The Rotary Club of Jacksonville maintained its tradition of donating to local nonprofit agencies and social services organizations Monday when the club presented an $80,000 gift to the Tim Tebow Foundation to support the “Timmy’s Playroom” program.
Timmy’s Playroom is a respite from treatment for young patients, who often must undergo months of medical procedures, and their families.
Tim Tebow Foundation Executive Director Erik Dellenback said the playroom at Dreams Come True opened in March at the organization’s office on the Southside. Two playrooms on the Baptist Medical Center campus on the Southbank Downtown are scheduled to open later this year.
“This is a monumental gift,” he said.
Dellenback said the $80,000 donation is the largest single contribution to the foundation from any donor in North Florida.
Club President Howard Dale said the selection committee was challenged to make a small change in the club’s philanthropic tradition. In honor of Downtown Rotary’s 100th anniversary year, the committee was asked to select a single organization for this year’s award.
The club also surprised one of its members, Willis Page, with the introduction of a new award named in his honor.
The “Willis H. Page Music Achievement Award” will be given each year to an outstanding music teacher in Duval County Public Schools.
Page, a former Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra music director and conductor, said music has been an important part of his life. Each week, he selects a patriotic song and leads the club in singing it prior to the Pledge of Allegiance.
Page, who will mark his 94th birthday in September, said as each new club president begins his or her term in office, he asks if it’s time for him to lay down the baton at the club’s weekly meetings.
“They will need to let me know when it’s time to stop, because I won’t know,” Page said.
“I am overwhelmed with this honor,” he said.
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