Benefiting Special Olympics Florida, Jacksonville Beach will host a Polar Plunge Saturday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m. at the Seawalk Pavilion.

WHAT: 

This event will be a traditional plunge and for the more adventurous winter weather folks, a 5k will be offered on Jacksonville Beach, where runners transform into plungers as they cross the 5k finish line taking the plunge into the chilly ocean water.

WHY:

By participating in the Polar Plunge, you will help people to participate in the Special Olympics.

HOW IT WORKS: 

Run, plunge, or do both!

Plungers are asked to raise a minimum of $100 and runners are asked to pay a $25 registration fee. Participants create their own personal Plunge page so friends, family and co-workers can donate online. It’s quick, easy and secure.

Plungers who raise the minimum of $100 in donations get an official Polar Plunge® T-shirt while runners who cross the finish line earn a custom Polar Plunge & Runner T-shirt and  bragging rights over everyone who just couldn’t bear it!

The more money you raise, the more cool stuff you can get – like Aquatica, SeaWorld and Discovery Cove tickets.

For more information click here.

GreenPointe Communities, LLC, recently welcomed Rick Harcrow as Regional President of GreenPointe Communities, LLC, the community development division of GreenPointe Holdings, LLC. Based in Tampa, Harcrow leads GreenPointe’s real estate efforts with emphasis on community development operations and the creation of vibrant, urban mixed-use projects.

“We are fortunate to have a leader with Rick’s credentials joining our team,” said GreenPointe Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Burr. “He is an integral part of GreenPointe’s growth strategy and commitment to the Florida market. GreenPointe Communities is engaged in the creation of communities throughout the Southeast that are known for their recreational, residential, hospitality and commercial value. We look forward to the valuable contributions Rick will make in achieving our long-term strategic growth plans.”

Prior to joining GreenPointe Communities, Harcrow was Senior Vice President for Newland Real Estate Group, overseeing its Southeast Division. With several award winning communities and innovative projects, Harcrow successfully managed all day-to-day operations of growing the company’s division, including more than 20,000 residential units and one million square feet of retail and mixed-use assets. During his career, Harcrow also worked for a prominent Florida homebuilder and a pair of law firms, where he focused on planning and development efforts.

Harcrow has been engaged in industry and community activities, serving as a board member of the Urban Land Institute, the Tampa Bay Builders Association, the Tampa Historic Preservation Commission, as a Mayoral appointee to the Tampa Economic Development Committee and HomeAid. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University.

This year’s Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) Installation Meeting will take place Friday, Jan. 15, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the UNF University Center.

Hundreds of homebuilders, developers, remodelers and other industry professionals will gather to induct the 2016 NEFBA President along with the NEFBA, SMC and Remodelers Board of Directors.

The cost is $15 to attend. To make a reservation, contact Corey Hacker at [email protected].

Joni Shook, Program Outreach, Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc.

The Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc. has appointed Joni Shook to manage program outreach for the statewide organization.

“Joni has been a loyal supporter of our mission to provide programs designed to prevent child abuse and bullying in Duval County as a district level specialist in School Counseling,” said Lynn Layton, executive director of the Monique Burr Foundation for Children. “We are fortunate to have her join our team as we receive additional requests for our MBF Child Safety Matters™ program throughout the state.”

Shook recently retired from Duval County Public Schools after a 34-year career. She is also an instructor with the Hope Haven Children’s Clinic and Family Center and the American School Counselor Association.

“I have been an ambassador for the Monique Burr Foundation for Children to my school counselor colleagues throughout Florida,” explained Shook. “I am honored to expand the outreach efforts for the MBF Child Safety Matters™ program. I have first-hand knowledge of the effectiveness of the program in preventing child abuse and bullying.”

Shook completed her Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of North Florida and is a member of the American School Counselor Association, Florida School Counselor Association and First Coast Counseling Association. Her many honors include: Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of North Florida College of Education (2009) and Supervisor Advocacy Award from the Florida School Counselor Association (2008). Shook has presented at numerous conferences including the American School Counselors Association National Forum, the Florida School Counselor Association State Conference, the Education Trust Summer Academy and the College Board National Forum.

About the Monique Burr Foundation for Children

The Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc., started by Edward E. Burr, president and CEO of GreenPointe Holdings, is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide prevention education relevant to issues facing children today. MBF Child Safety Matters^TM is a research-based, primary prevention education program, designed to educate and empower elementary students and all relevant adults with information and strategies to prevent bullying, cyberbullying, digital abuse and all types of child abuse and exploitation. The MBF Child Safety Matters^TM curriculum is approved in 57counties in Florida and these safety lessons have reached more than 1 million children. The foundation has trained more than 1,300 facilitators to implement the program. The program is made possible through donations, which make it possible for every child in every public elementary school to receive this safety training.

MBF Child Safety Matters^TM continues to expand as a collaborative effort with the Florida Governor’s Office, the Florida Office of the Attorney General, the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Department of Children & Families. For more information about the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, call (904) 642-0210 or visit www.mbfchildsafetymatters.org.

The 2016 Installation of Officers and Awards Gala – Navigating Relevance Through Professionalism – is NEFAR‘s official kickoff to the year. Join fellow NEFAR members to welcome and celebrate the installation of 2016 officers and directors.

The Awards Gala will take place Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Jacksonville Marriott, 4670 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville.

Suggested attire is nautical themed or business.

Register online here.  The final date to register is Jan. 14 as tickets will not be sold at the door.

Tickets to attend are $20 for a member or $35 for a non-member.

Only a few homes remain available for sale at The John Gorrie a condominium. Act quickly to purchase your piece of Jacksonville history and be a part of the proud group who call The John Gorrie home.

As the building’s ornate Mediterranean Revival architecture demonstrates, the former John Gorrie Junior High School was constructed in 1923 and was designed by noted Jacksonville architects Roy A. Benjamin and Mellen C. Greeley. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 before closing in 1997, community advocate Delores Barr Weaver purchased the former school with plans to renovate and restore the historic buildings, transforming them into what is now The John Gorrie a condominium.

The John Gorrie consists of 68 residences with luxurious contemporary amenities including 12-foot ceilings, expansive windows, stainless steel GE appliances, CaesarStone countertops and hardwood floors. The John Gorrie offers one- and two-bedroom residences and two-story townhomes priced from the upper-$100,000s. The community’s amenities include private gated parking, a private courtyard, custom fitness center, elevators, a resident reading room and Wi-Fi Internet access.

“Restoring a historic structure in Jacksonville and converting it into The John Gorrie a condominium while keeping significant 1920s characteristics and charm is a project I am exceptionally proud of,” said Weaver. “The community’s response to the renovation has been outstanding and The John Gorrie is a place that all ages appreciate and enjoy.”

The John Gorrie is home to young professionals, retirees and families alike, and to the owners’ delight, pet-friendly. In addition to being Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Fannie Mae (FNMA) approved, making it possible for qualified homebuyers to obtain low down payment and fixed-rate mortgages at competitive rates, owners at The John Gorrie a condominium receive an ad valorem tax abatement toward their homeowner’s tax bill through 2021.

The John Gorrie is located across the street from Bold Bean Coffee Roasters, Tres Leches eatery, a bicycle shop, and is within walking distance to Fresh Market, boutiques and beautiful parks, allowing residents the opportunity to enjoy the immediate neighborhood without getting into a car. Residents are also in close proximity to the St. Johns River and with I-10 and I-95 being easily accessible, the Beaches are just 30 minutes away.

For more information about how you can secure your piece of history and be part of The John Gorrie community, call (904) 383-3688 or visit www.TheJohnGorrie.com.

The John Gorrie a condominium is marketed exclusively by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.

CREW Jacksonville is hosting a lunch meeting Jan. 12, 2016  to discuss what is needed to develop a vibrant downtown. Register here by Jan. 8 for this event that will begin at 11:15 a.m. at The River Club at 1 Independent Drive. Luncheon fees are $35 for members and $55 for non-members.

The discussion will be led by Tripp Gulliford, Managing Director, CBRE; Steve Crosby, CEO, InvestJax (On Loan from CSX-Vice President, CSX Real Property); and Debbie Buckland, Market President, BB&T and Chair, Downtown Vision, Inc.

Per CREW Jacksonville, numerous Downtown stakeholders have been on a research mission. They have been discovering, uncovering, studying and preparing the organizational infrastructure that can support Downtown Jacksonville and propel it forward.

The dialogue will discuss where Downtown is going, what is in place and conclude with what is still needed to create a vibrant downtown.

The JAX Chamber will host its 131st Annual Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 28, from 5 to 8 p.m.  The Annual Meeting will be held in Florida Blue Plaza at the JAX Chamber, 3 Independent Drive, Jacksonville.

A Mardi Gras masquerade-themed evening, guests will enjoy live music from Who Rescued Who, a biergarten and entertainment throughout the night with the opportunity to mingle with more than 1,000 Jacksonville business leaders. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine will be provided.

The cost to attend for Chamber Members is $55 or $500 for 10 people; $70 for non-members or $700 for 10 people.

For more information or to RSVP click here, or contact Ashley Lyon at [email protected] or (904) 366-6600 x7789

Join the JAX Chamber on Monday, Jan. 11 for its Small Business Center Orientation from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the JAX Chamber, 3 Independent Drive.

The JAX Chamber Small Business Center Orientation will provide an overview of the programs and services available through the JAX Chamber Entrepreneurial Growth Division. Designed to inform, this FREE two-part program includes a presentation of resources immediately followed by entrepreneurial breakout sessions.

Orientation Programming:

• Part I: JAX Chamber and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (60 min.)
  • This presentation reviews the landscape of JAX Chamber Entrepreneurial Growth, introduces attendees to resource partners, and includes guided execution of the business model canvas.
• Part II: Entrepreneurial Breakout Sessions (60 min.)
  • Entrepreneurial Assessment – Determine whether you have a viable business idea
  • Business Connect – Guided exchange session for established business owners
  • JumpStart! – Information on Jacksonville Women’s Business Center programming for women business owners

For more information visit MyJAXChamber.com.