JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A local youth organization announced Thursday evening it received a major donation for a summer program.
Men Against Destruction Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder, or M.A.D. D.A.D.S., is hoping to raise at least $25,000 to support its summer classes, which provide local youth the opportunity to play basketball and gain life skills.
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"You're not going to get young people to just come and take a life skills class without them feeling that they are getting something," said Donald Foy, president of the M.A.D. D.A.D.S. Jacksonville chapter. "So they're getting the basketball, but we want them to get the knowledge of building relationships and the top priority of values in their lives that they need to know."
Thanks to a $5,000 donation from the Delores Barr Weaver Fund at the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida, the youth organization has only $20,000 left to fulfill its goal. The Weaver Fund is also matching all funds from the community up to $2,500.
"What's so important to us is investing in children in a positive way. And we see men who are willing to invest their time and the relationships with these young people to make a difference in our community. It's a very positive influence," said Kathleen Shaw, vice president of programs for the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. "We wanted to go ahead and give them $5,000 to help support the program while they raise the additional funds that they need, and so we want to do our part by giving $2,500 match. So for dollar for dollar, whatever anybody donates will be matched."
About 25 kids have already signed up for the program, but Foy is hoping to attract more participants.
"We hope we can have four or five classes. But we know if we don't get the money, then we won't be able to do that. Right now, we're going to pursue and we're just going to keep asking God to give as many as we can to try to save," Foy said.
Foy admitted he was shocked to receive the $5,000 check from the Weaver fund.
"It just blew me away, because we were looking at trying to just do it. We don't receive any city, state, federal -- any type of funding at all," Foy said.
The program starts on Monday, June 8, and it will take place three times a week, from 6-9 p.m., throughout the summer.