United Way of Northeast Florida and the Jacksonville Jaguars partnered Oct. 18 for their annual Hometown Huddle community service event.
Each year, NFL teams join forces with United Way organizations to promote overall health of youth.
This year, Jaguars players and executives, Roar cheerleaders, mascot Jaxson de Ville and nearly 100 United Way of Northeast Florida volunteers spent an afternoon working in the New Town Success Zone in Northwest Jacksonville.
Four service projects were completed: beautification efforts and fitness activities with students at S.P. Livingston Elementary School; improving garden beds and building benches for an outside classroom at Farm-acy Community Garden; food organization and distribution to more than 300 residents through Farm Share; and a neighborhood cleanup with HabiJax.
For more information on Hometown Huddle, its partners and United Way volunteer efforts, visit unitedwaynefl.org.
FreshMinistries needs toys for holiday party
It may seem early to be thinking about Christmas, but FreshMinistries is planning for its annual toy giveaway in mid-December.
The nonprofit is collecting gifts for more than 500 children and monetary donations for a holiday party featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus.
New, unwrapped gifts are needed for children up to age 14.
Items may be dropped off 9 a.m.-5 p.m. before Friday at the Beaver Street Enterprise Center, 1225 W. Beaver St. Toys also may be ordered from stores online and delivered to that address.
Checks may be sent to FreshMinistries at 1131 N. Laura St., Jacksonville, 32206, with “Toy Giveaway” written in the subject line.
To donate with a credit card, call (904) 355-0000.
Washington foundation gala raises $250,000
The MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation’s 20th annual Current/Sherman Group of Merrill Lynch Champions for Children Gala was Oct. 13 at Florida Blue.
The event was followed the next morning by a tennis pro-am tournament at San Jose Country Club.
The gala raised about $250,000 for the foundation’s programs and services.
Twenty-two students were recognized for their accomplishments and awarded $59,000 in college scholarships. The six graduating seniors of the program have collectively earned more than $100,000 in scholarships during their time with the foundation.
Katrina Adams, president of the U.S. Tennis Association, was the keynote speaker.
The foundation operates the Tennis-n-Tutoring after-school program that serves more than 200 students and provides homework assistance, tennis lessons and life skills classes to youth in kindergarten through 12th grade.
The foundation’s mission is to develop champions in classrooms, on tennis courts and in the community.
Rotarians donate $33,000 for swim classes
The Rotary Club of West Jacksonville donated $33,000 to the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast in support of its drowning prevention effort.
The Safety Around Water curriculum teaches children how to reach the water’s surface if submerged, safely reach the edge of a pool, exit any body of water and respond to unexpected situations.
With funding of $25,000 from the Rotary Club of West Jacksonville and an $8,000 grant from Rotary International, the donation will bring water safety education to more than 250 students at Holy Rosary Catholic School, St. Pius Catholic School and Pickett and Reynolds Lane elementary schools.
Swim lessons will be at the Winston Family YMCA, which features a 25-meter lap pool with six lanes.
For more information about the program, visit FirstCoastYMCA.org.
Moo-ve It 5K Jan. 14 at Cowford Chophouse
The Cowford Chophouse will host the inaugural Moo-ve It 5K on Jan. 14 to benefit the North Florida School of Special Education.
The school’s mission is to help students with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities by improving academic, vocational and social skills. Funds will support the school’s physical education department and running team.
The race will begin and end at the Cowford Chophouse at 101 E. Bay St. Downtown. The course will take runners down Bay Street to EverBank Field and back.
Registration is $25 for the 5K and $15 for the 1-mile fun run. The 5K registration price will increase to $30 Jan. 8-13 and $35 on race day.
Participants will receive a T-shirt, medal, race bag with specialty items and admission to a post-race block party with complimentary food and beer.
Runners can register at 1stplacesports.com/mooveit.
Sponsorship opportunities are available. To learn more, email Nicole White at [email protected].
Learn outdoor first aid and CPR
North Florida Land Trust’s Biological Field Station at Big Talbot Island will be the site Nov. 11-13 for the Florida Outdoor Academy wilderness first aid and CPR training.
Classes are three days of learning the basics of back-country medical care.
The training will cover how to handle response to and assessment of medical and environmental emergencies.
Participants will learn how to handle musculoskeletal and soft-tissue injuries. They also will learn survival skills and be offered adult CPR training from an American Heart Association instructor.
The course is open to outdoor enthusiasts. The cost is $179 per person or $149 without the CPR certification.
For information or to register, visit floridaoutdooracademy.com/upcoming-events.