As our community continues to face a tight economy and shrinking budgets, the Daily Record has established this feature that each week reports the efforts of local nonprofit organizations and the individuals and businesses that support them.
Bailey Publishing & Communications invites all members of the local nonprofit community to email news, announcements and success stories to: [email protected].
We also encourage our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they continue to provide valuable services with reduced resources.
‘TEAM UP’ students receive books
Boxes containing 15,000 books, workbooks, educational CDs and posters were delivered to Reynolds Lane Elementary School from Principle Woods Inc. to be disbursed among schools involved in the Communities In Schools Jacksonville’s after-school program, “TEAM UP.”
With 20 Duval County schools participating in the program, elementary and middle school students will be able to take multiple books home to start their own at-home library.
“This is a great opportunity to put something positive in the homes of our youth,” said Eric Johnson, director of TEAM UP.
The “Principle Woods” book series is a collection of stories that address life principles and attributes such as courage, work and honesty.
The TEAM UP program is funded by the Jacksonville Children’s Commission in partnership with Duval County Public Schools and provides academic and enrichment activities for three hours after school Monday-Friday.
Large donation for United Cerebral Palsy
Circle K Florida, the largest corporate supporter of United Cerebral Palsy, presented national group affiliates with a check for $552,837.73 during an awards dinner and ceremony at the company’s “FishStix 2012,” an annual golf and fishing tournament at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers.
The amount represents the proceeds that were raised at last year’s event and other funds raised through canister donations and other in-store promotions from June 2011-March 2012.
“UCP is grateful to Circle K Florida for its unwavering support of our affiliates serving people with disabilities in their local communities,” said UCP President and CEO Stephen Bennett.
‘Miracle on Ashley Street’ Friday
The Clara White Mission will present the 18th Annual “Miracle on Ashley Street Celebrity Chefs & Servers” fundraiser Friday.
It is sponsored by Citi and WJXT TV-4.
The event is scheduled 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Clara White Mission at 613 W. Ashley St. Downtown. Tickets are $20.
This year, the Clara White Mission will celebrate the success of its culinary arts and janitorial environmental services vocational training programs for the homeless.
For more information, visit www.clarawhitemission.org.
Skeet shooters support nonprofit
The 11th annual Cystic Fibrosis Foundation “Shoot for a Cure” sporting clays tournament presented by Stellar Foundation and Batson-Cook Co. March 12 raised more than $45,000 to help fund cystic fibrosis research, improve the quality of life for those with the disease and ultimately find a cure.
Following lunch provided by Carrabba’s Italian Grill, attendees participated in a 90-target round of sporting clays and an awards presentation.
“This event was a great way for the area contractors to spend the day together and support a worthy cause,” said David Barksdale, senior vice president of Batson-Cook Co.
For more information on upcoming events, visit www.cff.org/chapters/nfl or call 733-3560.
Students receive scholarships
The inaugural Jacksonville MoneyWi$e Week awarded $2,500 scholarships to two winners of the “MoneyWi$e Week Kids Essay Contest.”
Demetris Harris, a 7th-grade student at John E. Ford K-8 School, and Gabrielle Brewer, an 8th-grade student at Mandarin Middle School, were recognized for their achievement.
District 1 School Board member Martha Barrett announced the awards at the Jacksonville MoneyWi$e Week breakfast May 8 at the University of North Florida.
“What thrills me about this contest is that it has brought the goal of college into crystal clarity for our middle-school students. For students of this age to receive college scholarships is truly amazing,” she said.
Each winner received scholarships for their college education from Edward Waters College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida.
“Students must be prepared for lifelong successful financial decisions,” said Dawn Lockhart, president of Family Foundations.
“MoneyWi$e Week is a community initiative to invest in strengthening personal and family finances to help create a strong financial future,” she said.
To learn more, visit www.familyfoundations.org or www.moneywisejax.org.
Restaurants collecting books
On Friday, Pollo Tropical is celebrating the grand opening of its River City Marketplace restaurant at 730 Skymarks Drive by giving back to the community, honoring teachers and awarding one of the first 100 customers with free Pollo Tropical food.
The first 100 people in line at 10:30 a.m. for the store’s opening with a children’s book to drop into the collection box inside the restaurant for the “Read It Forward Jax!” book drive will be entered in a drawing to win free Pollo Tropical for a year.
Read It Forward Jax! is Duval County Public Schools’ reading initiative aimed at improving literacy and reading comprehension skills for all students.
The program partners with City, business, faith-based and nonprofit organizations throughout the community to share in helping teach Jacksonville’s children about the importance of reading.
The two other Jacksonville Pollo Tropical restaurant locations also are participating in the book drive, with drop boxes in each dining room through July 31. Those restaurants are at St. Johns Town Center and the Mandarin Corners Shopping Center.