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.
CSX is new sponsor for Feb. 14 Red Rose Ball
St. Vincent's HealthCare Foundation has a new title sponsor for the 33rd annual Red Rose Ball.
CSX Corp., one of the largest local companies, is supporting the Red Rose Ball as title sponsor this year.
"As a leading employer in Jacksonville, CSX is concerned about the health and well-being of their employees and the entire community," said Jane Lanier, president and system chief development officer at St. Vincent's HealthCare Foundation. "We are deeply appreciative of the support from CSX along with our other sponsors, Bacardi and Premier Beverage."
The Red Rose Ball is North Florida's oldest charity ball. The Casablanca-themed event is 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Jacksonville Marriott at Southpoint.
Proceeds from the ball will benefit Heart Smart, a new St. Vincent's heart wellness program. The program offers a multidisciplined approach to living a "heart healthy lifestyle" by providing participants with tools for the mind, body and soul that will help reduce risk factors and prevent heart disease.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and has been the No. 1 killer of Floridians for the past seven decades.
"Heart disease affects an enormous amount of people in our community in North Florida and South Georgia," said Clarence Gooden, executive vice president of sales and marketing for CSX. "CSX is proud to be the title sponsor of the Red Rose Ball. A heart wellness program like Heart Smart makes sense for all of us."
St. Vincent's Foundation also has support from local companies Bacardi and Premier Beverage, who are serving as presenting sponsors once again.
Reservations and sponsorships are available by contacting the St. Vincent's HealthCare Foundation at (904) 308-7338.
100 gallons and counting
The Blood Alliance recorded its fifth 100-gallon donor this month at Mayo Clinic's donor room.
On Jan. 8, Carroll Sharp joined four other members of the 100-gallon donor club: Bill Conroy (March 28, 2011), Dean Willis (Dec. 12, 2011), Kelly Williams (Jan. 10, 2013) and David Crews (Nov. 19).
Sharp first donated blood when he was in Louisville, Ky., in the late 1960s while working with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co. In 1976, he moved to Jacksonville when the company relocated him and attached him to the Jacksonville offices of CSX. He was donating whole blood at the time, and changed to platelets shortly thereafter. He has made more than 550 platelet donations so far.
"I am just glad to be healthy, and able to help others who need blood. Life is about what you can do for other people. My wife and daughter have both been donors as well, and my daughter continues to do so in Orange Park," said Sharp, who is 69.
When he lived in Ohio, Sharp organized blood drives for his church. When he worked for CSX, he coordinated mobile blood drives. Sharp volunteers at Mayo Clinic as a patient escort.
In working to inspire others to donate, Sharp said there may a small moment of possible discomfort associated with being pricked by a needle, "But that is nothing compared to the good feeling you get while donating. Your donation is going to help somebody, maybe even save their life, giving that person more time with his or her family. It truly is a gift of life."
To make an appointment, visit igiveblood.com.
Workshop for caregivers
As more Northeast Florida seniors need full-time care, family caregivers need to understand their special needs, and how to find help for themselves and their loved ones.
"Caring for the Caregiver" is a free workshop from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 1 at Legends Center, 5130 Soutel Drive.
Family caregivers can connect with professionals and resources that will support them, network with fellow caregivers and listen to professional speakers discuss a variety of topics, including:
• Proper body mechanics when caring for your loved one
• Technology and the caregiver
• Fall prevention
• What is end-of-life care?
• Challenging behaviors of the Alzheimer's patient
• Caring for the caregiver
To register for the workshop, call (904) 407-6790 by Jan. 24.
"Caring for the Caregiver" is presented by Community Hospice of Northeast Florida and its partners in the Caregiver Coalition of Northeast Florida: Alzheimer's Association Central and North Florida Chapter, Aging True, the city of Jacksonville Senior Services Division, ElderSource, Baptist AgeWell Institute, Mayo Clinic Florida Memory Disorders Clinic and area Councils on Aging.
Caregiver Coalition programs are made possible in part through the support of Florida Blue and other community organizations.
For more information, visit MyCaregiverConnection.org.
Realtors raise funds for BEAM
Prudential Network Realty sales professionals Dennis and Kathy Lang led Ocean Yoga's 11th annual New Year's Day yoga benefit.
The event raised $1,125 for Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families. The Langs are a husband-and-wife team from Prudential's office in Atlantic Beach.
"We appreciate the ongoing support we have received from Ocean Yoga and the Langs," said BEAM Executive Director Susan King. "Events like this are very impactful and often connect the dots for many people, providing an introduction to our organization, the services we offer and the need in our community."
More than 40 yogis participated in the event, which featured music by Jacksonville multi-instrumentalist virtuoso Arvid Smith.
"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us at Ocean Yoga for this special practice and for supporting this wonderful cause," said Dennis Lang. "We are honored to share our love of yoga and support BEAM, which provides exceptional services to our local community."
The Langs have practiced yoga for more than 10 years and co-teach numerous classes and workshops including many charitable practices. They are passionate about sharing their love of yoga and its benefits with others, and like to use their yoga teaching and practice to benefit the community.
BEAM's mission is to keep families in their homes and help them become self-sufficient. More information is available at www.jaxbeam.org.
$10,000 grant for Ability Housing
The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, awarded Ability Housing of Northeast Florida a $10,000 contribution for its Villages Program.
The Ability Housing Villages Program provides quality, multi-family rental housing to very low-income individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness and adults with a disability. The program is designed to provide affordable housing that positively impacts its surrounding area and creates permanent solutions to homelessness.
In Jacksonville, Ability Housing has developed three Villages communities: the 83-unit Mayfair Village Apartments; the 52-unit Renaissance Village Apartments and the 60-unit Oakland Terrace Apartments.
"The TD Charitable Foundation has been a strong supporter of our programs," said Ability Housing Executive Director Shannon Nazworth.
Ability Housing measures the success of its Villages program based on the number of people housed and the outcome for residents. Monthly reports track the number of people housed and a semi-annual report provides detailed outcomes related to stable housing, changes in income, participation in group activities and third- party instruction.
Ability Housing of Northeast Florida is the only nonprofit in Jacksonville that focuses on the development and operation of quality affordable rental housing for the homeless, those at risk of homelessness and adults with a disability.
For more information, visit abilityhousing.org..