Latest News:
For Immediate Release - September 9, 2006

Community Hospice Honors Five Community Leaders at
Living Through Giving

Seven Scholarship Recipients Named at Gala

JACKSONVILLE, Florida - Community Hospice of Northeast Florida recognized five community leaders from Jacksonville's African American community tonight at the Living Through Giving gala at the Ritz Theatre and LaVilla Museum. Over 200 attendees were on hand for the celebration, which featured Connie Payton, widow of football great Walter Payton, as keynote speaker.

Living Through Giving, A Celebration of Works & Deeds is a community-based event supporting the African American community of Northeast Florida, and recognizing those members who, through their actions and accomplishments, have enhanced the quality of life throughout the community.

The Living Through Giving Works & Deeds honorees are:

• Dr. Robert L. Brown, Sr., Health Care Award:
  Floyd B. Willis, MD, Mayo Clinic

• Education Award:
  Sylvia Johnson, Principal of Eugene Butler Middle School

• Community Service Award:
  Rev. Mark L. Griffin, Wayman Chapel African American Episcopal Church

• Business Award:
  Eddie Walker, NAS Jacksonville

• Athletics Award:
  Bernard Wilkes (posthumously), former basketball coach of Ribault High School

The 2006 Living Through Giving scholarships were also presented to seven African American students in the areas of health care, liberal arts, higher education and the arts. The recipients are:

• Maurice Alexander, Edward Waters College
• Andy Andre, University of North Florida
• Erika Bolton, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
• Kimberly R. Johnson, Florida Community College at Jacksonville
• Brittani N. Payton, University of North Florida
• Krystie Elaine Stovall, Florida A & M University
• Kedra White, Florida Community College at Jacksonville

Each scholarship is awarded for one year only.

Susan Ponder-Stansel, president and CEO of Community Hospice, and Judge Brian Davis presented the awards and scholarships.

"This has been an exciting and rewarding evening for Community Hospice. It was an opportunity to celebrate African Americans who share our commitment to enhancing quality of life on the First Coast," said Ponder-Stansel. "And, we are honored to help repay the generosity of the community by helping these five outstanding students continue their education."

Each of the Living Through Giving awards were individually designed and created by local potter Glendia Cooper, and reflect each winner's accomplishment. Cooper is the Duval County School Board Liaison at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. She has exhibited her work throughout the country - Jacksonville, Denver, Savannah, Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago and Orlando.

Living Through Giving was sponsored in part by Mayo Clinic.

Established in 1979 as the first hospice program in northeast Florida, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida provides compassionate care to nearly 1,000 patients daily in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, through the support of more than 700 employees and 1,100 volunteers. The nonprofit organization has served more than 38,000 children and adults-at home, in long-term care facilities, hospitals and through its two inpatient facilities in Jacksonville. Community Hospice Foundation generates philanthropic and community support for unfunded and under-funded programs, including indigent hospice care, programs and services through the Charles M. Neviaser Educational Institute, and Community PedsCare, a pediatric palliative and hospice program. Care is available to all patients who need it, regardless of their ability to pay.

# # #

Contact:

Celeste Pattee

Communications Specialist

904.407.6165

back to Latest News

Archived News

back to top

Jay Magee, Communications Specialist, 904.596.6392