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the Bike MSPGA TOUR “Cycle to the Shore” ride and participating in the River City Church “Share the Shop” program.
“We are very proud of our team at LandSouth Construction, and one of the things that makes our company unique is our emphasis on positive development in every aspect of our individual and corporate lives – both in and out of the office. We feel very strongly about giving back and caring for the community that supports our business. In turn, our team members become better citizens and run a better business,” said James Pyle, president and CEO of LandSouth Construction.
JDRF Youth Ambassadors
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation North Florida Chapter has named sisters Kaylin Hoffmann and Trinity Hoffmann of Middleburg as Youth Ambassadors for the 2011 Walk to Cure Diabetes.
The Walk to Cure Diabetes is the organization’s signature event and raised more than $550,000 last year for type 1 diabetes research.
As the 2011 Walk to Cure Diabetes Youth Ambassadors, the Hoffmann sisters will raise awareness about the disease by speaking to other families and corporate leaders at JDRF events, leading their family’s Walk team (Kaylin’s Kure and Trin’s Troopers), and inspiring others to participate in the event.
The sisters will be making a special appearance at the upcoming JDRF Team Captain Kickoff luncheon, scheduled for noon-1:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the UNF University Center.
For more information on luncheon or the Walk to Cure Diabetes, contact Lauren Setzer at 739-2101 or [email protected].
Suiting up injured veterans
Fifteen wounded warriors are now dressed for success and ready to enter the civilian workforce, thanks to Haven Hospice and Dignity U Wear’s recent ceremony 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 work force.”
The soldiers successfully completed TRACK, a 12-month program through the Wounded Warrior Project. They received job training skills and rehabilitative care for injuries sustained when serving overseas.
Pink cookies benefit marathon
Panera Bread is opening its heart to breast cancer survivors this month by raising money for the 26.2 with Donna: The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer.
During the “Sweet Treat for Donna” event from Feb. 6-13, all 14 Panera Bread bakery-cafes in the Jacksonville area will donate 10 percent of Valentine cookie sales to the 26.2 with Donna. The cookie is priced at $1.99.
The fourth annual 26.2 with Donna is Feb. 13. All race proceeds and money raised, including the Panera donation, will be donated to the Mayo Clinic for breast cancer research and to pay for medical and living expenses for those living with breast cancer.