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.
Food bank benefits from baseball
The Jacksonville Suns joined Winn-Dixie and Second Harvest North Florida for the Winn-Dixie Food Drive benefiting Second Harvest.
During this week’s home stand between the Suns and the Mississippi Braves from Wednesday-Sunday at The Baseball Grounds, fans can bring in canned goods and nonperishable food items to the Second Harvest North Florida table, which will be set up in front of the Home Plate Gate for special prizes, including 2-for-1 tickets on Wednesday, $1 off admission on Thursday, souvenir program on Friday and Saturday, and an ice cream treat on Sunday.
Second Harvest distributes food and grocery products to the hungry throughout Northeast Florida.
Tickets for all Suns home games are on sale through the Suns box office at 358-2846 or online at www.jaxsuns.com.
The 2011 season is presented by EverBank, the official banking partner of the Suns. The Suns are the Double-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins and a member of the Southern League of Professional Baseball.
Signature Chefs’ Nov. 8 at Florida Yacht Club
On Nov. 8 at The Florida Yacht Club, Executive Chair Gayle Hope and Vice Chair Dale Orr will welcome North Florida chefs and guests to the 21st Annual Signature Chefs Auction, benefiting March of Dimes.
Hope, senior vice president of treasury services with Wells Fargo, first chaired the Signature Chefs Auction eight years ago after the premature birth of her granddaughter, Riley.
“I will forever be grateful for the work of March of Dimes. Riley is alive and thriving today because of their research,” she said.
Orr is president of VyStar Title Agency. This is her first year of involvement in the Signature Chefs Auction, but she is not new to March of Dimes.
“My baby sister gave birth to two premature babies. Today, despite lingering medical issues, my nephews Connor and Jacob are doing well because of the work of March of Dimes. I am honored to vice chair this event,” said Orr.
The Signature Chefs Auction features the signature dishes of 18 North Florida chefs, giving patrons the opportunity to enjoy the cuisine while raising funds and increasing awareness of the March of Dimes’ mission to improve the health of babies.
Guests also will be able to bid on auction items and travel packages.
Committees are now forming for the event, and a Committee Recruitment Social is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 26 at the Florida Yacht Club. Those interested in joining a committee can contact the March of Dimes office at 398-2821.
Funds raised by the Signature Chefs Auction support research and educational programs in North Florida, including community grants to the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition and NICU Family Support Centers at Shands Jacksonville and Baptist Medical Center Downtown.
Premature birth is the most serious infant health problem in the United States today. Each year, it affects more than half a million babies nationwide, with 1,898 in Duval County.
Babies born too soon are more likely to die or have disabilities. The March of Dimes is committed to funding research to find the causes of premature birth and providing comfort and information to families.
Realtors support HabiJax
More than 90 volunteers from the real estate industry came together June 24 for “Hot Dogs for Habitat” to benefit HabiJax, the Jacksonville chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The event raised more than $1,000 for the charity.
In attendance were members of the Women’s Council of Realtors, the Northeast Florida Builders Association, the NEFBA Sales & Marketing Council and the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
The check will be presented to Habitat for Humanity at the Women’s Council of Realtors Business Resource Meeting Aug. 18 at San Jose Country Club.
Bosom Buddies raising funds online
Through the end of July, people can visit www.ItTakes2Jax.com and make a donation in the name of a friend.
Funds raised through the campaign will benefit Bosom Buddies, a program of the Women’s Center of Jacksonville. Bosom Buddies provides free support services to help breast cancer survivors and those in treatment.
The names of donors and their “buddies” will be listed in a special section of The Florida Times-Union published Aug. 7 on National Friendship Day.
Donors can also upload a photo and brief note to their friends to appear on a friendship wall on www.ItTakes2Jax.com and be displayed on the photo section on Jacksonville.com.
“Supportive friends like the ones found at Bosom Buddies are so important to helping people through the hard times,” said Bosom Buddies founder Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks.
“Through it Takes Two,’ we can all celebrate the value of our friendships while supporting the fight against breast cancer,” she said.
Bosom Buddies programs include weekly support group meetings for survivors and those in treatment, along with free educational materials, wigs and prosthetics as well as free community education presentations.
Visit www.ItTakes2Jax.com to learn more and to donate. Because of the participation of naming sponsor Reese’s Roofing and supporting sponsors Jacksonville.com/The Florida Times-Union, WEJZ Lite 96.1, Post-Op, Bec Photography, Beth Meckley Productions and Daigle Creative, 100 percent of proceeds donated by the public support Bosom Buddies.