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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.
Medical device donated to zoo
On June 30, American Heart Association First Coast Vice President Rebecca White made a special presentation to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Executive Director Tony Vecchio.
The association gave an automated external defibrillator (AED) to the zoo for its use in helping to save the lives of any of its visitors who might experience heart-related emergencies.
The AED was donated on behalf of a local family foundation that wishes to remain anonymous.
“We are honored to help continue to protect the Jacksonville community,” said White.
“Facilitating donations such as this AED are a vital part of the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke,” she said.
The American Heart Association encourages large businesses and public facilities to establish AED programs.
The goal of every AED program is to deliver defibrillation to a sudden cardiac arrest within three to five minutes of collapse.
“We are so grateful to the American Heart Association for this special gift,” said Vecchio.
“With the zoo continuing to grow bigger and better every year, we expect the attendance to continue to grow as well. And, with 700,000-plus visitors a year being the norm, we need to be prepared to handle anything,” he said.
“This AED will be a very important tool as we prepare to deal with any and all emergencies.”
Firehouse Subs grants $250,000
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has approved 20 grant requests valued at more than $250,000.
The funding and resources will assist fire departments, police departments and EMS in Firehouse Subs communities in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas and as far west as Nevada and Utah.
Two of the approved grant requests assist first responders in Alabama. Throughout May, Firehouse Subs allowed guests the opportunity to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar in participating locations, benefiting first responders and survivors of the tornado devastation.
“Our local heroes need to be prepared at a moment’s notice to protect and save lives,” said Robin Peters, executive director of Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
“Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, with the support of our restaurants, is dedicated to equipping, educating and funding first responders,” she said.
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation plans to make another round of grant allocations in September.
Each restaurant recycles leftover, five-gallon pickle buckets and sells them to customers for $2. Donation canisters on register counters explain the nonprofit’s mission and collect spare change.
In 2005, Firehouse Subs created the nonprofit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation with the mission to provide funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to aid first responders.
Through the nonprofit, Firehouse Subs has given more than $2.2 million to organizations such as EMS and fire and police departments.
For more information, visit Firehousesubs.com,/firehousesubs or follow on Twitter at @firehousesubs.
LISC receives grant to build communities
The David Stein Family Foundation and the Henry and Lucy Gooding Endowment have each made a gift to LISC Jacksonville to support its EPIC Communities project.
EPIC stands for “Empower People, Inspire Change” and is the organization’s comprehensive strategy to engage residents to reinvent their neighborhoods to create lasting change.
The awards come on the heels of a $900,000 challenge grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and The Community Foundation to LISC Jacksonville.
“We are extremely grateful to both groups for their continued support of LISC Jacksonville,” said Janet Owens, executive director of LISC Jacksonville.
“J.F. Bryan, who is involved with the Henry and Lucy Gooding Endowment, has been a LISC board member since our founding 12 years ago. David Stein is also a longtime donor,” she said.
Building EPIC Communities has a five-point goal to expand investment in housing and other real estate, increase family wealth and income, stimulate economic development, improve access to quality education and support healthy environments and lifestyles.
LISC Jacksonville estimates that nearly $3 million will be necessary to fully fund the initiative, which will start in pilot neighborhoods on Jacksonville’s Eastside and the Northside.
In the past 11 years that LISC has operated in Jacksonville, it has assisted its partner community development corporations build, renovate or acquire 1,520 homes and apartments, created 3,157 jobs and leveraged $148.2 million from a total investment of $41.9 million.
For more information, visit www.liscjacksonville.org.
Grant application via social media
Community First Credit Union has awarded four $1,000 grants since April for ideas that aim to improve the community, and only two chances remain for an idea to be the next winner.
Those who want to help support a cause or organization that could use $1,000 to make a difference should submit an idea.
Community First’s “Investing in You” contest is a local initiative through the credit union’s Facebook page. Anyone who thinks an idea will benefit the community can enter the contest through Community First’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/communityfirstcreditunion.
Every two weeks since the campaign was launched, Community First has announced a $1,000 winner. Winning ideas so far have included:
• “Living Out Loud” – a documentary about Jacksonville’s LGBT struggle for equal rights.
• Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary – a big cat rescue.
• “Making Tigers Smile” with steel swimming tubs and indestructible rubber balls.
• Chet’s Creek Elementary Academic Resource Center at Portside – an after-school program for at-risk youth.
• Empowerment Resources Inc. – Journey Into Womanhood program for girls age 9-17.
Learn more about the winners and view videos on their community-changing ideas at the Community First Facebook page.
With two more winners left to announce, now is the time for any person or group that is working to better the community to submit an idea for a chance to win a $1,000 grant.
To submit an idea, log onto Facebook and “like” the Community First Credit Union of Florida Facebook page. Then click on the link to the “Investing In You” contest page.