Community Champions

The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. 

Family Links is a child-and family-centered support program at Wolfson Children’s Hospital made possible by The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation, addressing health-related social conditions that impact the quality of children’s wellness. Where children live, play, and learn has a far greater influence on their long-term health outcomes than traditional medical care. For this reason, Family Links aims to assist families by identifying the social needs impacting their health, expanding access to community resources, and empowering family decision-making that leads to better health outcomes for children. From food insecurity, transportation, and housing/rent issues, to employment support, childcare, legal assistance and access to basic household goods and supplies, Family Links is here to address these crucial needs and promote our children’s health and well-being throughout the community.

The mission of The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services is to strengthen the entire Northeast Florida Community by providing support services in the Jewish tradition of helping people help themselves. JFCS embraces a philosophy of prevention and education to help solve some of the community’s most pressing problems, with child and family well-being at the forefront. The Agency’s six core programs work together to protect at-risk children, keep families together, prevent homelessness, feed the hungry, help struggling students succeed, and provide mental health support for clients of all ages

The mission of the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation is to develop champions in classrooms, on tennis courts and throughout communities. MWYF serves low-income youth after-school and during the summer and provides academic assistance, life skills, tennis instruction, college and career preparation, mental health counseling, scholarships, and leadership training.

The mission of North Florida School of Special Education (NFSSE) is to discover and foster each student’s unique abilities revealing their highest potential within an engaged community. North Florida School of Special Education (NFSSE) gives students, ages 6-22, with intellectual and developmental differences (IDD) a place to learn, thrive, and become the best versions of themselves in an innovative academic and therapeutic environment on a seven-acre campus in the heart of Arlington. Young adults, ages 22-40, flourish in NFSSE’s postgraduate programs through vocational training, internships, life skills, and more.

The YMCA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Working locally since 1908, the Y’s programs are for all ages, interests and abilities including group exercise classes, chronic disease prevention, nutrition, swimming, basketball, pickleball, camp, before and afterschool child care, volunteer opportunities and so much more. At the heart of everything we do are our core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. We are dedicated to giving people of all walks of life the opportunity to improve their lives, nurture their families and strengthen their community, together. Because together, we’re a better us.

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation provides comprehensive financial, emotional, and practical support to help keep families in their homes, put food on their tables, keep the lights on, and so much more when a family is tackling childhood cancer. The Jay Fund, the nonprofit organization founded by 2X Super Bowl winning head coach Tom Coughlin, was established in 1996 in the memory and spirit of the late Boston College football player, Jay McGillis, who lost his battle with leukemia. From diagnosis to recovery and beyond, the Jay Fund is part of the team, allowing parents and caregivers to focus solely on their child’s well-being. The mission is to BE THERE for families facing the unthinkable so they can BE THERE for the patient.

JPED sparks innovation, relationships and resources to power the potential within and around our public schools to achieve excellent outcomes for all students. JPEF is a think and do tank working to close the opportunity gap for low-income students and students of color in Duval County. We do this through research, convening partners and providing professional learning opportunities for educators. One example of this is JPEF’s 1,000 by 2025 initiative, an initiative to recruit, retain and support 1,000 diverse male teachers by 2025. In partnership with Duval County Public Schools and other community partners, we are building the teacher pipeline, creating targeted marketing and communications, building a portfolio of incentives for recruiting and retaining teachers, and conducting ongoing research and data tracking.

Located in the heart of the region, our Jacksonville office is bringing the life-changing mission of Make-A-Wish to children living across 18 counties in First Coast and Northeast Florida, including Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, Flagler, Putnam, Marion, Baker, Alachua, Union, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Dixie, Hamilton, Suwannee, and Lafayette

Our chapter is its own 501(c)(3) and committed to granting the wishes of children in our local communities. Money raised stays locally to fund wishes to local kids battling a critical illness. We do not receive government funding and rely 100% on public support.

We have granted more than 6,000 wishes as a chapter since September 1994. Our chapter’s first wish was to 13-year-old Verena who wanted to meet Dolly Parton. Wishes generally fall into 5 wish types: I wish to go, I wish to meet, I wish to have, I wish to give. Our trained volunteers work with the child to determine their wish, which can be anything within their imagination! Wishes can be anything from a child wishing to be a superhero for the day, visiting their favorite destination or theme park, having a room-redo, going on a shopping spree, meeting their favorite celebrity or athlete, or having their own playhouse, above-ground pool, or gaming system.

Join us in helping to change the world, one child at a time!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida’s mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We feel strongly potential exists in all youth. Working within the communities of Northeast Florida since 1914, BBBSNEFL has effectively inspired change in the lives of thousands through impactful mentoring programs and meaningful relationships that defend, ignite, and inspire clearing the pathways to our youths’ best possible future. We currently have active matches in Nassau, Duval, Clay, and Volusia Counties including a service footprint reaching Baker, Putnam, Flagler and Union Counties.