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.
Walks for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Spring is in the air, and this is the time of year when Cystic Fibrosis Foundation chapters across the country take millions of steps during the “Great Strides” walks to cure the genetic disease.
In Northeast Florida, five walks will take place throughout April and May, offering a variety of locations to participate and raise money in support of research. Last year, area teams raised more than $246,000 and this year’s goal is $357,000.
“We always look forward to Great Strides, which is the foundation’s largest fundraising event because Great Strides is the event that many families choose to participate in,” said Claudia Werner, executive director of the North Florida Cystic Fibrosis Foundation office.
“This is a fun, family-friendly opportunity for people in the local community to get involved and be active while supporting a great cause. We encourage everyone – especially those who have not walked before – to form a Great Strides team with family, friends or colleagues and join us to walk for a cure,” she said.
Participants can find the complete schedule and register for Great Strides by visiting www.cff.org/Chapters/nfl/greatstrides.
Once the team leader has registered online, walkers can sign up and use the online fundraising tools provided. Everyone who raises at least $100 receives an official Great Strides team T-shirt.
For more information about forming a team, walking or sponsorship opportunities, contact the North Florida Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 733-3560.
Ride for Daniel
The roar of hundreds of motorcycles will take over Downtown April 2 during the 2011 Daniel Rock’n Ride, which raises money for the kids in crisis served by Daniel.
Leaving from the Landing, participating motorcyclists will take a 60-mile tour around the city. Their journey will take them past Daniel’s Belfort Road campus, where Daniel kids gather with handmade posters to wave to their benefactors.
When they arrive back at the Landing, riders and other Daniel supporters will gather at Mavericks Rock N’ Honky Tonk for an after-party that will include lunch and live music from Big Engine.
Registration fees are $30 per driver, $50 for a driver with a passenger and $300 for VIP riders. Fees include the ride, lunch, after-party admission, T-shirt and gift bag. VIPs ride in front and benefit from special seating and an expanded lunch menu. Tickets for people who wish to attend the after-party are $15.
There will also be a drawing for a choice of a Honda Spirit Shadow, Yamaha V-Star, Suzuki Boulevard or Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle. Tickets are $10 each or six tickets for $50. The drawing will take place during the after-party, but the winner doesn’t need to be present to win.
All net proceeds will benefit local programs that serve the abused, abandoned and emotionally troubled children of Daniel. To register for the event or purchase drawing tickets, visit www.danielkids.org or call 296-1055.
Popeyes’ coupons for MDA
As they have in previous years, Popeyes’ outlets participating in the Appetite for a Cure Campaign have been selling coupon cards worth more than $30 for only $1. Customers receive valuable discounts on future purchases while assisting the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s worldwide research and services programs.
Sailormen Inc./Popeyes and the Muscular Dystrophy Association recognize champions of its Appetite for a Cure campaign.
Champions earn their designation by having sold $100 or more in Appetite for a Cure coupon cards.
“Congratulations to all the Popeyes’ champions,” said Sailormen Inc. President and COO Steve Wemple. “Each has played an important part not only in helping people in the communities where we do business, but in helping MDA maintain its unparalleled delivery of support and services to people with muscle diseases.”
Sailormen Inc. is the largest domestic franchisee of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurants, with 143 locations in seven states. The company has raised more than $2 million for MDA since 2002.
To learn more about the Appetite for a Cure program, call (800) 572-1717, or visit www.mda.org.
Agency aids nonprofits
Client Focused Media, a full-service Jacksonville-based marketing and advertising agency, has partnered with several local nonprofits to donate volunteer hours and media services.
The company has set a goal for 2011 to visit different nonprofit organizations each month in an effort to give back to the community in a campaign titled “Project Refocus.”
The goal of this new nonprofit outreach is to raise awareness for various nonprofit organizations in the Jacksonville area.
“CFM is in a fortunate position to help others in the community,” said Client Focused Media President Mike White.
“I believe that the dedication of all of the nonprofits in our area as well as the volunteers in those organizations is what really shapes our city. As funding is being cut to nonprofits and donation levels are down, we wanted to step in to help in any way that we could,” he said.
White and his team plan to donate more than 1,000 volunteer hours of company time in 2011.
“Several employees are also very involved in the community on their own time and serve on local nonprofit boards and committees,” said White.
Not only will the agency’s staff donate time and energy, the staff will also be donating media services.
In a meeting with the nonprofit organization, the team will assess the nonprofit’s individual needs and then come up with a customized plan. Services could include designing a new logo, creating a website, designing advertising and offering features to local publications, or even a complete rebranding of the organization.
Catty Shack Ranch was the first nonprofit organization to be a part of the “Project Refocus” outreach program. The Client Focused Media team headed to Catty Shack Ranch on Jan. 28 to assist in painting and cleanup for the big cat sanctuary.
In February, Client Focused Media visited the City Rescue Mission, a nonprofit, faith-based organization that provides food, shelter, emergency services and residential recovery programs to homeless men, women and children. The team helped cook and serve lunch to the residents of the recovery program and then took a tour of the facility.
In addition to providing emergency services for the homeless, City Rescue Mission offers life-changing programs such as New Day Workforce and the LifeBuilders Recovery Program to help the homeless leave the streets. City Rescue Mission served more than 200,000 meals last year and provided nearly 100,000 nights of safe shelter.
The organization does not receive government funding; financial support comes from donations from individuals, churches, businesses and civic organizations.
For more information on how to become involved or if you are a nonprofit looking for volunteers, visit www.itstimewedonate.com or call 232-3001.