Good News: BEAM helps students needing computers

The Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, commonly referred to as BEAM, recently organized a technology distribution designed to help children in single-parent households succeed in school this year.

After receiving a major gift from an anonymous donor, BEAM was able to purchase 19 iPads for elementary-age students and 11 new laptops for middle and high school students. A majority of the families who received a new computer had no computer at home or shared one device with multiple family members.

While Duval County Public Schools provided loaner laptops, the numbers available per household were limited and the units outdated. In addition, a number of single mothers enrolled in BEAM's Single Parent Program are in school themselves, taking online classes to earn associate's or bachelor's degrees.

“We wanted to do something special for the families because this year has been especially challenging," said Gracie Simendinger, BEAM's director of development. “The parents are already abiding to strict budgets and new computers for their children were just not feasible. Fortunately, we had an incredible donor reach out to see how they could support the single mothers during these difficult times.”

Here's more good news:

• Jacksonville military veteran Bradley Thomas and his family celebrated the groundbreaking of their new mortgage-free home in a surprise special ceremony last week. The nonprofit Operation Finally Home and the Northeast Florida division of homebuilder Lennar welcomed Thomas, a Marine Corps veteran, and his family to their new neighborhood in the Amelia Walk community in Fernandina Beach at a small, socially distanced event Sept. 28.

“The coronavirus pandemic has certainly taught us how important home is, now more than ever,” said Rusty Carroll, executive director at Operation Finally Home. “With that in mind, we’re honored to provide Bradley Thomas and his family with the gift of this home during these unprecedented times.”

Lennar joined forces with Operation Finally Home and local community sponsors to identify and select a deserving veteran in the Jacksonville area to surprise with a home. This is the second home Lennar has donated to a U.S. service member in the Jacksonville area.

Thomas served in the Marine Corps for nearly eight years and survived being struck by an IED. He suffered spinal cord injuries, back problems and PTSD. Since being medically retired in 2015, he has created his own nonprofit to help fellow veterans.

• Sparky, a senior shelter dog who was adopted in 2016, is the winner of the Jacksonville Humane Society’s Cutest Pet Photo Contest -- and he helped raise more than $55,600 for the shelter during the process. There were 363 entries in the contest, which was sponsored by Purina, and 53,781 votes cast from Sept. 1-30. The money was generated through voter donations and entry fees.

Sparky will be featured on a digital billboard throughout Jacksonville and receive other prizes as well. He also won a showcase on the Humane Society's website along with the 11 runners-up, who will receive a prize pack.

Queency and Scott Monroe adopted Sparky in January 2016. His official name at the Humane Society was Sparky the Wonder Dog. His previous owners surrendered him when they could no longer provide him with the proper care. The Monroes fell in love with Sparky's smile when they came to look at the pets for adoption. They were happy to learn that Sparky, then 11, was still energetic and knew he would be the perfect companion for their family.

Queency Monroe credits Sparky for helping her through a bout with cancer, saying he “has the ability to make bad days tolerable and really good days even sweeter.” The Monroes say their lives are made better every day thanks to Sparky and is “forever grateful to the Jacksonville Humane Society for taking such good care of him until we found him.”

• Manish Kothari of Jacksonville is among 39 credit union professionals and volunteers named as 2020 Credit Union Rock Stars by the editorial team of Credit Union Magazine.

The program recognizes outstanding credit union professionals and volunteers from a wide range of disciplines who use their strengths to advance the mission of their credit unions. This year’s winners were selected for their exceptional creativity, innovation and passion.

Kothari is the chief information officer at Jax Federal Credit Union. His story appears on Credit Union Magazine, a website published by the Credit Union National Association.

“We’ve been witnessing firsthand the impact that credit union employees are making during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Ann Hayes Peterson, vice president of publishing at credit union association and editor-in-chief of the magazine. “This year’s class of Credit Union Rock Stars elevates their commitment and compassion to members, community and their own staff during this trying year.”

Kothari has been a Jax Federal Credit Union employee since 2006. He has grown the information security team to six employees who anticipate, implement and service the credit union’s technology programs. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, his team’s work has been even more visible as the credit union launched new digital banking services to its 38,500-plus members.

Have good news? You can mail to The Florida Times-Union, P.O. Box 1949, Jacksonville, FL 32231 or email dcrumpler@jacksonville.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Good News: BEAM helps students needing computers

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