Helping Make A Difference with St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS)

February 15, 2024

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Since 2012, Davidson Cares has operated as the corporate giving program of The Davidson Companies, raising more than $728,000 for youth-based organizations throughout Northeast Florida. This past fall, they hosted their eighth annual sport shooting fundraiser. Named Davidson Cares Clay Day in years past, the fundraising event was renamed in 2023 to honor the recent passing of the Davidson family’s patriarch, Jim Davidson. The Jim Davidson’s Annual Clay Day was held on October 19, 2023 at Jacksonville Clay Target Sports, and raised $150,000 that was awarded to eight local charities – one of which, was St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS).

 

St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS) is a non-profit, mental health agency that has been serving Florida’s at-risk youth since 1989. For over 30 plus years, SAYS has helped thousands of children who have suffered from abuse or neglect, or those in need of mental health support. They provide trauma-informed coaching, counseling and care in family-style therapeutic group homes and with outpatient community services. Their programs and resources help youth overcome emotional barriers, including learning how to trust again, how to cope with trauma and how to form healthy habits.

 

Started in humble beginnings in a one-building home in downtown St. Augustine, SAYS serviced 18 youth in its first year. Today, they have five programs that aim to help any and all youth in need, supporting St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam counties. SAYS Residential Group Homes specialize in therapeutic and pre-independent living. They cater to boys aged 6 to 17, and provide a safe and nurturing environment to those in need of healing and growth. There, boys can learn to process trauma, develop social skills and address mental health issues. SAYS Community Action Team (CAT) helps parents and caregivers who have youth with significant mental health issues at home, providing these families with the skills needed to create a resilient, safe and effective support system, avoiding out-of-home residential treatment. SAYS Mobile Response Team (MRT) is a 24/7 operation that provides free on-site assessments, aiming to keep youth out of involuntary hospitalizations. The SAYS Coaches Program is a personalized approach to youth and their families, offering individualized guidance in creating a plan of care. And lastly, SAYS Targeted Case Management (TCM) navigates the often overwhelming medical system. Together, these programs provide a path for youth to have the promising future they deserve.

 

“I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished over the last eight years,” shares Sherry Davidson, President of Davidson Cares and Davidson Realty. “This year, our fundraising efforts exceeded our expectations. We’re so proud, and honored really, to be able to support the non-profits that are the lifeblood of our community. They are the helpers our most precious populations turn to in times of need. How amazing that we’re able to show them support in return!”

 

To learn more about SAYS, visit sayskids.org, and to help make a difference today, donate here.

Meet The Amazing Charities Davidson Cares Supports!

October 5, 2023

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Davidson Cares is excited to host their eighth annual clay day fundraiser, which has been renamed this year from Davidson Cares Clay Day to Jim Davidson’s Annual Clay Day, after the recent passing of the beloved patriarch of the Davidson Family, Jim Davidson. The event will take place at the Jacksonville Clay Target Sports on Thursday, October 19, 2023. This annual sports shooting event has raised more than $577,785 for local charities that support youth-based organizations throughout Northeast Florida.

 

“We’re so honored to live and work in a community that supports our charitable endeavors, like Clay Day,” says Sherry Davidson, president of Davidson Cares. “This is such a fun event, and the funds we raise go directly into organizations that support, protect and uplift some of our most vulnerable neighbors. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate my husband, Jim’s, life. We miss him every day.”

 

Clay Day begins with registration and lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Shooting starts at 2 p.m. Both new and experienced shooters are welcome. For a minimum donation of $400 per shooter, participants can shoot 100 sporting clay targets. Those new to shooting can shoot 50 skeet in a safe and comfortable atmosphere under the guidance of an instructor for a minimum donation of $300 per shooter.

 

This year’s Clay Day is proud to support the following charities:

 

St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS) is a non-profit organization that serves at-risk youth through various programs, including coaching, counseling and care in family-style therapeutic group homes and outpatient community services. Opened in 1989 in downtown St. Augustine, SAYS now serves three counties: St. Johns, Flagler and Putnam.

 

 

Investing in Kids! (INK!) is the only direct support organization supporting the teachers and students of St. Johns County School District. The organization is comprised of dedicated community members who provide support through mentorship, volunteering and donations. For every dollar donated to INK! $.82 goes back into programming.

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Davidson Cares Clay Day Is Fast Approaching: Raffle Tickets Now on Sale

August 16, 2022

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It’s that time of year again! Davidson Cares is getting ready to host their 7th Annual Clay Day on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at Jacksonville Clay Target Sports. Davidson Cares Clay Day is devoted to raising money for several local charities that make a huge impact in the Northeast Florida community: St. Augustine Youth Services, Investing in Kids!, Builders Care, Port in the Storm Homeless Youth Center, and Hope is Restored. 

 

“Davidson Cares Clay Day is an event our team and many in the community look forward to all year. It’s incredible to see the First Coast community come together to raise money for worthy causes that directly assist our Northeast Florida neighbors,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. 

 

In addition to the safe and fun shooting experience at Clay Day, Davidson Cares is selling raffle tickets for two prizes that you won’t want to miss which include a Yeti Cooler with bottles to stock your bar and a shotgun! “The raffle is another fun element to Clay Day. We are thankful to Leigh Insurance Agency and Mark Sherman with Atlantic Trust Mortgage for being our 2022 Davidson Cares Clay Day Raffle Sponsors,” shares Davidson. Each raffle ticket is $50 and each raffle item has a limit of one hundred tickets for sale. Winners will be selected at the 2022 Clay Day, however, the winner does not have to be in attendance to claim their prize. 

 

The Cooler and Cocktail raffle is a Clay Day favorite year after year. This year, a Yeti Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler will be stocked with thirteen bottles to stock your bar for entertaining family and friends. The winner of the shotgun will receive a Beretta A400 Xcel. This 20-gauge shotgun is the fastest, lowest-recoil clay buster on the market. 

 

Raffle tickets can be purchased online or at the Davidson Realty office located at 100 East Town Place, Suite 100, St. Augustine, Florida 32092. 

 

Davidson Cares Clay Day 2022 is sure to be memorable. Davidson Cares welcomes the First Coast community to join them in their efforts by attending Clay Day, buying a raffle ticket, or making a donation online to support worthy Northeast Florida organizations. For more information, call (904) 940-5000.

Davidson Cares Clay Day Raffle Provides Fun Incentives While Supporting Worthy Causes

September 23, 2021

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Davidson Cares is gearing up to host their 6th Annual Clay Day on October 21, 2021, at Jacksonville Clay Target Sports. This event is dedicated to raising money to support three local charities that make a big impact in the community: St. Augustine Youth Services, Investing in Kids!, and Builders Care. 

 

“Davidson Cares Clay Day is such a special event. The First Coast community comes together to have some fun and raise money for three organizations that are helping families and children in Northeast Florida thrive,” shares Davidson Realty President, Sherry Davidson. 

 

In addition to the fun and safe team shooting experience at Clay Day, Davidson Cares is selling raffle tickets for two exciting prizes which include a Concerts for a Cause pod and a Yeti Cooler with bottles to stock your bar! “The raffle is a fun element to Clay Day. We are thankful to Mark Sherman at Atlantic Trust Mortgage for sponsoring the cooler prize and to Leigh Insurance Agency for donating the Concerts for a Cause tickets,” shares Davidson. “Tickets are 1 for $10 or 15 tickets for $100. The winner will be announced during the awards celebration at the shoot on October 21, 2021. However, the winner does not have to be present to claim their prize.”

 

The cooler and cocktail raffle items are a hit every year at Clay Day! This year a Yeti Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler will be filled with thirteen bottles to stock your bar to entertain family and friends. 

 

This is the first year Davidson Cares will be offering a pod at Concerts for a Cause. Chris Shee and MasterCraft Builder Group began the concerts last year. The first concert benefitted Investing in Kids! (INK!) and raised more than $35,000 for the organization. The concert series continued to be a success as the second concert, featuring Diamond Rio, raised more than $70,000 for the Alpha Omega charity. 

 

The winner of this raffle prize will enjoy a relaxing outdoor concert in a pod that hosts eight. Food and a refillable cooler with beer, hard seltzer, and water is provided. With four concerts planned per year, the winner can select which concert they prefer to attend as the artists are released. Concerts for a Cause is a wonderful event to enjoy and support a local charity! 

 

Davidson Cares Clay Day 2021 is sure to be one to remember. Davidson Care encourages the First Coast community to join in their efforts by attending the event, buying a raffle ticket, or making a donation online to support the children and families in Northeast Florida that need it most. 

 

Davidson Cares Clay Day: Giving Back to Northeast Florida

December 11, 2020

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It is no secret that 2020 has been a year of ups and downs. Despite the overwhelming obstacles, Davidson Cares Clay Day 2020 raised more than $40,500 for outstanding organizations to continue their vital work for our community thanks to the generosity of sponsors, volunteers, and participants.  

 

“We considered canceling the 5th Annual Davidson Cares Clay Day, but knew the need from the charities that benefit from the event was too great. We thought even if we raised less money than normal, it was still funds the charities needed. Our team got creative and staggered the times for check-in and shooting, and did not gather for lunch or awards. We offered lots of snacks and drinks and handled the awards virtually the following day. We missed some of the interaction but the day was a huge success,” shared Davidson Realty President Sherry Davidson. 

 

Congratulations to this year’s winners which included: ECS (1st Place – North Course), Providence Homes (2nd Place – North Course), Steve Merill’s Team (1st Place – South Course), and MasterCraft Builder Group (2nd Place – South Course).

 

Over the past five years, Davidson Cares Clay Day has raised more than $202,500 for organizations dedicated to supporting and uplifting Northeast Florida residence. This year Davidson Cares donated $13,500 to St. Augustine Youth Services, Investing in Kids!, and Builders Care. 

 

St. Augustine Youth Services (SAYS) has been serving Florida’s at-risk youth since 1989. SAYS provides coaching, counseling, and care centered around family-style therapeutic group homes and outpatient community services. Over the past thirty years, SAYS has provided treatment for thousands of children who have suffered abuse or neglect. Their programs bring crucial mental health services to hundreds of young people in St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, and Putnam county. 

 

Investing in Kids! (INK!) help fund innovative programs and classroom resources for St. Johns County public school students. Established in 1994, INK! has inspired the greater community to invest in education. The funds raised from Davidson Cares Clay Day will support their Five Learning Years (FLY) and Take Stock in Children programs. FLY was developed to ensure children are prepared for success when starting kindergarten by providing educational intervention. Take Stock in Children is a statewide program that offers students college scholarships, mentoring, and hope for a better future. INK! is the exclusive umbrella agency for this program in St. Johns County. 

 

Builders Care is a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides little to no cost contracting services to those in need of critical home repairs. Their mission is to provide quality home reconstruction to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it. Since 2001, Builders Care has assisted more than six hundred families totaling more than $6.5 million worth of construction to Jacksonville’s neediest families. Builders Care enlists volunteers and construction professionals to make homes handicapped-accessible, repair roofs, siding and leaks, and any other necessary repairs. 

 

It is clear that these organizations are making a huge difference in our community. Davidson Cares Clay Day is proud to have raised more than $40,000 for these worthy causes and Davidson Cares is grateful for the continued support from their network of trade partners and friends who have helped make an impact when our community needs it the most! If you are interested in donating to these organizations, please visit www.davidsoncares.com.

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