Florida Jaycees

FL Jaycee Priority Projects

FOUNDATION FOR DREAMS – The Mission of the Foundation for Dreams, Inc. and Dream Oaks Camp is to provide fun, educational, and recreational experiences in an outdoor camp environment to enhance the lives of children ages 7-17 with physical and developmental disabilities and serious illnesses.

2010 Pet Project: MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER – Each event is different, and every step you’ll take is personal. When your foot hits the pavement, you can feel comfort in knowing you’re helping save lives. You might think of how you’re keeping the phone lines open every minute of every day for questions that need answers. You might think about the women you’re helping get access to mammograms. You might think about the groundbreaking research you’re helping to fund. You might think about how you’re helping a patient find a ride to treatment or connect with a survivor who has "been there." Everyone walks for different reasons but all Making Strides participants know that they are helping the American Cancer Society save lives.

Partnership Letter How To Get Involved

US Jr Chamber Priority Projects

RELAY FOR LIFE – Since 2005, The United States Junior Chamber has led national donations raised for Relay For Life as a non corporate partner. In 2009, the Jaycees raised $600,000 which far exceeded any other non corporate partner donation. In 2010, the goal is $800,000. Relay for Life is a 24 hour relay walk to benefit the American Cancer Society’s patient support (much of which stays local), cancer research grants (that gave 44 Nobel Prize winners their start, and continues funding groundbreaking medical research), maintains an educational help line for 24 hour support (1-800-227-2345), funds important campaigns to prevent youth smoking and provides educational materials to help smokers quit, sponsors mammograms to improve early detection of breast cancer, etc. We should all support this program, because a world with less cancer is a world with more birthdays!

See the impact we've made so far!

GREEN WORKS – National Jaycee campaign to reduce our carbon footprint, help support clean air and water, and reduce man-made effects on climate change. Any green project can be considered a part of this program. Within this program lies a new partnership we have with NEIGHBORWOODS. In 2010 The United States Junior Chamber formed a collaboration with Alliance for Community Trees to show our support of the greening needs of our communities. The Jaycees will promote a NeighborWoods program to be run each October which is the best month for planting across the nation. The goal is for the US Jaycees to plant over 7,500 trees in local communities in 2010. The USJCs is looking to spotlight chapters in their tree-planting events. Let us know what you have coming up, and you may just find your chapter in camera crew spotlights! Email you project details to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS – The United States Junior Chamber is a strong participant to the Support Our Troops initiative. We conduct various programs executed by local chapters and continually send support.

 

RILEY’S TOYS FOUNDATION – The United States Junior Chamber began collaboration in 2009 with Riley’s Toys Foundation taking them to national recognition. The US Jaycees are promoting this as an International Area of Opportunity program dedicated to gaining financial and individual toy support. Four year old Riley noticed on the tv one day that a group of children in Africa in the background had no toys. The next day, she started organizing the kids at her pre-school to donate some of their toys to the kids in Africa. With the help of the Jaycees, now the organization is nationwide. Every new or gently used toy donated will be provided to Riley’s Toys Foundation which will then have the toys shipped quarterly to orphans in Africa. Monetary donations can also be made to the Riley’s Toys Foundation who will use the funds to buy toys and pay for shipping them to Africa.

 

TEN OUSTANDING YOUNG AMERICANS PROGRAM – The Ten Outstanding Young Americans program (TOYA) is one of the oldest and most prestigious recognition programs in America. Annually since 1938, The United States Junior Chamber has sought out the ten young men and women who best exemplify the finest attributes of America’s youthful achievers.

 

OUTSTANDING YOUNG FAMERS - The purpose of the Outstanding Young Farmer program is to bring about a greater interest in the farmer, to foster better urban-rural relations through the understanding of the farmers' problems, to develop an appreciation of their contributions and achievements, and to inform the agribusiness community of the growing urban awareness of farmers' importance and impact on the American economy. The roots of the Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) program date back to the founding of The U.S. Junior Chamber. In 1920, in his first speech as National President, founder Henry Giessenbier stated that one of two national concerns on which the Junior Chamber should focus its attention was the improvement of conditions for the farmer and better urban-rural relations through a keener understanding of agricultural problems. The OYF program was adopted nationwide in 1954 and has been sponsored by the John Deere corporation since 1976.

 

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS LEADERSHIP SEMINAR (GALS) - Since being welcomed to the first Governmental Affairs Leadership Seminar (GALS) in 1962 by then-Representative Gerald Ford, the leaders of The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce have met annually in the nation’s capital to hear from White House officials, Cabinet secretaries, and Members of Congress about issues of importance to America’s young people. GALS is designed to offer Junior Chamber leaders the opportunity to meet with the women and men responsible for making public policies that guide the nation’s course of action. Special briefing sessions have also been held with Junior Chamber members. In the past, these sessions have focused on such issues as the Panama Canal, former President Jimmy Carter’s budget proposal, the 1980 energy crisis, the downing of Korean Airlines 007, and U.S. - Japan trade relations. Special interest seminars have been designed to help Junior Chamber members understand complex issues regarding international trade, American business policy, and foreign and defense matters. Practical tips regarding lobbying elected officials and conducting election-year activities have also been featured.

 

CITIZEN CORPS – After September 11, 2001, America witnessed a wellspring of selflessness and heroism. People in every corner of the country asked, "What can I do?" and "How can I help?" Citizen Corps was created to help all Americans answer these questions through public education and outreach, training, and volunteer service. nOn April 4, 2002, President Bush created the Citizen Corps to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. He asked cities and counties across the country to create Citizen Corps Councils of their own design, bringing together first responders, volunteer organizations, law enforcement agencies, and community-serving institutions, such as schools, hospitals, and houses of worship, to assist in this common effort. Because we believe service to humanity is the best work of life. Throughout our history we have stepped up when our communities needed help. From building parks and playgrounds to disaster relief, the Jaycees have been there. Today, with the challenges that confront our nation, it is time to lead the way again. The first step is to find out if a Citizen Corps Council already exists in your community. You can go online (www.citizencorps.gov/councils/) or simply pick up the phone and call the mayor, city manager, or county commissioner's office and ask if they have, or are planning, a Citizen Corps Council. Find out the contact person; call them and ask how the Jaycees can help.

 

GET OUT THE VOTE – The United States Junior Chamber and chapters across the nation encourage Americans to "Get Out the Vote." Americans are given the freedom of choice - to choose which candidate to elect or whether to vote at all. An alarming number of citizens are choosing the second option, leaving only a handful of people to decide who will run our country. Through the exciting Get Out the Vote program, Jaycee chapters throughout the country will combine efforts in their communities to educate and encourage people not only to register, but also to cast their vote on election day. Projects include candidate forums, voter registration campaigns, town hall meetings, and other projects designed to inform and educate the local electorate and encourage an increased participation in the process of democracy.

 

JCI Priority Projects

 

NOTHING BUT NETS – Malaria kills more people worldwide than any other disease. In 2003, JCI adopted the resolution to support the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In 2004, JCI in Africa and the Middle East decided to focus on projects and activities related to MDGs 1 (Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger) and 6 (Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases). In 2008, based on MDG 6, JCI launched a global partnership with the United Nations Foundation around the Nothing But Nets campaign. By donating $10 now, your support will provide one life-saving bed net to a family in a malaria stricken area. All donations will be used exclusively to purchase, transport, and distribute bed nets as well as educate children and communities. JCI Nothing But Nets Campaign is powered by passionate people and communities. We are half way to our goal of providing 20,000 nets. Help us eradicate this disease once and for all. Everyone has the power to help save lives!

 

JCI OPERATION HOPE – In December of 2004, deeply affected by the tsunamis in Southeast Asia, countless JCI members all over the world expressed their desire to help the victims. To promote and coordinate relief efforts worldwide, 2005 JCI President Kevin Cullinane approved JCI Operation Hope, which was officially launched January 1, 2005. The 2006 JCI Board of Directors approved the new “Policy 18-14, JCI Operation Hope, as proposed by General Legal Counsel Graham Hanlon, which reads as follows: “A permanent fund made up of donations from members and non-members shall be maintained to assist, through JCI members, the victims of natural or other disasters. The fund shall be administered by the Executive Committee.”Members are encouraged to donate to JCI Operation Hope. Their donations will be used to help JCI members in affected areas conduct relief operations. The JCI Executive Committee will ensure that donated funds are effectively invested in the area selected by the donor. Currently, JCI Operation HOPE is assisting Jaycees in Haiti affected by the recent earthquake. Assist people in need as directly as possible. Do it through your fellow JCI members in affected areas; do it through JCI Operation Hope.

SEE MORE JCI PROGRAMS AT WWW.JCI.CC