'Giving Back Week' begins with visits to charities

text size

THE PLAYERS Championship contributes to a diverse group of charities throughout Northeast Florida, living by the PGA TOUR's mission to give back to the communities in which it plays. Since 1977, when THE PLAYERS moved to Ponte Vedra, more than $28 million has been contributed to Northeast Florida charities, ranging from health care to youth and education to human services. From Nov. 17-21, representatives from the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS Championship, along with several TOUR players, will visit different charitable organizations in Jacksonville as part of "Giving Back Week."
MORE: Photo gallery | Giving Back Week archive

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- To showcase the community's support of First Coast charities, THE PLAYERS Championship Red Coats kicked off "Giving Back Week" by personally delivering nearly $200,000 in charitable giving, part of the record $3 million raised from this year's event. Four teams of Red Coats (past tournament chairmen), tournament volunteers, caddies, standard bearers and staff fanned out across the First Coast, announcing and presenting THE PLAYERS grants to 16 of the 94 charities benefiting from the 2008 PLAYERS.

On Monday, the Red Coats and other participants visited the following organizations:

The Jericho School

THE PLAYERS grant ($7,500) will allow the school to continue its Community Outreach Program that helps equip parents with the knowledge and skills to work with children who have developmental disabilities.

Michelle Sheffield's 16-year-old son, Harley, has been a student/member at The Jericho School for seven years.

"The Jericho School has changed my life," she said. "My son is severely autistic. Thanks to The Jericho School, we have been able to keep Harley with us at our home instead of having to place him somewhere else. He has improved by leaps and bounds by being a member of this school. We can't thank the people at THE PLAYERS Championship enough and we can't explain how much their donation means to the parents and kids here."

Jacksonville School for Children with Autism

THE PLAYERS grant ($10,000) will fund THE PLAYERS Resource Library for Children with Autism (materials, software, training tools for specialized student curriculum).

Michelle Dunham, executive director, Jacksonville School for Children with Autism, developed the school in 2005 with her husband and another set of parents with an autistic child.

"THE PLAYERS Championship has made a huge impact on our school," she said. "One-on-one therapy is very expensive for our families. The money from THE PLAYERS will help us find curriculum that will enrich these children's lives. Without this money, we would be struggling to have curriculum for the children because the families would not be able to afford it."

Downtown Ecumenical Services Council

THE PLAYERS grant ($5,000) will support the purchasing of food for DESC's pantry. The organization has seen a 46-percent increase in those coming seeking emergency aid in the last year.

"Times are hard on everyone right now and we feel it here," said Mary Spuhler, Executive Director. "Organizations like THE PLAYERS make it possible for us to keep helping and giving through these difficult times. We're so thankful and appreciative for the help from THE PLAYERS."

Volunteers in Medicine

THE PLAYERS grant ($10,000) will fund prescription medications for patients (blood pressure, cholesterol, asthma, etc).

Volunteers in Medicine is a free healthcare clinic in Jacksonville for the uninsured. VIM opened in 2003 in response to the growing number of those in the community who work for a living, but had no health insurance (either not offered and/or unaffordable). VIM has grown to provide over 500 patient appointments per month. Each appointment provides free diagnosis, lab testing, mammograms and ultrasounds and prescription medications.

St. Johns County Head Start

THE PLAYERS grant ($20,000) will replace a play structure and surface for the playground at The Webster School, which is used by 100 pre-schoolers.

Eighty-five Head Start students (3- and 4-year olds) gathered on the site of the new playground to say the Pledge of Allegiance, perform a short song and recite the "Kindness Pledge." After the presentation, the Red Coats distributed teddy bears and toys.

New Heights of Northeast Florida

THE PLAYERS grant ($20,000) will be used to upgrade their computer room, which gives New Heights' clients a safe and up-to-date space in which to learn computer skills. New Heights provides services to infants, children and adults with disabilities, and all of the curriculum centers around the computer room, teaching clients how to be independent and successful in their everyday lives.

"I live by myself and learned how to do that here," said Cynthia Vincent, a client at New Heights. "We learn job training, nutrition, exercise, music. It's really a nice place, and it takes a long time to get enough money together for each program. We need these programs!"

Women's Help Center

THE PLAYERS grant ($10,000) enables them to continue to offer free services and expand offerings to include adoption support, counseling, parenting and childbirth programs.

"This grant from THE PLAYERS Championship will help the Women's Help Center to enhance all of our FREE programs to our clients facing unplanned pregnancies," said Roy Hatten, executive director. "The Women's Help Center is very pleased to be recognized as a worthy recipient for this grant and we will strive to continue to offer the best programs we can to all of our clients throughout the Northeast Florida area."

River Garden Geriatric Training Center

THE PLAYERS grant ($7,000) will help fund the organization's geriatric nursing school, allowing more students to attend the program at reduced tuition costs.

To welcome the Red Coat Ride Out, all River Garden staff, residents, volunteers and students wore red for the occasion.

"THE PLAYERS grant makes a huge difference in the quality of life and care throughout the Northeast Florida community," said Martin Goetz, CEO of River Garden. "We graduate 40-50 students each year and they serve right here in this community."

Project SOS

THE PLAYERS grant ($35,500) will underwrite a full-time mentor to work with teenagers in schools, detention centers and homes for unwed mothers.

At the check presentation, which took place at Ponte Vedra High School, the presenter staff of Project SOS performed a skit to illustrate what they do in schools, detention centers and homes for unwed mothers. The Red Coats took a tour of the facility and distributed PLAYERS t-shirts and hats to 25 teenagers who participate in Project SOS.

"Project SOS is grateful to THE PLAYERS Championship for helping us fund the costs of a full time mentor who will work with teens in schools, detention centers and home for unwed mothers," said Founder and Co-Executive Director Dr. Pam Mullarkey. "The mentor will help teens reach their goals and dreams through avoiding unhealthy choices like drugs, alcohol, sex and violence. THE PLAYERS has been a faithful supporter of Project SOS for five years. Their contributions, in particular, have strengthened more than 10,000 teenagers and their parents in Northeast Florida."

City Rescue Mission

THE PLAYERS grant ($20,000) will go toward covering 1,000 nights of shelter for homeless men, women and children.

"THE PLAYERS has been generously giving to City Rescue Mission for a few years now and we have seen a significant difference in the programs we can offer as a result," said Executive Director and CEO Patrick Hayle. "With the effects of the economy, there has been a major decline in giving and an increase in people coming to the City Rescue Mission, today has been a great gesture to the community."

The Healing Touch

THE PLAYERS grant ($5,000) will help replace radio equipment that was struck by lightning, as well as fund six additional phone lines and purchase a control unit for answering calls.

The Healing Touch is a radio program that takes calls from those who are unemployed, handicapped, widowed, elderly, substance abusers, parents seeking direction, etc. Several callers who have benefited personally from the radio program were in attendance at the check presentation: Bob and Virginia Gardner, regular callers and cancer survivors; and Grace Sarber, who was helped through her infertility and an adoption process.

The Arc Jacksonville Academy's On Campus Transition at UNF

THE PLAYERS grant ($5,500) will fund five scholarships for deserving students with developmental disabilities to attend the University of North Florida, creating independent, lifelong learners who are connected to their community.

The Red Coat Ride Out was greeted by eight Arc students and their teachers. This is the third year for the program and there are currently 21 students with intellectual disabilities enrolled. Charlotte Temple, advocacy director and principal of The Arc Jacksonville Academy, said that thanks to THE PLAYERS grant, more students will be able to take their high school level classes at UNF, where they have the opportunity to interact with others their age, join clubs, develop employment skills and easily make the transition from high school to adult life. She said she has seen a real difference in the growth of independence in these individuals in their school and family life.

Down Syndrome Association

THE PLAYERS grant ($10,000) will fund the Speech Therapy Financial Assistance Program, which helps individuals with Down syndrome to develop the communications skills necessary for independence and employability. Most health insurance policies provide extremely limited or no funds for speech therapy.

After the presentation, which was attended by three participating children, the Red Coats distributed t-shirts and toys to three children who participate in the Speech Therapy Financial Assistance Program.

Metro Kids Konnection

THE PLAYERS grant ($10,000) will provide support for after-school and recreational activities to prevent the boredom that can lead to negative choices. The grant will also provide for additional hours of operation once the new Metro Kids Konnection facility is completed.

After the presentation, which was attended by 45 children of varying ages, the Red Coats distributed teddy bears and t-shirts.

The Bridge of Northeast Florida

THE PLAYERS grant ($10,000) will be used to provide safety equipment for the Weaver Zone, where more than 700 youth participate in programs that promote better achievement in school, prevent teen pregnancies and school drop out, as well as prepare for college scholarships and receive employment through job training.

After the presentation, which was attended by 20 teenagers who attend The Bridge, the Red Coats distributed PLAYERS hats and t-shirts.

Greater Jacksonville Area USO

THE PLAYERS grant ($5,000) will support the many services the USO provides, including operation of three centers -- including the Welcome Center at JIA -- homecomings and deployment events, phone cards, discounted family-friendly tickets to events, United through Reading literacy program and spouse support groups.

The presentation took place in the USO Center Lobby, during the beginning of a "No-Dough" free meal for military personnel and their families, which was attended by approximately 200 people. Frank Lickliter II, local PGA TOUR player, addressed the crowd. Lickliter is the national spokesperson for Wounded Warriors.