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.
'Cardboard City' Nov. 15-16
Cold, wet, warm or dry – no matter the weather, Family Promise of Jacksonville will present the third annual Cardboard City, an evening to see what it might be like to be homeless. The event is from 4 p.m. Nov. 15 to 8 a.m. Nov. 16 at CrossRoad United Methodist Church, 10005 Gateway Parkway N.
Participants will spend the night in cardboard boxes, tents or in their own car. Alhambra Theatre & Dining will serve a simple meal and there will be activities, entertainment and presentations throughout the evening related to homelessness.
The event is intended to raise awareness of the number of homeless families in the community and to raise money for Family Promise of Jacksonville, a nonprofit organization that helps homeless families become self-sufficient. Nearly 40 percent of the homeless are families.
Participants are asked to register ahead of time and collect contributions or make a donation to take part in the event.
To register, call (904) 354-1818 or email [email protected]. For information, visit familypromisejax.org or call (904) 354-1818.
Halloween events benefit Community PedsCare
There is no better way to get in the Halloween spirit than participating in the Monster Mash Dash 5K on Oct. 18, and the ninth annual Halloween Doors & More on Oct. 19, both at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds. Tickets are on sale now.
The Monster Mash Dash 5K begins with a 1-mile fun run at 6 p.m. followed by the 5K race at 6:30 p.m. A restaurant village offers food, adult beverages, children's activities and musical entertainment by the Boogie Freaks.
Tickets for the Fun Run are $12 in advance ($15 day of the race) and for the 5K, $30 in advance ($35 day of the race).
At Halloween Doors & More, experience the 14-foot-high Fantasy Doors and walk into imaginary worlds like Alice's Adventure and Harry's Wizarding World. Tickets for the 3-8 p.m. event are $100 per adult and $50 per child, ages 2 to 12. Children under the age of 2 are admitted free.
Proceeds from both events benefit Community PedsCare, the pediatric palliative and hospice program of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida. To date, the annual event has provided more than $2.8 million in net proceeds to help children with life-limiting and life-threatening medical conditions.
Event chairs for the 2013 event include Jill Abel, Elizabeth Edge and Wendy Hattery, with Jill and Charlie Arnold serving as honorary chairs.
To register for the Monster Mash Dash, visit MMD.CommunityHospice.com. For Halloween Doors & More ticket pricing or sponsorships, visit HDM.CommunityHospice.com.
Beach orthodontist launching program
Dr. Shreena Patel of Beaches Orthodontics is sponsoring the Jacksonville chapter of Smile for a Lifetime, an international nonprofit organization that provides orthodontic care and free braces to underserved children with financial challenges and special orthodontic needs.
"This is why I am an orthodontist – because I truly believe that what we do not only provides for improved dental health, function and aesthetics, but also builds self-esteem, confidence and because of this, I can provide our patients with a better life. I want to change lives, and S4L gives me that platform," said Patel.
S4L was founded in 2008 in an effort to link children and teens of low-income families with pro bono orthodontic scholarships. The foundation has treated more than 1,000 children who could not afford braces, and it has grown to an international nonprofit organization that has more than 137 chapters.
Local dentists and community service organizations are encouraged to nominate members ages 11-18 who would benefit from the S4L program by visiting s4l.org.
$1 million for Sulzbacher Center
On Oct. 3, the Sulzbacher Center hosted its 15th annual "Transformations" at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
At the end of the event, Gary Chartrand, Transformations presenting sponsor, made an announcement to the audience via video. He and his wife, Nancy, committed to give the Sulzbacher Center $100,000 a year for 10 years.
The funding is undesignated, meaning each year it can be used to cover the center's greatest needs at the time of the gift.
"We know that they (Sulzbacher Center) operate in a very fiscally sound way and stretch those dollars to help as many people as possible," said Chartrand.
The event celebrated the transformation of three formerly homeless veterans who shared their stories of struggling with homelessness and finding the way home.
The event included a tribute to the man who founded the Sulzbacher Center, I.M. Sulzbacher, and a celebration of what would have been his 100th birthday.
The center also unveiled an "I.M. Cookie," a new holiday fundraiser being launched to honor Sulzbacher.
Sulzbacher Center's services include street outreach, daily meals, safe shelter, case management support, job placement assistance, medical, dental and mental health care as well as scattered-site housing.
For information, visit sulzbachercenter.org.