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 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.
Sontag Foundation provides more than $400,000 in grants
Sixteen nonprofits have been awarded a combined $440,000 in grants by the Sontag Foundation, the organization has announced.
Founded in 2002, the foundation has awarded more than $36 million in grants in the areas of brain cancer research in the U.S. and Canada, rheumatoid arthritis research in the U.S. and programs fostering self-sufficiency for individuals in Northeast Florida.
The recent grants are: $20,000 to the Beaches Council on Aging; $35,000 to Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry; $30,000 to First Coast Women's Services; $25,000 to Micah's Place; $25,000 to Senior Life Foundation; $25,000 to ARC Jacksonville; $25,000 to International Learning Center; $30,000 to Learn to Read; $40,000 to North Florida School of Special Education; $25,000 to Pine Castle; $30,000 to Trinity Rescue Mission; $25,000 to Barnabas Center's Samaritan Dental Clinic; $25,000 to The Way Free Medical Clinic; $25,000 to Vision is Priceless; $25,00 to Volunteers in Medicine; and $30,000 to WestJax Outreach. For information about the foundation, visit sontagfoundation.org.
HabiJax to host gala
Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville will host a gala at 7 p.m. April 18 to honor its 25th year of making homeownership a reality for more than 1,850 families in Northeast Florida.
The event will be Downtown at the Main Library courtyard and feature speaker Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity.
Cost for the event is $75 per person, which includes dinner, cocktails and entertainment by Grandpa's Cough Medicine.
For information, contact Paula Collett at (904) 208-6631 or [email protected].
HandsOnJacksonville awards set
HandsOnJacksonville will host its Celebrate!GOOD awards at 6 p.m. April 18.
The event honors good deeds of people in the area and coincides with National Volunteer Week, Florida Volunteer Month and Jacksonville Volunteer Appreciation Month.
Under the Pinnacle Awards categories, the recipients are:
• "Bernard V. Gregory Servant Leader Award" to Eleanor Ashby.
• "Tillie Kidd Fowler Spirit of Service Award" to the Gator Bowl Association.
• "Edward R Hayes Unity in Action Award" to Bank of America/Merrill Lynch.
The HandsOn Awards are:
• "HandsOn Business" to Synovus Bank-Jacksonville.
• "HandsOn Community" to Jack Diamond.
• "HandsOn Earth" to Tim Armstrong.
• "HandsOn Faith" to Seniors on a Mission.
• "HandsOn Health" to Pink Sisters & Friends Advocacy at Mayo, Fla.
• "HandsOn Literacy" to City Year.
• "HandsOn Mentoring" to Mayor's Mentors.
• "HandsOn Schools" to Florida Coastal School of Law.
"HandsOn Service in Uniform" to Patrol Squadron Eight, "Fighting Tigers."
"HandsOn Willing and Able" to J.T. Townsend Jr.
• "HandsOn Young At Heart" to John Sornberger.
• "HandsOn Youth in Action" to Aaron Badida.
CHS honors local philanthropists
Children's Home Society of Florida, Buckner Division hosted its annual "Under the Tent" Awards lunch March 20 to recognize and honor individuals and organizations for their work in the interest of local children.
The "Foster Parents of the Year" were Steven and Sandra Alvey, whose relationship with the society began more than 20 years ago.
In that time, they have cared for 25 children and currently foster two children with medical and physical challenges after facing severe abuse.
Julie Sechrist was awarded "Volunteer of the Year" award for her dedicated service of 16 years.
Sechrist works year-round to support the society through actively coordinating fundraising efforts, events and volunteers.
Publix Super Markets claimed the "Corporate Citizen of the Year" award for its initiatives benefiting the society and many other charities.
Publix has been a Caring Chefs sponsor since 2000 and continues to donate through programs including Santa Dollars, which has locally raised $18,000.
State Rep. Charles McBurney was named "Public Official of the Year" for his child advocacy through his legislative work.
McBurney also has been honored by several community organizations, including the Florida Alliance for Art Education and PACE Center for Girls.
The "R. David and I. Lorraine Thomas Child Advocate of the Year" award was presented to the Jess and Brewster J. Durkee Foundation.
Founded in 1995 by Brewster Durkee and overseen by trustees Edward McCarthy Jr., Edward McCarthy III and Kendall G. Durkee, the foundation has helped children's charities, including donating more than $26,000 to the society over the past two years.
For more information, visit chsfl.org/buckner.
Daily's supports mobile health clinic
St. Vincent's HealthCare is growing its Mobile Health Outreach Ministry with the help of Daily's convenience stores and its sponsorship of the annual charity golf tournament.
For the past five years, Daily's "The Tradition" golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass has raised funds to purchase a new St. Vincent's mobile health clinic and support program costs.
The mobile clinic is a "doctor's office on wheels" that will travel throughout North Florida to serve children and their families who are medically underserved.
The clinic, like others in the program, will provide medical services such as providing school children immunizations, school or sports physicals, health screenings, diagnostic testing and disease management.
Last year, St. Vincent's Mobile Health Outreach Ministry provided more than 31,000 free adult and pediatric services to nearly 15,000 patients.
Among those, 26 percent were from rural areas, 18 percent were inner-city working poor and 56 percent were children living in low-income neighborhoods.
San Jose Rotary raises $20,000 for charities
The Rotary Club of San Jose raised $20,000 for Catholic Charities of Jacksonville and the YMCA during its 10th Annual Presidents' Day Charity Golf Tournament on Feb. 18 at San Jose Country Club.
The event had 115 golfers, a record turnout. Volunteers from the two charities assisted with the event that featured a silent auction. The club was founded in 2003 and has raised more than $200,000 for local charities. For more information, visit sanjoserotary.org.
'Moonlight on the Marsh' scheduled April 20
North Florida Land Trust will host its "Moonlight on the Marsh" April 20 along the west bank of the Guana River in Ponte Vedra.
The organization's annual fundraiser at the "Outpost" will be a star-lit, "black-tie and
blue jeans gala" that includes dinner, silent auction and music by the J.B. Sessions Jazz Ensemble.
The nonprofit, founded in 1999, spans seven counties in Northeast Florida and locally protects more than 2,500 acres.
It acquires preservation land is a member of the national Land Trust Alliance. Its 2013 initiative is to begin a streams-restoration effort for Downtown in cooperation with the St. Johns Riverkeeper. For more information about the organization and event, visit northfloridalandtrust.org.