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.
Web.com Tour Championship supports Wolfson Children's Hospital
The Web.com Tour Championship donated $10,000 to Wolfson Children's Hospital at a presentation at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse.
David Brown, chairman and CEO of Web.com, and Bill Calfee, president of the Web.com Tour, presented the check to Hugh Greene, president and CEO of Baptist Health, of which Wolfson Children's Hospital is a part. Baptist Health is a founding partner of the Web.com Tour Championship.
"We're incredibly proud that the Web.com Tour Championship can make a donation to such an inspiring organization, and one that is an integral part of the Jacksonville community," said Matt Rapp, executive director of the Web.com Tour Championship.
"We see the Web.com Tour as a strong contributor to the local communities where it hosts tournaments," said David Brown, chairman and CEO, Web.com. "As Jacksonville is the home of Web.com and the Web.com Tour Championship, we are proud to play a part in helping ensure that the area children have access to the best health care available."
Wolfson Children's Hospital provides care for all children, regardless of their ability to pay. As a nonprofit organization, Wolfson Children's Hospital relies on charitable donations to provide care for all children in the region.
"Wolfson Children's Hospital is a true resource to families in North Florida, South Georgia and beyond, providing care for all children, regardless of their ability to pay. As a nonprofit organization, Wolfson Children's Hospital relies on charitable donations to provide world-class care for all children in the region," Greene said.
For additional information, visit wolfsonchildrens.org.
Champions for Justice Awards Thursday
The Justice Coalition will present the 2013 Champions for Justice Awards at 6:30 p.m. Thursday during a dinner at the Morocco Shrine Center.
The extraordinary citizen award will be presented to Paxon Revival Center Senior Pastor Steve Dobbs, who was chosen for his commitment to helping victims of violent crime.
The extraordinary business award will be presented to Robin Giddens-Sheppard, vice president of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Homes. Hardage-Giddens has assisted the Justice Coalition by providing funerals and burial services for some victims, helping to relieve the burden on the families left behind.
Also, the sheriffs of six North Florida counties have selected people from their counties to receive the sheriff's choice for extraordinary citizen award.
Firehouse Subs is the presenting sponsor of the event. For more information, visit justicecoalition.org.
Bail agents provide school supplies
The Jacksonville Bail Agents Association has for years been a supporter of the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville.
Each school year, the association makes a donation to provide school supplies to hundreds of PAL students. This year, the group's $2,000 donation will provide school supplies for all of the children in PAL's afterschool program.
"The Police Athletic League afterschool program is honored to have a partnership with JBA," said PAL Education Director Felicia Fredericks. "Over the past three years, JBA's contributions of school supplies, holiday gifts, books, educational games, afternoon meals and so much more have made such an impact on the lives of the PAL children and families."
For more than 40 years, PAL has provided athletic and education programs to the underprivileged youth of Jacksonville. With the support from the bail agents and other community partners, PAL is able to continue its mission and efforts to develop positive and meaningful relationships between children and law enforcement officers.
Jacksonville Humane Society wins $20,000
The Jacksonville Humane Society came in second place in its division and fifth place overall in the ASPCA Rachael Ray 100K Challenge.
The national contest was conducted from June-August when 50 animal shelters competed to adopt out more pets than they had during summer 2012. The society found homes for 1,612 cats and dogs, an increase of 511 from the previous year.
"We are thrilled to have won second place in our division and fifth place nationally, but we are most proud that we were able to place 1,642 animals in homes" said Denise Deisler, executive director of the Jacksonville Humane Society.
For coming in second in its division, the Humane Society wins $20,000. The funds will help to support Kitten University, the society's off-site adoptions and the Pet Safety Net program. The program offers assistance such as pet food, temporary boarding and medical care to families who are experiencing financial hardships to enable them to keep their pets.
"We are so grateful to the Jacksonville community and our partners, ACPS (Animal Care and Protective Services) and First Coast No More Homeless Pets. We could not have done this without your support. Jacksonville is truly a community that loves animals," Deisler said.
Restaurants helping provide college grants
The Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation has gained two new restaurant partners to help promote their nonprofit organization this fall.
All Chili's restaurants in Northeast Florida and KC Crave in Jacksonville Beach have partnered with the foundation to raise funds for the organization. Proceeds from the promotions will go toward grants, which may ensure a debt-free college education for military children who lost a parent while on active duty.
Chili's will be hosting a "Give Back Event" Oct. 15. Ten percent of proceeds from lunch and dinner patrons who mention the Children of Fallen Patriots will be donated to the foundation.
All Jacksonville-area Chili's will be participating, including those in Orange Park, Palatka, St. Augustine and Yulee.
KC Crave in Jacksonville Beach will be conducting a separate promotion. Since Veterans Day is Nov. 11, the restaurant is planning to present a month-long fundraiser titled "Salute to the Veterans."
Three items will be selected from the menu, and 25 percent of the money collected from the items in November will go to the foundation.
"We do our best to give back to the community, especially when it comes to anything concerning education, children and the military," said Chris Jones, owner and founder of KC Crave.
Buying groceries aids wounded warriors
Two Jacksonville companies are working together to support wounded warriors and enlist the public's help for the needs of injured service members.
Acosta Sales & Marketing, a full-service sales and marketing agency, and Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, are again spearheading the Believe in Heroes campaign.
Believe in Heroes started in 2010 to raise awareness and money for Wounded Warrior Project on a national scale and to enlist help for the needs of injured service members.
The campaign engages shoppers and the general public to show support and appreciation of service members and veterans by grocery shopping and using designated coupons.
Acosta's reach in working with more than 60 percent of the brands in the consumer packaged goods industry put the company in a position to assemble a coordinated effort to benefit this important cause.
During the past three years, Believe in Heroes has raised more than $9.5 million to support programs and services offered by the Wounded Warrior Project.
Learn more about Believe in Heroes by visiting wwpbelieve.org.