Charity Recipients our PHINS club members support:

Community PedsCare is a pediatric palliative and hospice program for children with life-threatening conditions. A program of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida in collaboration with Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Clinic and University of Florida, Community PedsCare offers support, comfort and care to these children and their families. The program is available to children with a life-threatening illness, disease or injury who may benefit from palliative or hospice care. Patients may be referred to Community PedsCare by physicians, nurses, social workers, clergy, health care professionals, parents, legal guardians or family members. All referrals must be approved by the patient’s primary care physician and accepted by the parent.

Ronald McDonald House

Ronald McDonald House® of Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida's Ronald McDonald House offers families of critically ill or injured children lodging and support services during their treatment at area medical facilities. Open since 1988, over 22,000 families have been involved in our programs. In 2001, we completed a new 42,000 square foot home that now serves up to thirty families each night. Our web-site offers information about programs, our events and our needs.

IM SULZBACHER CENTER

The mission of the I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless is "to provide housing, health care and supportive services for homeless men, women and children in a setting that encourages personal responsibility and offers the opportunity for independence and self-sufficiency in a challenging and dignified manner. We work to educate and collaborate with the community and provide leadership as advocates against systemic barriers that cause homelessness."

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

MS WALK Millions of dollars, thousands of walkers, and just one goal: ending multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive illness that affects the nerves in the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the central nervous system. MS is an autoimmune disease, which means the body’s immune system targets itself, attacking cells, tissues and organs. If you have multiple sclerosis, you’re not alone. MS affects over 400,000 people in the United States and may affect 2.5 million people worldwide. Multiple sclerosis affects 2-3 times as many women as men.

Introduction to Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain. Normally the body's immune system makes proteins called antibodies, to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens.

In an autoimmune disorder like lupus, the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against itself. These antibodies -- called "auto-antibodies" (auto means 'self') -- cause inflammation, pain and damage in various parts of the body.