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 feel 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.
Red Coats 'Ride Out' for charity
The Red Coats, the volunteer leadership for The Players Championship golf tournament, hit the road Nov. 19 for what has become a Giving Back Month tradition, the Red Coat Ride Out.
This year, the Red Coats helped make Thanksgiving brighter with a "Thanks for Giving Tour," which included stops at City Rescue Mission, Sanctuary on 8th Street and Metro Kids Konnection.
"The Red Coat Ride Out is one of the most exciting events for our past chairmen who look forward to the chance to help put the money generated during the tournament into action each year," said 2012 Volunteer Chairman Curtis Hazel.
The tour began at City Rescue Mission, where Red Coats toured the facility and made a $10,000 check presentation.
Following the presentation, the Red Coats split into two groups and visited Sanctuary and Metro Kids to deliver Thanksgiving food baskets to children and their families. The Red Coats and tournament have supported all three organizations over the years.
A record $6.5 million was generated for local charities from the 2012 tournament, much of which benefits local children's charities, and is in line with a committed $50 million goal for youth-related charities over 10 years.
To date, more than $11 million has been raised.
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation is awarding $115,000 in grants to 11 Jacksonville-area nonprofits offering job training, education programs and support services that help connect the unemployed, underemployed, youth and those with disabilities with employment opportunities.
"Our support is enabling individuals in the Jacksonville area to achieve the education and skills needed to compete in today's and tomorrow's workplace," said Greg Smith, Northeast Florida market president of Bank of America.
"The bank's investment in the Jacksonville area is just one of the ways we are supporting education and workforce development organizations in our community and improving local economies across the country," he said.
Among the recipients:
• Edward Waters College will use the grant for its CLIMB program, which offers students who already have completed a minimum of 45 college credit hours the opportunity to obtain a bachelor's degree in 18 months. The money will fund the expansion of the CLIMB facilities and provide learning modules and areas for students to meet with professors.
• Jacksonville Chamber Foundation, a business-membership organization dedicated to driving Northeast Florida economic growth, will use the grant to support its Entrepreneurial Growth Division program. The program provides entrepreneurial assessments, business counseling, education, mentoring and business connections for business startups, emerging and existing small businesses and midsize companies. The division is made up of three departments within the JAX Chamber: the Jacksonville Women's Business Center, the Small Business Center and GrowJAX.
• The Jacksonville Urban League, a community-based movement devoted to empowering African-Americans and others to enter the economic and social mainstream, will use the grant for its Community Partnership Program to provide education, career counseling services, workforce development skills and job placement assistance to Duval County residents.
Grants also are being awarded to Florida State College at Jacksonville, The Community Foundation in Jacksonville, Beaver Street Enterprise Center, The Arc Jacksonville, Jacksonville University, the University of North Florida and the YMCA of Florida's First Coast.
The foundation is awarding more than $22 million in grants to 1,050 nonprofits in 34 states that support workforce development and education initiatives.
According to estimates provided by grant recipients, the funding will enable them to reach more than 6 million people, match more than 100,000 youth with mentors and help 29,000 students graduate with a degree or certification.