We are less than 3 weeks from this year’s sport shooting event, the 3rd Annual Davidson Cares Clay Day! This year’s event will directly benefit St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS), Take Stock in Children and Five Learning Years (FLY).

The services these organizations provide are vital to Northeast Florida’s children. We want to give more information about each charity to let Clay Day participants know exactly where their contributions are going. Here we are focusing on FLY.

What is FLY?

According to the Florida Department of Education, extensive research on infant brain development shows that a child’s first five years are the most important time for learning.Because of this, FLY aims to prepare kids for learning success to ensure all children arrive at kindergarten academically, socially, emotionally and physically ready to learn.

FLY was created in 2012 after the INK! Executive Committee met with Dr. Joseph Joyner, then Superintendent of St. Johns County Schools, to discuss the issue of children entering kindergarten unprepared. The INK! team began forming FLY to ensure all kids benefit from these crucial years and start school ready to learn.

What programs do they offer?

FLY utilizes several resources to promote early learning including Nemours BrightStart!, Head Start, Healthy Families Florida, and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) programs. Through these programs, every child in Florida regardless of family income has access to programs to prepare them for kindergarten. Learn more at the FLY web page.

How is FLY continuing to develop its services for kids?

The FLY task force meets regularly to determine current efforts to prepare kids for kindergarten and develop strategic plans to expand services where possible.

In addition to participating in Clay Day, how can people help FLY?

They accept tax-deductible donations (one-time or ongoing) through the INK! website. INK! eagerly encourages individuals andcompanies to donate. Nearly 90% of INK! donations are returned to schools to directly help students!

About Davidson Cares Clay Day

The 3rd Annual Davidson Cares Clay Day will be held at Jacksonville Clay Target Sports on Thursday, October 18. The event includes two sport shooting events, sporting clay and beginner skeet. Individuals and teams from beginner to expert levels are invited to participate. Check-in begins at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served at 12 p.m. and shooting starts at 1 p.m.

Participants can shoot 100 sporting clay targets for minimum donation of $150. New shooters can receive instruction while shooting 50 skeet targets for a minimum donation of $100. All participants receive a catered lunch, commemorative T-shirt, shot gun shells and a gift from Davidson Realty.

Visit DavidsonCares.comto register or pay by cash or check at one of Davidson Realty’s offices in World Golf Village (100 E. Town Place, St. Augustine) and Jacksonville Beach (1500 Beach Boulevard, Suite 215).