Hundreds of families and business leaders from Northeast Florida will gather Saturday morning at EverBank Field for the March of Dimes’ annual First Coast March for Babies.
The nation’s oldest fundraising walk pays for research, education and advocacy to help more mothers have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.
The money funds prenatal wellness programs, research grants, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit family support programs and advocacy efforts.
Registration opens at 8 a.m. and the 3-mile walk begins at 9 a.m.
After walkers return to the stadium, a DJ will entertain and be joined by Gator Clowns, bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Jaxson de Ville and the Roar cheerleaders.
To register for the walk, visit marchforbabies.org/event/firstcoast.
First Coast March for Babies is sponsored by Publix, Florida Blue, Citi, Wells Fargo and Vy-Star Credit Union.
For information, visit marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org.
Those who have been affected by premature birth or birth defects can visit shareyourstory.org to find comfort and support.
Potter honored by Volunteers in Medicine
Volunteers in Medicine presented Barbara Potter with the Ivy Summerlee Memorial Volunteer of the Year award.
It was established by Ted Summerlee in honor of his late wife, Ivy, who was a Retired Senior Volunteer Program participant for many years.
Recipients must be active senior volunteers and emulate the spirit of volunteerism that made Ivy Summerlee a model volunteer.
The recognition earned Potter a cash award of $150 and an additional gift of $600 for Volunteers in Medicine.
Since joining the organization three years ago, Potter has recorded 550 volunteer hours at the nonprofit’s free clinic.
Potter’s responsibilities include scheduling patient appointments and updating medical records, answering patient concerns and at times, lending a sympathetic ear to patients.
Also, Volunteers in Medicine’s board of directors announced Helen Morse was appointed board chair.
With Morse’s leadership, the organization has seen a significant increase in donor and community support, including the award of a Delores Barr Weaver Challenge Grant.
The $100,000 challenge, combined with the organization’s fundraising efforts, secured gifts and pledges totaling more than $150,000, bringing the total amount raised during the annual donor fund campaign to more than $250,000.
Volunteers in Medicine was started in 2003.
Its clinic in Downtown accepts patients five days a week, including Saturday.
The organization is sponsored by the state Agency for Healthcare Administrations and is funded by grants and donations.
The clinic receives no federal funding.
For more information or qualification requirements, visit vim-jax.org or call (904) 399-2766.
Comcast volunteers invite public to pitch in
Local Comcast NBCUniversal employees and their families, friends, City Year Jacksonville AmeriCorps members and community partners will make change happen April 30 when they volunteer to improve a public school as part of the 15th annual Comcast Cares Day.
Volunteers will revitalize Jean Ribault Middle School with projects including indoor and outdoor painting, washing windows, cleaning, gardening and landscaping.
This year’s project is a collaboration between Comcast and City Year, which places AmeriCorps members in schools in low-income communities to provide students with extra support they need to stay on track to graduation.
Comcast sponsors the City Year Jacksonville team that serves at the school.
Members of the public are invited to join.
To sign up, visit ComcastintheCommunity.com, search for projects in Jacksonville and select the “Jean Ribault Middle School” project.
Onsite registration will be available, but participants are encouraged to sign up beforehand to ensure they get a T-shirt. Project materials, breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Comcast Cares Day, which takes place each April during National Volunteer Month, is the company’s celebration of its year-round commitment to service.
This year, the company expects more than 100,000 Comcast and NBCUniversal volunteers to participate in at least 800 projects.
The Comcast Foundation also will provide grants to community partner organizations across on behalf of everyone who volunteers on Comcast Cares Day.
For more information on Comcast NBCUniversal volunteer and community investment initiatives, visit comcast.com/community.
‘A Night with the Stars’ for ElderSource
ElderSource is hosting A Night with the Stars gala June 4 featuring a “Crooners, Cars & Cocktails” theme.
The event will center around a night club featuring a big band orchestra, dancing, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, staged in a club atmosphere at WJCT Studios.
The gala will raise money to help ElderSource continue to provide resources and services to the community.
Toula Wootan, director of community programs for Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, will receive the 2016 Delores Barr Weaver Elder Advocate Award.
Wootan is the host of the radio talk show “Toula’s Tips for Caregivers” airing Saturday mornings on AM-600 Radio.
A caregiver herself, Wootan also convenes and leads the Caregiver Coalition comprising local organizations that work together to support caregivers.
The event is supported by the Delores Barr Weaver Forever Event Fund.
It is sponsored by Florida Blue, Brooks Rehabilitation, Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, Baptist Health AgeWell Institute, WellCare, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and M.M. Grinnan Co.
Tickets are $75 each, $1,000 for a table for six and include food and drinks, entertainment and parking.
For tickets and sponsorship information, visit myeldersource.org or call (904) 608-3823.