Former Jacksonville Jaguar Donovin Darius was honored at the Giving Gracefully Awards Celebration for his philanthropic work in Northeast Florida.
The event, held in San Francisco in conjunction with Super Bowl 50, recognized the work of nonprofits founded by athletes.
Since retiring as a Jaguars safety, Darius has encouraged and motivated youth and families through camps and mentorship programs offered by the Donovin Darius Foundation.
For information, visit donovindariusfoundation.com.
Looking for a book? Buy a bag this weekend
Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library will host its biggest annual book sale Friday-Sunday at the University Park branch library on University Boulevard near Fort Caroline Road.
The sale begins 4-8 p.m. Friday for members of the organization who can buy a paper grocery bag of books for $12 and get a second bag free. Non-members may join for $10 at the door.
The sale will continue 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Customers who purchase two bags for $15 each get a third bag free.
For more information about the Friends and the book sale, visit fjpl.org or call (904) 630-2304.
Nominations accepted for beautification awards
Keep Jacksonville Beautiful is accepting nominations through March 11 for the 11th Annual Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Awards.
The program recognizes people, businesses, organizations and schools that are helping keep the city clean.
The awards will be presented April 1 at the group’s Friend Raiser at City Hall.
Applications may be downloaded at coj.net, keywords “Keep Jacksonville Beautiful.”
Applicants should demonstrate they have made outstanding and ongoing efforts toward beautification, litter prevention or litter cleanup in Duval County.
Applicants must submit a completed application including a summary of their achievements and any supporting documentation by March 11 to [email protected] or to Keep Jacksonville Beautiful, Attn: Dan Durbec, 1321 Eastport Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218.
ElderSource needs socks for seniors
Looking for an easy way to help out a senior? Donate new socks through ElderSource’s “February is Sockuary” project.
ElderSource is the area agency on aging and aging and disability resource center for Northeast Florida.
Organizations may create a collection box that can be dropped 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at ElderSource at 10688 Old St. Augustine Road.
Donors also may call (904) 391-6679 to schedule a pick-up of a donation of 100 or more socks.
Socks also may be delivered to Tom Bush BMW on Blanding and Atlantic boulevards; Riverside Presbyterian House on Park Street; Allegro Senior Living on U.S. 17 in Fleming Island and Plantation Island Drive South in St. Augustine; Underhill Staffing and Home Health; the Tutoring Club on San Jose Boulevard; and RezLegal at Pablo Professional Court.
For more information on how to participate or receive a bin, visit myeldersource.org.
$365,000 from runners in annual 26.2 With Donna
The 26.2 With Donna Foundation raised nearly $365,000 Sunday through runners’ fundraising efforts.
Total proceeds, to be finalized in early summer, are generated through a series of events held over the weekend. They will benefit the Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Translational Genomics Program and The Donna Foundation.
Donations will continue to be collected through March 31.
Since its inception in 2008, the event has raised more than $4.5 million for breast cancer research and care. It is the only U.S. marathon to donate all proceeds to the cause of finishing breast cancer.
The money raised includes fundraising efforts met by the Weaver Challenge issued in fall 2015.
For the fifth year in a row, individual fundraising efforts outside of registration were able to reach $200,000 for a match of $100,000 by Jacksonville philanthropists Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver.
This year’s race drew nearly 10,000 runners from all 50 states and 11 countries.
Many participants run in honor of a survivor, loved one currently in treatment or those who have died from breast cancer.
The men’s marathon winner, Jacksonville Beach resident Marc Burget, ran to honor his wife, Christina, who was between chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
Burget finished with a time of 2:46:18, crossing the finish line with his wife meeting him there on Valentine’s Day.
Having to wear Jaguars colors in Buccaneer territory
The YMCA of Florida’s First Coast won the Treadmill Tuesday Challenge on Feb. 9, a competition with the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA.
Nearly 1,750 First Coast residents walked 3,813 indoor miles during the 12-hour event, surpassing the Tampa Bay team by 177 miles.
For the Tampa Bay area, 1,686 residents logged 3,636 miles.
The organizations used the competition to inspire people to become more physically active and adopt healthier lifestyles.
Paying off a friendly wager agreed upon by the two executives prior to the competition, Tampa Bay YMCA President and CEO Tom Looby wore a Jacksonville Jaguars jersey for a week after the event.
He also delivered a basket of Central Florida citrus to Eric Mann, president and CEO of the winning team.