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.
Grant awarded for teen mothers
Children’s Home Society of Florida received $65,000 from The National Crittenton Foundation to help teen mothers in foster care learn skills to secure and maintain employment so they can sufficiently care for themselves and their children upon leaving foster care at age 18.
The monies were re-granted from a $2 million gift The National Crittenton Foundation received from the Walmart Foundation.
“The National Crittenton Foundation and its family of agencies have been providing critical services to girls and young women for more than 127 years,” said Michelle Gilliard, senior director of giving at the Walmart Foundation.
The grant, “Assets for Life,” helps members of the Crittenton family of agencies build on existing work to support marginalized girls and young women in the areas of nutrition, academic achievement, job readiness and career development.
“It is rare to receive resources that allow the agencies to build on existing programs and provide direct services without lots of constraints,” said Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, president of The National Crittenton Foundation.
“We thank the Walmart Foundation for its generous gift that will make a positive, immediate and long-term impact on the health, education and employment of the young women in this country who need it most,” she said.
The grant awarded to Children’s Home Society of Florida will help fund the cost of hiring job coaches to guide young women living in maternity group homes in Jacksonville and West Palm Beach.
Through the job-coaching program, young mothers benefit from individual career development plans, personalized career coaching, an advisory group and guidance from professional women in the community who are vested in the girls’ futures.
“We’re committed to helping young ladies lead full, productive, independent lives,” said Kymberly Cook, executive director of the Children’s Home Society of Florida Buckner Division.
“This program is a vital component of teaching self-sufficiency so we can help more young ladies break the cycle of dependency.”
Brewer provides scholarships
Forty-five students whose parents are members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters working at one of Anheuser-Busch’s 12 U.S. breweries from coast to coast have been awarded $1,000 scholarships for their freshman year of college this fall, including four in Jacksonville.
It’s part of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Conference of Teamsters Merit Scholarship Program that was established to identify and honor exceptional high school students and provide assistance with college expenses.
The program is open to all children of Anheuser-Busch brewery employees who are members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and registered as freshman at an accredited college or university.
Up to 48 scholarships of $1,000 each are awarded every year, four from each of Anheuser-Busch’s U.S. breweries.
A neutral third party selects the winners based on merit, including the student’s GPA/high school transcript and Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test score.
The area scholarship winners for this school year are:
• Jacob Casey, Fernandina Beach High School, will be attending Florida International University. His father, Ben Casey, works in the brewing department at the Jacksonville brewery.
• Jacob Randall Daubendiek, A. Philip Randolph Academies of Technology, will be attending Florida State College at Jacksonville. His father, Keith Daubendiek, works in the operations department at the Jacksonville brewery.
• Shantall Pirie, Yulee High School, will be attending the University of Florida at Gainesville. Her father, James Pirie, works in the operations department at the Jacksonville brewery.
• Rebecca Raike, Englewood High School, will be attending Florida State College at Jacksonville. Her father, William Raike, works in the operations department at the Jacksonville brewery.
‘Dancing with the Stars’ to benefit Jacksonville Children’s Chorus
The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus is partnering with A Social Affair Dance Studio for “Jacksonville’s Dancing with the Stars,” scheduled Sept. 17 at the Jacoby Symphony Hall in the Times-Union Center.
Sponsored by Compass Consulting Group, the evening will feature local celebrities partnered with professional dancers from A Social Affair Dance Studio who will be competing to be named Jacksonville’s favorite dancer.
All proceeds will benefit the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus.
Tickets to the event are $25, $50, $75 or $150 and can be bought online, by phone or mail.
Visit the event website at www.asocialaffair.net/jcc for details. VIP and box seats include a pre-show reception with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. VIP tickets include valet parking.
The mission of the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus is to provide a high-quality choral music education for children of diverse backgrounds, fostering teamwork, self-discipline, accomplishment and pride while filling an important cultural need in the community and sharing the beauty of the choral art form through artistically excellent performances.
Wear jeans to help children
It’s time to pull your favorite pair of jeans out of the closet and go casual for kids.
Miracle Jeans Day is Sept. 14 when Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals ask people to help make miracles happen in the lives of Northeast Florida children.
All donations from participants will benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals for the purchase of medical equipment and child life resources for the pediatric programs of Shands Jacksonville and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
“Miracle Jeans Day” was created by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as a way to involve companies with their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.
Participating organizations encourage employees to purchase a sticker, button or a pin for $5, $10 or $20, giving them the privilege to wear jeans to work.
Enrolled teams to date include Healthcare’s Cooperative Credit Union; State Employees Federal Credit Union; Auction Direct USA; Osprey Village at Amelia Island Plantation; Smith, Gambrell & Russell LLP Attorneys at Law; Volpe, Bajalia, Wickes, Rogerson & Wachs Attorneys at Law; and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Visit www.miraclejeansday.com to register.