THE PLAYERS’ Red Coats spread week of good cheer

Area nonprofits saw “red,” July 29 – Aug. 1, 2019, as THE PLAYERS Championship’s Red Coats made visits to organizations recently selected as grant award recipients. Donned in their signature red coats, the distinguished group of civic and corporate volunteer leaders provided extra hands and resources to a variety of organizations who serve and support citizens and communities throughout northeast Florida. More than 85 organizations were selected from 163 applicants to share hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funds exclusively available to northeast Florida nonprofits.

A few of the organizations who received visits included the following: Buddies Are Special Too at Catholic Charities’ Camp I am Special, July 29, where Red Coats hosted a pizza party at the close of camp; North Florida School of Education’s Barkin’ Biscuit Camp, a culinary vocational training program and micro-enterprise for young adults with intellectual and developmental differences, July 30, where more than a dozen Red Coats baked the school’s ever-popular dog biscuits; The Arc Jacksonville, July 31, where the Red Coats surprised clients with arms full of golf umbrellas to support the nonprofit’s recreational services and joined participants for an arts activity; and, YMCA of Florida’s First Coast Tiger Academy, Aug. 1, where Red Coats provided cool treats and shared stories with campers, as they hosted an ice cream social.

The Red Coats are a distinguished group of civic and corporate leaders who are past tournament chairmen of THE PLAYERS Championship. Each year, they lead and administer the program that grants funding to nonprofit organizations in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. Eligible organizations include those that support youth education, health and wellness, character development and improving the quality of life of citizens and communities in the five-county area.