PRESS RELEASE – 2020 Local Focus. Lasting Impact. ™ Recognition Awarded to Seven Local Nonprofits

Contact: Anna McDaniel-Wyatt
Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida
O: 904-425-1183
C: 813-523-5253
E: AMcDaniel-Wyatt@NonprofitCtr.org

JACKSONVILLE, FL, June 22, 2020 – Over the past several weeks, seven local nonprofits have been honored virtually through the 2020 Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ Moments Recognition Program.

• Changing Homelessness and the City of Jacksonville Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness won the 2020 Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ Collective Power award
• Gateway Community Services won the 2020 Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ Social Innovation award
• Youth Crisis Center and Feeding Northeast Florida won 2020 Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ Moments COVID-19 recognition
• Starting Point Behavioral Health, Ability Housing, and The Arc Nassau won 2020 Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ Moments recognition

In 2011, the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida and the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, partnered to create the Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ initiative to help nonprofits connect with the community and each other. The initiative includes marketing materials for nonprofits to use as well as the signature awards program to highlight the achievements of nonprofits in the Northeast Florida area.

In 2020, due to the unique circumstances created by COVID-19, The Nonprofit Center adjusted the in-person awards ceremony to a virtual recognition program. In addition to awarding two Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ awards, five organizations were recognized through the Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ Moments Recognition Program.

The Collective Power and Social Innovation award winners each received a $1,250 cash prize, sponsored by Florida Blue, a documentary film donated by WJCT, and an additional cash prize of $1000 to create and deliver a Learning Lab, sponsored by Community First Credit Union. The Community First Credit Union Learning Labs are virtual panel discussions that shine a light on the decision-making processes and best practices that nonprofit organizations use to deliver on their missions.

Changing Homelessness and the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness won the 2020 Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ Collective Power award for their collaborative efforts to screen nearly 700 homeless Jacksonville residents for COVID-19. This project involved leveraging resources across several agencies, including the Sulzbacher Center’s Urban Rest Stop program, and re-purposing an unused space provided by The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida. The Community First Credit Union Learning Lab featuring Changing Homelessness and the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness will take place on Thursday, July 30, 2020 from 3:00-4:00 PM.

Gateway Community Services won the 2020 Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ Social Innovation award for Project Save Lives, a peer-led opioid overdose intervention program delivered in emergency rooms after a person experiences a medical crisis related to overdose. The program began as a 6-month pilot program with St. Vincent’s Riverside and has expanded to 7 emergency departments across Duval and Nassau counties. The Community First Credit Union Learning Lab featuring Gateway Community Services will take place on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 from 3:00-4:00 PM.

Each of the five organizations recognized with the 2020 Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ Moments received a $750 cash award, sponsored by Jessie Ball duPont Reflective Practice Endowment Fund at The Community Foundation For Northeast Florida.

Youth Crisis Center and Feeding Northeast Florida were recognized for their innovation and collaboration in the face of challenges caused by COVID-19. Starting Point Behavioral Health, Ability Housing, and The Arc Nassau were recognized for creating moments of impact in their communities.

“Each of these nonprofits is an incredible example of the vital work being done in our local communities day in and day out. Though their services and programs are varied, each organization meaningfully enhances the quality of life for participants, creating lasting ripples of impact across our community,” said Rena Coughlin, CEO of The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida. “Our community is stronger and more vibrant because of the Northeast Florida nonprofit sector.”

PICTURES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

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About the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida
Founded in 2002, the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida is a 501(c)(3) organization that connects, strengthens, and advocates for nonprofits. Visit www.NonprofitCtr.org to learn about the organization, view research on the Northeast Florida nonprofit sector, and see previous winners of the Local Focus. Lasting Impact.™ awards.

Winner Media Contacts:

Changing Homelessness and the City of Jacksonville Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness
Dawn Gilman
C: 904-206-2751
E: DGilman@changinghomelessness.org

Gateway Community Services
Tiffany Winemiller
O: 904-387-4661 x1033
C: 904-463-2159
E: TWinemiller@gatewaycommunity.com
AND

Rico Bodin
O: 904-387-4661 x1020
C: 904-651-4396
E: RBodin@gatewaycommunity.com

Ability Housing
Natalie DeYoung
O: 904-387-2570
C: 904-891-0672
E: Natalie@wearewingard.com

Feeding Northeast Florida
Sarah Dobson
O: 904-201-4418
E: SDobson@feedingnefl.org

Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare
Laureen Pagel
O: 904-225-8280 ext 416
E: LPagel@spbh.org

AND

Dawn Forbes
O: 904-225-8280
E: DForbes@spbh.org

The Arc Nassau
Janet Cunningham
O: 904-610-6204
E: JanetCunningham@thearcnassau.org

AND

John Scherer
C: 912-320-7840
E: JohnWScherer@msn.com

Youth Crisis Center
Danielle Morgan
O: 904-446-4995
C: 912-322-7687
E: DMorgan@ycc.org