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.
St. Vincent's Southside: 'Best Hospital Workplace'
St. Vincent's Medical Center Southside, formerly St. Luke's Hospital, was founded in 1873 by three women who saw the need for medical care in the community.
That mission was recognized when the Florida Hospital Association awarded its Celebration of Service Award to St. Vincent's Southside in the category of Best Hospital Workplace.
"We are honored to receive this recognition," said Kyle Sanders, president of St. Vincent's Medical Center Southside. "Our compassionate team of doctors, nurses and other medical and support professionals has created a culture of inspired health care workers, who are dedicated to improving patients' lives by delivering high-quality care with a healing touch."
Each year, the Florida Hospital Association honors the achievements of health care organizations committed to the mission of providing high-quality care to all Floridians.
Annual 'Empty Bowls' Nov. 19
Join Second Harvest North Florida in solving hunger one bowl at a time at the 29th annual Empty Bowls Luncheon on Nov. 19. The luncheon, made possible by sponsors Bank of America and Winn-Dixie, aims to raise awareness of hunger in North Florida and to encourage the community to join Second Harvest as part of the solution.
Attendees will be served a light lunch by local celebrities while enjoying music from student performers and a short program about local hunger. Each attendee may also select one ceramic bowl from hundreds that have been handcrafted by student and senior groups to take home as a keepsake, as well as purchase additional bowls for $10.
Specialty bowls created by professional artists and celebrities also will be available for sale, with several autographed bowls showcased in a silent auction.
Second Harvest Executive Director Bruce Ganger said many guests who attend the luncheon tell him that coming to this event has become an annual Thanksgiving tradition. Last year's luncheon raised $83,319, enough to provide 583,233 meals to hungry families.
"The Empty Bowls luncheon is a powerful event that brings North Florida's hunger problem to the surface and provides a forum to discuss how we can all become a part of the solution," Ganger said. "For every dollar donated to Second Harvest, we can provide seven meals. The price of one individual ticket to this event will provide 210 meals."
To purchase tickets for Empty Bowls ($30 per person) or to learn more about Second Harvest, visit WeNourishHope.org.
For more information, contact Tanya Downs at (904) 739-7074.
Nonprofit helping students graduate
More than 99 percent of local at-risk high school seniors involved in Communities In Schools of Jacksonville programs graduated last year, according to a new report released by the nonprofit dropout prevention organization.
Ninety-two percent of all other local students the organization serves were promoted to their next grade level.
The report, "Changing the Picture of Education in Jacksonville," illustrates Communities In Schools of Jacksonville's success working with 6,429 at-risk Duval County students last year, in a district where nearly 33 percent of all students don't graduate on time, said Leon Baxton, the agency's interim CEO.
"Some students are hungry, their lights are out, they've experienced violence at home or in their neighborhood, they could be tripled up at grandma's house or living at a hotel. It's hard to concentrate on school when you have all of that going on in your life," Baxton said.
Every 26 seconds, a young person in America drops out of school. When students drop out, they are more likely to end up in poverty, suffer poor health, be dependent on social services, enter the criminal justice system and cost the U.S. billions of dollars each year in lost revenue and increased spending on government assistance programs.
To change the picture in Jacksonville, Communities In Schools is serving more than 6,400 students in 39 Duval County Public Schools this year.
According to the report, Communities In Schools of Jacksonville achieved the following during the 2012-13 school year:
• 18 elementary schools, 13 middle schools and eight high schools were served.
• 6,429 students received services from the agency's programs, including the Literacy Division, After School Division and Mentoring Division.
• 99 percent of seniors receiving targeted and sustained services (and for whom data was available) graduated.
• 92 percent of the students in grades K-11 who received targeted and sustained services (and for whom data was available) were promoted to the next grade.
Communities In Schools of Jacksonville is part of a national network, which operates in 27 states and the District of Columbia and serves more than 1.2 million youth annually.
KC Krave supporting survivor students
Restaurant KC Krave in Jacksonville Beach will be hosting a month-long promotion titled "Salute to the Veterans" to support Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.
Three of KC Krave's menu items have been selected to help the foundation raise funds. In November, 25 percent of the money collected from the items will go directly to foundation grants, which is to ensure a debt-free college education for military children who lost a parent while on active duty.
Menu items that will be featured are the pow sesame Mayport shrimp and bourbon chicken stir fry. A new cocktail, "Patriot Punch," also will be on the selected menu.
KC Krave is participating with the foundation because it is a part of the restaurant's mission to be involved in charitable events that support children, education and the military.
"Our community can benefit considerably from the services CFPF offers," said Chris Jones, owner and founder of KC Krave. "They are also new to our community, so we want to help bring awareness to their organization."
Headquartered in Jacksonville Beach, Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation's mission is to provide college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. This includes casualties both before and after 9/11. The organization's vision is to ensure a debt-free education to all such children by bridging the gap between existing sources of grants and scholarships and the total cost of college.
If you are a child who has lost a parent in the line of duty, or if you have a child and have lost a spouse in the line of duty, contact the foundation at (866) 917-2373 for information on enrolling in the program. You may also enroll online at fallenpatriots.org/enroll.
New sponsor for 26.2 with Donna
The 26.2 with Donna Foundation and Ashley Furniture HomeStores have formed a new partnership to further support breast cancer research and women living with breast cancer.
For the next three years, Ashley Furniture HomeStores will serve as the official sponsor of the 26.2 with Donna Relay.
Howard Fineman, Ashley HomeStore CEO and managing member, said the partnership is one more way for his team to give back to the community.
"We believe in the vision of the 26.2 with Donna Foundation. Our team wants to do everything it can to support finding a cure and ending breast cancer. We are humbled and honored to have this opportunity to help," he said.
The 26.2 with Donna Foundation, established by journalist and three-time breast cancer survivor Donna Deegan, attracts world-class marathoners to Jacksonville every year to participate in the only marathon in the country dedicated to ending breast cancer.
"Howard and Ashley Furniture HomeStores have been friends to the foundation for years. His generosity is overwhelming. Support from our community is so important to our efforts to end breast cancer and help those with it," Deegan said.
In addition to its support for the 26.2 with Donna Foundation, Ashley Furniture HomeStore is involved with the Salvation Army and the USO and began a program to provide free bedding for local children in need. The program, "A Hope to Dream" is now featured in more than 200 of Ashley Furniture HomeStores nationwide.