Giving Good

Renaissance Jax is responsible for the regional growth and development of an international youth robotics program called FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). We have a vision to build a FIRST team in every school in the region and provide program access to over 6000 students who design, build, and program robots for competition. We are generating the Cognitive Capital that our region needs to attract top employers. FIRST participants are eligible for over $25 Million in scholarship money.

The Farm Life Foundation is a non-profit educational organization located at NaVera Farms in Callahan Florida. It was established to serve as a local and regional destination for children and adults who want to learn as well as remember what is important for independent sustainability and living responsibly. This day to day learning is focused on the value of “true” food awareness for both the human and animal species. Our Foundation also serves as a leading role model of respect and management for all living entities. Our mission gives priority to the animals and the land which supply all life forms with a safe and healthy home. Most of the animals at Farm Life Foundation have been either rescued or adopted. Supporting the mission of Farm Life Foundation also ensures a commitment to raising awareness for the prevention of over population of animals. Our Foundation offers Tours, Programs and events which brings together people with animals and plants.

The Jacksonville Humane Society provides care, comfort and compassion to animals in need while engaging the hearts, hands and minds of our community to bring about an end to the killing of abandoned and orphaned shelter animals. There are a number of ways groups can volunteer at JHS. These include: reading to, interacting with and providing enrichment to our animals, grounds beautification and supply drives.

Hunger Fight’s packing events consist of the most unique community service/team building event you’ll ever attend. In 2 short hours your group will package 10’s if not 100’s of thousands of meals to be distributed back in to the local community for children and families deemed food insecure and hungry. During this time they will have lots of laughter and strike up quality conversations while making a huge difference in the community.

HandsOn Jacksonville manages corporate projects that bring people together to strengthen the greater Jacksonville. This is your opportunity to leave your mark on the community as you work together as teams for the benefit of area non-profits. We are expert planners, managers and leaders of corporate social responsibility volunteer projects that promote employee teamwork and leadership. We have extensive experience coordinating volunteers and managing groups of varying sizes. Saving your company valuable staff time and money, Providing expertise, creative ideas and support in connecting with non-profit agencies and schools, Identifying potential projects and work with you on project selection Providing volunteer management assistance to increase the capacity of non-profits to host larger corporate groups, Photographing and documenting employee volunteers in action, Assisting with media relations (optional), Working with and support identified employee volunteer leaders, Incorporating an “educational service learning” component, Providing the company post evaluation information and an impact summary of each project, Highlighting your company’s service project on our website’s homepage and e-newsletter

Gabriel House of Care is an extended-stay hospital hospitality house that offers affordable, temporary lodging to adult organ transplant and cancer patients coming to our area for extended medical treatment. Gabriel House provides affordable lodging and supportive Integrative medicine programs in a community environment. Located on the west campus of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, we are close to the beaches and to Town Center. The average stay of guests is 6 weeks for cancer patients and often up to one year for transplant patients so the house becomes their source of emotional support throughout their journey. We have served over 5000 patients and caregivers since opening in 2011. Gabriel House is an independent non profit organization supported by donations from individuals, businesses, civic and faith organizations as well as corporate and foundation grants.

Rethreaded is a social entrepreneurship that is breaking the cycle of the sex trade by offering viable and creative work to those affected by the sex trade (i.e. human trafficking prostitution, drug addiction, pornography and strip clubs). Our vision is to unravel the effects of the sex trade by fighting business with business on a global and local level. The multibillion dollar sex industry is founded on the exploitation of mostly women and children. As a business we want to provide safe, viable, and dignity-giving work to survivors of the sex trade allowing them to be who they were created to be.

Stray Rescue believes that any animal which can endure the horrors of living on the city streets deserves to be medically rehabilitated and found a loving home regardless of cost. We operate two no-kill shelters and save approximately 800-1,000 dogs annually. 100% of our adoptable animals will go to their forever home regardless of how long it takes to find it. Stray Rescue has cleared out entire dog packs in many St. Louis and East St. Louis neighborhoods. Stray Rescue’s mission is to lead the way towards making St. Louis a compassionate city where every proceed will go to the care and wellness of companion animals. PUPPY CUDDLING – Attendees can recharge by soaking up the love and energy from Stray Rescue puppies who will receive belly rubs from convention goers for a donation to Stray Rescue of St. Louis. MERCHANDISE SALES – Attendees will be welcome at the Stray Rescue booth, where people can learn more about the organization and the animals they rescue, rehabilitate and adopt. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions. Stray Rescue merchandise will be available for purchase. DONATIONS – Donations of items and supplies used frequently by Stray Rescue are also appreciated. A list can be found at http://strayrescue.org/WishList

The St. Louis Dream Center, an outreach of Joyce Meyer Ministries, is a thriving, multi-cultural, urban church that is literally changing the face of the St. Louis community. The St. Louis Dream Center exists to restore hope into the lives of hurting people within the city of St. Louis. More than 30 outreaches weekly to meet the needs of children, seniors and homeless individuals including a food pantry that currently provides 70,000 meals per month, a clothing boutique that gives out more than 500 outfits per month, a soup kitchen that presently feeds approximately 300 people each day and an after school feeding program that ensures 500 kids will have something to eat for dinner during the week. There is also a residential treatment program for men over the age of 18 who are struggling with life-controlling issues such as drug and alcohol addiction. Meeting/Convention attendees are offered the opportunity to volunteer in the food pantry, soup kitchen or after school feeding program.