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 believe would be of interest to our readers. Email to: [email protected]. We encourage our readers to become more aware of the needs of these worthy organizations as they continue to provide much-needed services with reduced resources.
Josserand receives top volunteer award
David Josserand of the Dalton Agency received the American Heart Association's 2013 Gold Heart Award, one of three the organization awarded nationwide.
The award is the highest honor the association gives in recognition of continued, distinguished service.
The award was presented June 25 during the association's Gold Heart Banquet in Dallas.
Josserand, Dalton Agency executive vice president and chief strategic officer, joined Dr. Timothy Gardner of Newark, Del., and Hank Wasiak of New York as recipients.
He served as the association's board chairman in 2008-09 and has been a volunteer for more than 15 years.
Food truck rally to benefit Children's Miracle Network
The Landing and Jax Truckies partnered for a "Truckin' on the River" food-truck rally at 6 p.m. July 27 in the Landing parking lot.
Jax Truckies is an organization that promotes the food-truck industry in Northeast Florida.
All participating food trucks will donate a portion of their proceeds to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to support the pediatric units at Wolfson Children's Hospital and Shands Jacksonville.
The event will have more than a dozen food trucks and feature live music, drawings, giveaways and more.
Attendees also will select a "People's Choice" winner to be announced at the end of the event.
Admission is free and limited parking will be available at the Landing for $5. Other parking options are available along Downtown streets at meters.
JHS finds homes for 593 in June
The Jacksonville Humane Society broke its adoption record in June by finding homes for 593 dogs and cats, a 214-pet increase over June 2012.
In a news release, society Executive Director Denise Deisler credits partnerships with First Coast No More Homeless Pets, City Animal Care and Protective Services, volunteers and social media for the success.
The organization is competing for a national grant through the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rachel Ray $100K Challenge photo contest.
The nationwide contest among animal shelters is to determine the shelters that can break their adoption records.
The Jacksonville Humane Society is on pace to reach its goal of 2,013 pets for the summer, but Deisler said in the release that the organization still has more than 600 animals in its shelter and foster homes.
For more information on the organization, visit jaxhumane.org.
FoodFight raises almost $90,000
The 23rd Annual Jacksonville Foodfight on June 6 raised close to $90,000 to benefit Second Harvest North Florida.
About 1,000 people attended and 70 local restaurants and beverage wholesalers participated in the event at the EverBank Field Touchdown Club East.
The $90,000 was raised through ticket sales, silent auctions, raffles and more and will fund about 560,000 meals for the hungry in Northeast Florida.
Since its inception in 1989, the event has raised more than $1 million — enough to provide about 7 million meals — in support of Second Harvest.
For more information about Second Harvest, visit wenourishhope.org.
Winn-Dixie customers donate almost $8,000
Through customer donations, Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. donated almost $8,000 to the American Cancer Society of Florida to support the nonprofit's local efforts.
The society shared its latest local initiative and information for supports during a July 2 presentation, where the $8,000 check was donated.
The donation program was part of the grocer's community initiative that has raised more than $150,000 for 75 nonprofits within the company's operating area. The figure represents six weeks of customer participation from Feb. 20-April 2.
Organizations that benefited include those that enhance the lives of children, improve health and education and nourish hunger.
Letter carriers' food drive nets more than 208,000 pounds
The National Association of Letter Carriers' annual one-day "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive netted 208,373 pounds of food from Northeast Florida residents.
Peanut butter, canned vegetables, boxes of pasta and more were transported from postal transportation centers to Second Harvest North Florida, which supplies more than 400 area nonprofits assisting the hungry.
Since its 1991 inception, the drive has generated more than 1 billion pounds of food nationwide.