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The Dossier: Mark’s Mission

Our Mission: Mark’s Mission strives to promote family bonding between parents and their children in NICUs and other hospital units through education, facilitation, and support. We aim to overcome burdens and provide financial support for families who experience hardship so they may be present in their child’s healing efforts. Our mission is to improve health outcomes for infants and children and create family memories that last a lifetime.

Our Vision: To create a community that inspires hope and fosters togetherness in times of adversity.

Happy August! Thank you for subscribing to the Mark’s Mission Newsletter! If this is your first newsletter, welcome! Each month, a newsletter is sent out to give you updates on events, fundraisers, our progress, and the workings within our organization. I am grateful you’ve taken an interest in Mark’s Mission. With your help, our organization can continue to grow and serve this community.

Over the summer months, Mark’s Mission is focused on community engagement and donor cultivation. We wanted to form relationships within the communities we serve and we are proud to share how that has worked out for us. Mark’s Mission added 4 additional community partners, made connections in various “neighborhoods” of St. Johns and Duval Counties, pushed for 2 Donation Collection Campaigns (Jammies and Books), and scheduled 3 fundraisers. We’ve heard from hundreds of people with a genuine interest in our cause and our mission and we’ve made countless friendships with those in the community. We are so grateful for your support.

The Happenings: TOP SECRET

Our Summer efforts of community engagement and donor cultivation have been a HUGE success so far- and we are JUST getting started! As we move into the cooler months (who are we kidding, its Florida) and the holidays make their appearance, you will see us partnering with more local, small businesses to help with fundraising and spreading awareness of our organization and mission. All of this comes with the same shared goal of giving back to our community.

July Preemie Jammie Drive is happening all month long! Purchase a preemie onesie, pajama set, or sleep-n-play set for donation to Mark’s Mission. Our goal is to reach 100 sets for our first ever July Preemie Jammie Drive! All donations can be sent to 52 Tuscan Way, Suite 202, #145, St. Augustine, FL 32092. Be sure to send your name and return address with your donation so we can be sure to thank you!

St. Augustine Amphitheater hosts an incredible Farmer’s Market every Saturday. Our community partner, Bocabebe Teethers, has a booth located in the center of the market. For every pacifier clip purchased, a preemie pacifier clip is donated to our NICU Graduation Bags. You can find our CEO, Brittany, out there. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

Virtual Silent Auction is on the books! From 9:00 am on August 20th to 11:59 pm on August 30th, you can bid on items and baskets for your chance to win some amazing prizes! This event will include some wonderful gifts from local businesses such as Simone’s Food Fired Craft Kitchen, Publix, Autobahn, The Alligator Farm, Bocabebe Teethers and much much more! This a great way to support our organization while enjoying products and services from our very own Northeast Florida.

Dashing at Declaration & Co is an amazing way to get ready for the holiday season! This charming local boutique aspires to bring joy to our daily lives through thoughtful gifts and simple pleasures. They have graciously chosen Mark’s Mission as their charity for their Dashing Event! Tickets are on sale now so shop small, support local, donate big! More information on this will come.

Back to School Book Drive will take place in August. As everyone is getting ready to go back to school, we are requesting new or gently used board books be donated to Mark’s Mission for our NICU Support Program. Family bonding is extremely important to our organization. Reading to little ones in the NICU is one way for parents to bond with their infants when Kangaroo Care is not an option. All donations can be sent to 52 Tuscan Way, Suite 202, #145, St. Augustine, FL 32092. Be sure to send your name and return address with your donation so we can be sure to thank you!

Be sure to follow our Facebook and Instagram for more information on these upcoming events.

Register for Our Virtual Silent Auction!

All proceeds go directly to our financial assistance program. We have a variety of items for everyone to bid on. From August 20th- August 30th, the auction will be open and each participant will be able to bid on as many items as they would like.

Dashing Through the Store with Declaration and Co!

This year, Mark’s Mission has the honor of being the charity recipient for Dashing 2022!

So what exactly is Dashing? DASHING THROUGH THE STORE is Declaration and Co’s holiday kick-off party and charity fundraiser, all wrapped into one with a big bow on top!

This ticketed event allows party goers to step into a winter wonderland and enjoy a fun & festive, private shopping experience. Sip on specialty-themed cocktails, coffee & cocoa while you snack on yummy treats and browse through Declaration and Co! The shelves will be lined with brand new, exciting items designed and hand-picked just for the event.

Throughout the years, Declaration and Co has been able to give back over $20,000 to local charities in need…all thanks to party goers like you!

It’s one of the most fun way to support Mark’s Mission and get in the holiday spirit.

Community Partner Spotlight: Shores & Shell!

Meet Shores & Shell! A local boutique where fashion meets budget. Whether you are lounging around or going out you can feel confident to take on the day. With your help a percentage of your purchase will be donated to March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization for newborn babies and moms.

The owner had complications which led to her first child being premature. She was fortunate enough to have some of the best health professionals taking care of her baby in the NICU and wanted to help make that possible for everyone else that may need it. At Shores and Shell we have a vision of giving back to our community with the help of our Shores and Shell Babes!

Shop Shores and Shell today! Use the code MarksMission at checkout to save 10% on your entire order.

Donor Spotlight: Nursing Students’ Association at USF!

USF student SSgt Benedetto Santorelli and his Nursing Students' Association at USF have been collecting newborn onesies and jammies for our July Jammie Drive to make an impact on families with babies in the Neonatal ICU's in the Northeast Florida area.

We are so thankful for these students taking an interest in our organization by recognizing the importance of just how families heal through connection in the NICU and PICU. It our greatest hope that as these students begin their arduous and selfless journey as nurses, they continue their passion and drive to give back to the community they serve. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. GO BULLS!

Donate While You Shop on Amazon!

Did you know that your regular Amazon order can help Mark’s Mission? The AmazonSmile Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created by Amazon to administer the AmazonSmile program. All donation amounts generated by the AmazonSmile program are remitted to the AmazonSmile Foundation.

In turn, the AmazonSmile Foundation donates those amounts to the charitable organizations selected by you. Amazon pays all expenses of the AmazonSmile Foundation; they are not deducted from the donation amounts generated by purchases on AmazonSmile.

Whether you're doing some back to school shopping, or need to order some household items AmazonSmile helps raise funds for Mark's Mission as long as it is selected each time. AmazonSmile also allows you to shop our wish lists! From our Jammie Drive to our Book Drive, your donations will be sent directly to us, and you’ll help Mark’s Mission raise money to continue to provide support for families with children in the NICU and PICU.

To set up your AmazonSmile, click the photo above or click this link here.

We Need You!

When you donate to Mark’s Mission, you’re providing financial assistance to families with children in the NICU and PICU who could truly use it. Our financial assistance applications are coming in and we need your help to make sure families are getting the help they need so they may spend time with their child/ren in the hospital.

If you choose to donate, a receipt will be sent to the email address you provide. We are grateful for your support in our mission.

Thank you to our July Jammie Donors!

We would like to start by thanking the following community partners who worked with us to make our first July Jammie Drive a very successful one!

Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation- Baptist South

Noah Bailey Group| Keller Williams

Do Good Beauty

The Mandarin Reading Clinic

Nursing Students’ Association at USF

Please be sure to reach out and say thank you to these wonderful businesses and organizations. We are grateful for their support.