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.
Golf tournament raises $123,000
The 11th Annual Sam Kouvaris Dreams Come True Golf Tournament presented by Mac Papers April 30 raised $123,000 to support the programs and services of Dreams Come True. Since the tournament’s inception in 2002, it has netted more than $1 million for the local nonprofit.
“The amazing support from our sponsors and volunteers allowed our tournament to be a success once again,” said Executive Director Jimmy Kelly.
More than 50 volunteers assisted with the tournament. Volunteers included employees of Florida Blue, Wells Fargo and Publix Super Markets along with other Dreams Come True volunteers.
The Players goes pink
The Players announced that $67,685 was raised for breast cancer research and care through the PGA Tour golf tournament’s partnership with the 26.2 with Donna Foundation, a local charitable organization that raises funds for breast cancer research at Mayo Clinic and women living with breast cancer.
A capacity crowd of 1,280 participated May 5 at “The Players 5K with Donna.” For the first time, runners began at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse and continued along the cart paths through the back nine holes, passing the island green at No. 17 just days before the start of the tournament.
To date, the annual event has raised more than $121,000 for the 26.2 with Donna Foundation.
The $67,685 was raised through three avenues.
The 5K event raised $30,000 for the 26.2 with Donna Foundation.
Race registrations also were tied to The Players Birdies for Charity program, raising an additional $1,500 in bonus money for the organization.
Attendance and The Courtyard concession sales during Sunday’s “Pink Out” generated a $36,185 donation to the foundation.
“It was amazing to see The Players turn pink for Mother’s Day,” said 26.2 with Donna founder Donna Deegan.
“I am so grateful and look forward to building on the momentum of this year’s success and raising more funds to finish breast cancer in partnership with the PGA Tour,” she said.
Charity tournament for Daniel
More than 100 golfers played April 13 through Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass to benefit Daniel, Florida’s oldest nonprofit child-service agency.
The 12th Annual Daniel Charity Golf Tournament, presented by Enterprise Integration, grossed nearly $110,000 to benefit the local children in crisis served by Daniel.
Sponsors and foursomes played their roles in raising funds, but the agency’s dream vacation drawing also helped boost the overall amount raised.
With 174 tickets sold, $17,400 was raised by the drawing alone. Alisa Quinn won her choice between a seven-day trip to London and Paris and a three-day trip to Pebble Beach, Calif.
Daniel is Florida’s oldest nonprofit child-service agency. Originally established as an orphanage in 1884, Daniel has evolved into a multiservice agency that assists more than 1,000 children, adolescents and families each day with nationally recognized programs.
Grocer makes donation
The Children’s Home Society of Florida, Buckner Division received a contribution of more than $2,300 from Whole Foods Market in Jacksonville as part of its “5 Percent Day” promotion.
Whole Foods Market stores hold the initiative three times a year when it donates 5 percent of its net sales for a day to a local or regional nonprofit organization. On April 3, the Buckner Division was the recipient of the donation from Whole Foods.
“Whole Foods Market’s generous donation will help provide critical, life-changing services to Northeast Florida’s most vulnerable children and families,” said Buckner Division Executive Director Kymberly Cook.
The Children’s Home Society of Florida is dedicated to embracing children and inspiring lives through its programs and services such as adoption, foster care and child abuse prevention programs.
For more information, visit chsfl.org/buckner.
Celebrity servers Saturday
By day, they are professional football players and coaches, but on the night of May 29 at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront, local celebrities will put on aprons and become waiters for the 11th annual Medicine and Miracles Celebrity Dinner presented by Smith Hulsey & Busey.
Hosted by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, the event raises funds and awareness for the pediatric programs at Shands Jacksonville and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
Awards are given to the waiters for the Most Amusing, Most Food Dropped or Spilled, Most Dollars Raised and Best Overall Waiter.
In addition, there will be a live and silent auction featuring a getaway to the Atlantis Resort Bahamas and a trip to New York City.
Tables for the event are available and can be purchased by calling Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at 244-9338.
For more information, visit cmnjax.com.