Press Releases
For Immediate Release - Oct. 30, 2006:
COMMUNTIY FOUNDATION AWARDS $202,018 IN GRANTS TO LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
JACKSONVILLE, Florida – The Community Foundation in Jacksonville has awarded $202,118 in grants to 15 not-for-profit organizations. Grants were made from the Foundation's pool of unrestricted and field of interest funds. Organizations receiving grants are as follows:
- City Kids Art Factory, Inc.
- Friday Musicale, Inc.
- Jacksonville Country Day School
- Jacksonville Film Festival, Inc.
- Jacksonville Harmony Chorus, Inc.
- Episcopal Children's Services
- Family Nurturing Center of Florida, Inc.
- Hope Haven Children's Clinic and Family Center
- University of North Florida, Inc.
- WJCT, Inc.
- Alzheimer's Association Central & North Florida Chapter
- Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach
- Northeast Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (Elder Source)
- Shepherd's Center of Orange Park
- Hart Felt Ministries, Inc.
Discretionary grants were awarded to organizations whose proposals most closely address one of more of the following grantmaking goals:
- Foster Vitality in the Arts,
- Improve Services to Infants and Young Children and
- Improve the Quality of Life for Duval County Senior Citizens.
The Community Foundation in Jacksonville, Florida's oldest community foundation, works to stimulate philanthropy to build a better community. It has assets of over $100 million, representing close to 300 funds established by individuals, families, corporations, not-for-profit organizations and government agencies.
Listed below are the grantmaking goals of The Community Foundation in Jacksonville, the Fund(s) from which grants were awarded, the organizations that were awarded grants under each grantmaking goal, and the amount and purpose of each grant:
FOSTER VITALITY IN THE ARTS (Small Arts Organizations)
Art Ventures Endowment Fund
J. Shepherd, Jr. and Mary Ann Bryan Arts Endowment
Harold K. Smith Charitable Fund
City Kids Art Factory, Inc. - $10,000
Since 2001, City Kids Art Factory has provided positive youth development in the Durkeeville neighborhood through visual art education to underserved children ages 8-17 years. This grant would focus on hiring a fundraising coach for one year, to assist the board of directors, community stakeholders and volunteers to develop a feasible fundraising strategic plan over the next year.
Friday Musicale, Inc. - $6,000
Friday Musicale requests a grant to replace its 11-year-old sound system. Installation of a new system goes beyond the expertise of the organization's volunteers, requiring the hiring of an outside contractor to complete the work prior to the opening of the 2006-2007 season in October.
Jacksonville Film Events, Inc. - $10,000
Since 2003, Jacksonville's Film Festival has successfully increased offerings to and participation by members of the community as well as the professional film industry. Building Capacity through Systems Development is their request for funds to purchase and develop a collection of information management systems, conduct strategic planning and establish their Policy and Procedure Manual to meet the needs of the ever-growing organization.
Jacksonville Harmony Show Chorus, Inc. - $10,000
This 90-member chapter of Sweet Adelines, International, Inc., internationally-acclaimed, award-winning Jacksonville Harmony Show Chorus seeks funds to hire and work with a professional performance coach in preparation for their 2006-2007 performance and competition season. This community chorus, currently recognized for advanced practice and choral performance techniques, will work with a chorus choreographer to expand to more complex competition and performance offerings.
IMPROVE SERVICE TO INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Harold K. Smith Charitable Fund
Jacksonville Children's Endowment
Episcopal Children's Services - $13,625
The proposed Father Involvement Initiative in 10 of the 12 Early Head Start programs will increase the role fathers play in the healthy development of their children. The program will involve monthly father meetings and "Grill Out with Dad." Also a lending library, filled with children's books that depict positive fatherhood, will be accessible for the fathers to check out and use with their children.
Family Nurturing Center of Florida, Inc. - $15,000
A supervised visitation center for families which are separated due to children being placed in foster care, relative placement, emergency shelters, or involved with the family law courts will provide NurtureCare Parenting Workshops for parents. The grant will build on previous grants made to train childcare workers from small daycares serving low-income children on the NurtureCare Curriculum. Through this grant, the children at the targeted daycares will experience the same nurturing philosophies and techniques both in their daycare settings and at home.
Hope Haven Children's Clinic & Family Center - $8,596
Wee Play is a program designed to increase information, services and support available to the parents of children with Down Syndrome from birth through five years old. Program components will include Wee Play classes for parents to learn and practice how to promote healthy development, positive social interaction and increased muscle tone and coordination in their children; publication of a new section in Hope Haven's Down Syndrome Center's newsletter that focuses specifically on the 0-5 population; and provision of newsletter information available to more families through obstetric and pediatric offices and hospitals.
University of North Florida, Inc. - $13,697
The Child Development Research Center (CDRC) located on UNF's campus serves approximately 100 students who are the children of UNF students, teachers and the general public. The grant will allow the teachers and parents of the students to receive training on the Conscious Discipline program, which focuses on the social-emotional development of children. By training both the childcare staff and the parents on the same model, the students will be provided consistent and clear guidance on appropriate behavior.
WJCT, Inc. - $20,000
With 34% of WJCT's airtime devoted to award-winning, curriculum-based, developmentally appropriate educational television for children, Ready To Learn programming comprises initiatives to enhance pre-school interest in reading, develop reading skills and increase our community's awareness of the importance of learning to read. Currently at 17 Duval County public elementary schools, the grant will add 20 Ready To Learn parent workshops.
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
Grace H. Osborn Endowment
Harold K. Smith Charitable Fund
I.R. Bowen and Katherine H. Bowen Fund
Alzheimer's Association Central & North Florida Chapter - $9,000
First Coast Alzheimer's Caregiver Education Project will target the need for caregiver education and training about Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Caregivers will be provided with more information and knowledge of the disease to increase their ability to keep loved ones at home longer and prevent premature institution. In addition, a once-a-month radio broadcast will feature selected topics about care giving, Alzheimer's disease, related disorders and general senior issues, reaching 500-1000 listeners overall.
Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach - $20,000
The Art of Aging project will evaluate the effects of an experiential arts program on the overall sense of well-being of senior participants. The program will culminate in a traveling exhibition. Research will be conducted on the program participants to assess the impact of the project on their quality of life.
Northeast Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc (Elder Source) - $20,000
Elder Source (formerly known as Northeast Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc.) will establish a Resource Center. The center will be available to Duval County elders, their caregivers, professionals working in the field and service providers.
Shepherd's Center of Orange Park - $20,000
An interfaith organization serving more than 300 senior adults will increase the community awareness of its programs through creating and implementing a marketing campaign.
Hart Felt Ministries, Inc. - $16,200
A volunteer service organization that serves the frail elderly and disabled adults who live alone and need basic assistance with daily tasks will add a Volunteer Coordinator position for 20 hours per week for one year.
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CONTACT:
Cheryl A. Riddick
The Community Foundation
904.356.4483
criddick@jaxcf.org
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