Greetings:

2012 was an exciting year for the Foundation and we are looking forward to what 2013 brings us. In our country bullying and child abuse are considered to be at epidemic proportions; in fact, every 7 minutes a child is bullied on a playground. We believe we can change these statistics with our efforts from school counselors, teachers, facilitators, volunteers, donors, board members and supporters by expanding our national bullying and child abuse prevention program, Speak Up Be Safe™, provided to 1st through 5th grade students throughout Florida. Based on 49 school districts that have approved Speak Up Be Safe™ to date, we expect to reach over 400,000 students this school year!

We have two upcoming events this spring. First, Lexus Presents A Night in the Village hosted by Roy's Restaurant in Jacksonville Beach on April 9. At this event we will have live entertainment, hor d'oeuvres, cocktails, special shopping opportunities at the Third Street Village Shops and both silent and live auctions. As a special treat this year, our entertainment will be provided by Colleen Orender, MG's daughter and lead singer of the Sheagles from Nashville, Tennessee. The second event is LIVE at The Lot held on May 8. Post practice rounds we will have food, drinks and libations at The Lot.

The Foundation's vision is to provide Speak Up Be Safe™ to every 1st through 5th grade student in Florida public schools (1 million children), at a cost of $2 per child. With your continued commitment to the Monique Burr Foundation for Children and the Speak Up Be Safe™ program we will fulfill our vision. We hope to see you at A Night in the Village, presented by Lexus, and LIVE at The Lot this spring.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Edward Burr
Chairman and Founder,
Board of Directors

Lexus presents A Night in the Village

WHAT | Join us and enjoy contemporary Hawaiian-influenced cuisine, fine wine and tropical cocktails, and both silent and live auctions. A special guest, Colleen Orender, will provide entertainment.

Listen to Colleen Orender on Reverb Nation >>

WHEN | April 9, 2013 (doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

WHERE | Roy's Restaurant at The Third Street Village shopping plaza, 2400 South Third Street Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250 (see map to the right).

JOIN US | Tickets are $75 per person. Click here to purchase tickets online, or contact Callie Criser at CCriser@MoniqueBurrFoundation.org or 904.562.1844.

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Take A Guess and You Could Win $5,000!

Thinking of donating to the foundation? Your donation makes you eligible to participate in THE PLAYERS Birdies for Charity contest. To participate, make your donation, guess the number of birdies that will be made during the 2013 PLAYERS Championship, and answer the tie-breaker question. A birdie is a hole with a score of one stroke under par.

The individual with the closest guess will win $5,000. In the event of a tie, the individual with the closest answer to the tie-breaker question will win the prize.

Click here to get started >>

Thank You to Our Donors

We'd like to recognize our wonderful donors from last quarter. We know we have you to thank for our success!

Are Bullying and Abuse Really Problems?

Take this short quiz to find out.

What WE'RE Doing

Since the introduction of Speak Up Be Safe™, our bullying and child abuse prevention program, in 2010:

We have successfully provided the program to over 260,000 elementary students in Florida.

We have trained over 650 school counselors in Florida to implement the program.

The program has been approved in 49 out of 67 counties (73% of the state).

We are projected to reach over 400,000 students by the end of this school year.

Click here to view a larger map.

How YOU Can Help

Here are three simple things you can do right now.

Thank you for your continued support of the Monique Burr Foundation for Children and Speak Up Be Safe™!

Was your New Year's resolution to lose weight? Treat yourself to a new wardrobe at Buy4.com. The site invites anyone to sign up and choose their favorite nonprofit to "buy for." Up to 30% of each purchase will go back to your selected nonprofit. Product prices are not inflated and coupons are available - happy shopping!

Going to THE PLAYERS Championship? Get discounted Good Any One Day Grounds tickets by purchasing through "Chip in for Youth." Tickets are $40 each and we'll get $25 per ticket purchased. That's 12 more Florida children you could help us reach with Speak Up Be Safe™! Be sure to use our offer code, "PAR." Download the official flyer here.

Thank you to Plum Creek Foundation for their recent gift of $10,000. We truly appreciate their commitment to keeping Florida's children safe! To everyone at Plum Creek Foundation: Many thanks for your generous support in helping us protect Florida's children.

Darkness to Light | End Child Sexual Abuse

The Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc. is dedicated to protecting children by providing Speak Up Be Safe™, a bullying and child abuse prevention program. In partnership with Children's Safe Passage, Inc. we are pleased to now also offer Stewards of Children, a child sexual abuse prevention program for adults by Darkness to Light, a national nonprofit headquartered in Charleston, SC whose mission is to empower people to prevent child sexual abuse.

As the only national, evidenced-based program that teaches adults how to prevent child sexual abuse and with over 8 years of outcomes including: over 3500 trained facilitators internationally; statewide initiatives throughout the US; and research showing 1 adult will better protect 10 children, adding Darkness to Light will strengthen our commitment to make a positive impact on the community at large, to create change in a family's life for the better, and to give hope in the life of a child by providing an adult prevention education program that is relevant to issues facing children today including all forms of abuse, neglect, bullying and internet safety!

Don't Miss the Signs | A New Reporting Resource

The Monique Burr Foundation is working in conjunction with Lauren's Kids, The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence and Ron Sachs Communications to spread the word about the Florida Department of Children and Families new public awareness campaign, Don't Miss the Signs.

On the website, you can:

• Learn the signs of child abuse

• Find out how to report

• Order campaign materials

• Sign the pledge to protect children

Click here to report child abuse online >>

Jinglebells ProAm | $154,000 Raised

December 6, 2012 | WhatsUpJacksonville.com

World-renowned golf players and local teams recently came together to raise $154,000 at the 15th Annual Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc.’s Jinglebells ProAm Golf Tournament. Presented by AT&T and Your Jacksonville Area Lexus Dealers at the Palencia Club, the premier charity golf tournament featured 18 golf pros alongside 67 Northeast Florida golfers.

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View 2012 Photo Album >>

Many thanks to our 2012 Jinglebells ProAm Donors and Sponsors...