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 think 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.
Vision for Excellence supporting summer camps
Vision for Excellence, a nonprofit serving Jacksonville's youth, is on its way to achieving a $17,500 summer fundraising goal.
On Feb. 8, the nonprofit hosted its "Cocktails for a Cause," raising more than $3,000 from donations, raffle prizes and a silent auction.
Vision for Excellence was established by The Office of Public Defender Matt Shirk in 2010 as a summer camp to help at-risk youth stay busy during the summer months.
Shirk credits local businesses who donated prizes to serve as incentives for raffle ticket sales.
Among those sponsoring were Chamblin's Bookmine, Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches, Maple Street Biscuit Company, Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Science & History, Nelson Cuba and the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, The Comedy Zone, the Jacksonville Giants, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.
Teen smoking prevention
Family Support Services of North Florida is focusing on teen smoking and how to prevent and stop it, with the topics highlighted during two upcoming Breakfast Learning Series programs at neighborhood community centers.
The free programs are Wednesday at Schell-Sweet Community Resource Center, 1697 Kings Road, and Thursday at Fresh Ministries, 616 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.
Continental breakfast and networking for both days are scheduled at 8:30 a.m., with the program at 9 a.m. The series is for parents, caregivers, social-services professionals and the public.
Discussion will include information about the prolonged use of tobacco by children and teens and how it makes the habit more addictive and harder to quit. Additionally, tips will be provided regarding how to approach and talk to a child who may be using tobacco.
Family Support Services offers the series free each month. It is the lead agency for foster care, adoption and family preservation in Duval and Nassau counties and serves more than 2,200 at-risk families each year by providing programs, support and assistance.
For information or to register, email [email protected] or call (904) 432-2719.
Grant for Aging True
Aging True has been awarded a $2,500 grant from Meals on Wheels Association of America for its participation in the association's Most Meals Contest, "Share the Love."
As part of Subaru of America Inc.'s participation, Aging True worked with Subaru of Jacksonville, Subaru of Orange Park and the Southside Woman's Club during the holiday season to coordinate donations and design and deliver hot meals and 200 hand-sewn holiday stockings.
As one of the five Subaru "Share the Love" partners, the association created the contest to foster partnerships between local Meals on Wheels programs and Subaru dealerships.
The association awards a total of $150,000 in Most Meals grants to the 48 programs across the country that recruit dealership employees to volunteer, deliver meals and engage community members to end senior hunger. Over the past three years, proceeds from Subaru's participation have provided funds for the association to support its vision to end senior hunger by 2020.
Jacksonville's Meals on Wheels serves more than 1,000 meals each day to elderly people in Duval County. The organization also provides personal safety checks, nutritional assessments and ongoing connections to community health and social resources.
ElderSource names employee of the year
ElderSource has announced Tia Davis as its 2012 Employee of the Year.
Davis, a customer service specialist, was recognized with monthly honors three times in 2012 for her work helping area seniors resolve financial situations.
ElderSource is a nonprofit that works to empower elders and their caregivers to help age with dignity and independence.
As a team member of the Elder HelpLine, Davis assists seniors and caregivers through the ElderSource Senior-to-Senior Fund, a program designed to assist senior citizens in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties facing short-term financial crises. It assists more than 12,000 people each year.
The fund provides monetary assistance to support the basic needs of at-risk seniors, including health care and medications, housing, clothing and transportation.
Davis has worked for ElderSource since July 2011 and is a graduate of the University of Miami.
The nonprofit is a state-designated Area Agency on Aging and Aging & Disability Resource Center funded in part by state and federal grants, foundation grants and private donations.
For more information about the organization, call (904) 391-6600.