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.
TD Bank supports Jewish Family & Community Services
The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, donated $2,000 to Jewish Family & Community Services.
Jewish Family & Community Services helps enhance the lives of children, adults, seniors and families coping with challenges that arise throughout the life cycle.
"The $2,000 grant funding from TD Charitable Foundation will help families in crisis meet the basic human need of nutrition. The JFCS emergency food pantry is a lifeline for nearly 7,500 people a year in crisis situations, helping to nourish and stabilize them," said the agency's Executive Director Colleen Rodriguez.
The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank N.A. The foundation's mission is to serve the individuals, families and businesses in the communities where TD Bank operates, having made $108.4 million in charitable donations since its inception in 2002. The foundation's areas of focus are affordable housing, financial literacy and education, and the environment.
More information on the TD Charitable Foundation, including an online grant application, is available at TDBank.com.
Kayak tour to benefit North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust, in partnership with Kayak Amelia, will present a guided eco-tour around Big Talbot and surrounding islands from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Feb. 15. The outing offers instruction and a two-hour guided paddle. No previous kayak experience is necessary.
Guests can explore the area's waters while bird watching and observing other marshland wildlife of North Florida's barrier islands.
"Young and old alike are invited to relax on the water with North Florida Land Trust while they escape the pressures of daily life," said Bonnie Barnes, executive director. "We want people to enjoy the beauty and serenity of preserved land and wetland, such as Big Talbot Island, and educate them about the importance of land conservation."
The tour is sponsored by Kayak Amelia and will be led by owner, Ray Hetchka, who has been leading kayak eco-tours in North Florida for more than 10 years.
Proceeds from the event ($65 per adult, $55 for children) will benefit North Florida Land Trust, which has been protecting and preserving land and natural resources in North Florida for 15 years.
Founded in 1999, the trust spans seven counties, protecting more than 3,500 acres including land at Big Talbot Island, the River Branch Preserve, Pumpkin Hill?State Park, Moccasin Slough, and along the St. Mary's River. The organization relies on fundraisers and the contributions of supporters to acquire preservation lands.
For more information, visit northfloridalandtrust.org.
Fashion show for Dignity U Wear April 16
For the 11 straight year, the Northeast Florida Chapter of the International Interior Design Association will host a competition among Jacksonville's design community at the "Cocktail Couture Fashion Show" to benefit Dignity U Wear.
The event is set for April 16 at the Garden Club of Jacksonville. Tickets are $45 each and may be purchased at www.iidacocktailcouture.com.
The theme for this year's event is "An Organic Experience." Using unconventional materials utilized in the interior design profession, teams of designers from North Florida will repurpose them into runway couture fashions for men or women.
Products assigned to teams will include items such as carpet materials, wall coverings, furniture, upholstery, tile, wood, solid surfaces, lighting and marketing materials.
Each runway fashion must use at least 85 percent of the manufacturer's materials in the presentation. Product materials will be provided by the team sponsor manufacturer.
Teams will consist of an interior design professional and creative professionals from other related disciplines. Anyone may enter.
The relationship between IIDA and Cocktail Couture has been valuable to Dignity U Wear and its ability to carry out its work of assisting school children, veterans, and women and girls in crisis.
"Over the past decade, IIDA has raised $75,000 to support Dignity's mission of helping those in need through the gift of new clothing," said Nan Coyle, vice president of development for Dignity U Wear.
For more information, to register or for sponsorship details, visit iida-nfc.org or iiadacocktailcouture.com or email [email protected].
The mission of Dignity U Wear is to help children and their families in need throughout the United States by providing them with brand new clothing. Founded by philanthropist and Holocaust survivor Henri Landwirth in 2000, the organization has provided more than 8 million pieces, valued at $139 million, to more than 600,000 people.
For information about Dignity U Wear, visit dignityuwear.org or Facebook.com/dignityuwear.org.
Dance show raises $8,890 for hospital
Ticket proceeds from the 11th annual "Winter Blitz" holiday ballroom dance show, raised $8,890 for Wolfson Children's Hospital, the annual beneficiary of the event. The show was Dec. 15 at the Ritz Theatre & Museum, organized by Kaluby's Dance Club.
"Wolfson Children's Hospital holds a special place in our hearts, and we are honored to be able to raise funds and awareness for this wonderful organization," said Sarwat Kaluby, owner of Kaluby's Dance Club.
Radio host Clark Howard visits Operation New Hope
Nationally syndicated radio show host and best-selling author Clark Howard was Operation New Hope's special guest at the nonprofit's first donor appreciation event.
The financial expert talked about what made him so eager to support Operation New Hope and highlighted the organization's newest program, "Breaking the Cycle," an extension of the nationally recognized Ready4Work Program.
The children of ex-offenders are significantly more likely to follow in their parents' footsteps. The average Ready4Work client has 2.4 children and there are just under 28,000 children of ex-offenders in the 32209 and 32206 ZIP codes of Duval County.
The program, which just completed its first year, offers local at-risk children of ex-offenders services such as case management, summer camp and educational help and ensures their physical and mental health needs are being met. To date, there has been a 78 percent increase in academic performance and behavioral issues have decreased by 30 percent.
"Breaking the Cycle offers additional services and hope to the children of ex-offenders," said Kevin Gay, CEO of Operation New Hope. "We are so lucky to have a friend and investor like Clark Howard who understands how supporting our work makes good financial sense."
Breaking the Cycle is a full-scale economic development initiative is aimed at the reunification of families and improving the outcomes for children of ex-offenders in Jacksonville.
For more information, visit operationnewhope.com.
Operation New Hope was founded in 1999, as a faith-based nonprofit community development corporation. The organization has maintained a two-pronged business model vital to sustaining broken urban communities: the development of affordable housing and successful workforce reintegration of ex-offenders.