First Coast News’ Post

SNEAKER BALL! The Home For All Sneaker Ball Gala 2024 raised more than $225 thousand dollars for Changing Homelessness thanks to generous contributions from community and local businesses Thursday night at the Jessie Ball Du Pont Library. Media partner First Coast News showcased the excitement with Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Hall of Fame Pro NFL star Leroy Butler, Author and Former Sheriff Nat Glover, Good Morning Jacksonville Anchor Keitha Nelson-Williams and Sports Director Chris Porter. It was a veritable 'who's who' wearing track suit fly and cocktail dress with comfy kicks. The night was capped off with the crowning of King and Queen of the Sneaker Ball 2024, a celebration saluting 50-Years of Changing Homelessness in Jacksonville. Duval native Butler was host to the historic anniversary and said just being in the room with all whom gathered in the mission to put an end to homelessness once and for all was, "pure platinum, there is nothing greater." Changing Homelessness is the nucleus for funding, services and resources for unhoused individuals, youths, families, and Veterans in Duval, Clay and Nassau Counties. There is still time for you to make a difference. You can text CHI to 53555 to make a contribution. Your invetment equips Changing Homelessness to help real people with real needs in real time. First Coast News On Your Side and Changing Homelessness hope you'll save the date, October 10, 2024, for the all-day telethon to solve homelessness in Jacksonville. We know we are stronger together and we can unite create a path of stability and dignity for everyone facing homelessness. #Tegna #TeamTegna #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #NBC12 #ABC25 #ChangingHomelessness #Jacksonville

STUFF THE BUS 2024! More than a third of Northeast Florida residents live in poverty or at the brink of poverty. This is why First Coast News On Your Side along with United Way of Northeast Florida Full Service Schools have partnered with community sponsors and partners to bring you the area's premiere school supply drive Stuff the Bus for nearly two decades in Duval County on Friday, July 12. This year, the school supply drive grows even larger as we embrace the hard work of Clay Education Foundation and Impact Clay to collect supplies for students in Clay County on Friday, July 19. “There should be zero barriers to learning,” said President/General Manager First Coast News Tim Thomas. “First Coast News is proud to live our brand On Your Side as we partner with critical non-profits who provide essential school supplies for students in need and support our teachers." The annual school supply drive kicks off with the Stuff the Bus Business Challenge TOMORROW. The goal is to encourage businesses, companies, and church groups to form teams in Duval County and Clay County. Then, the fundraising begins as you take part in a healthy competition for our children. All monies raised go back to each county to supply students with all the tools they need to go back to school. If you are a local business and would like to take part register now at https://lnkd.in/dkf8J4ky. You’re also encouraged to donate directly online at https://lnkd.in/dkf8J4ky or text CLASSROOMS24 to 30306. You’ll see a dropdown menu where you can choose to give to Duval County or Clay County. When you donate to Duval County, your gift purchases school supplies for eight Full Service Schools Family Resource Centers located throughout Jacksonville to support 87 schools and more than 57,000 students. When you donate to the Clay County Education Foundation, your donation benefits 47 schools and more than 40,000 students in Clay County. We’d love to see you donate to Stuff the Bus in Duval County in person on Friday, July 12 at Markets at Town Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You don’t even have to leave your car. Drive up to the First Coast News On Your Side tent and our volunteers will greet you. We’ll take your boxes, bags and bundles of supplies on board the bus for sorting. It’s that easy. If you have glue sticks or crayons, please alert us. We’ll take meltable perishables to our Crayon Cooler sponsored by J&W Heating and Air. And, be a part of local history, donate in person to our first Clay County Stuff the Bus event on Friday, July 19. Clay County Education Foundation and Impact Clay are collecting your supplies at the Staples at Orange Park from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Donating is made easy here as well. Just drive up to the First Coast News tent and our volunteers will load your supplies onto the school bus. Crayons and glue sticks will be kept safe thanks to the J&W Heating and Air Crayon Cooler. #TeamTegna #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #NBC12 #ABC25 #StuffTheBus

INVESTIGATION gets RESULTS. Hurricane Irma's aftermath from September 2017 continues to hit homeowners hard in Northeast Florida. Many are still reeling from damage and endure the wait of rebuild. First Coast News Investigator Heather Crawford and our sister station WTSP-TV in Tampa Bay pooled resources and joined forces, working together for months to dig deep into a program using federal dollars to help hurricane victims. Heather sat down with several local homeowners waiting for work to be finished. This week, Heather's reporting has sparked Rebuild Florida to take action. They told her, with cameras rolling, they will be working to hold builders accountable. This is just one example of our commitment to earn viewers trust this May. It is a testament to the power of strong journalism and solid storytelling from First Coast News On Your Side. Trust us with what's on your heart. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #NBC12 #ABC25 #TeamTegna #InvestigativeJournalism #Hurricane #HurricaneIrma #Rebuild

TRUST. A key part of the First Coast News On Your Side campaign to earn viewers trust begins with our morning audience. Our recent local research, shows more viewers want trustworthy and credible anchors. Oue research also finds viewers crave authenticity and humanity in their meteorologists, traffic anchors and reporters. Because we care about what our viewers want, we are making a renewed commitment to report stories with balance and also provide a sense of hope. We live this at First Coast News, in every fiber of our being. And to this point, our marketing team delivers TRUST Good Morning Jacksonville. This May, we launched the multi-faceted campaign targeting viewers on our legacy NBC12 and ABC25 duopoloy, in external media and experiential marketing. The results, seen daily in growth, not only in numbers but in awareness and culture within and outside our station's walls. And, it begs the question, what station do you TRUST. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #Trust #GoodMorningJacksonville #TeamTegna #NBC12 #ABC25

TRUST and transparency matters. At First Coast News we embrace this belief. This Spring we launch a campaign dedicated to showcasing trust. From morning to night, First Coast News On Your Side is a team of journalists and meteorologists working hard to earn your trust. This campaign, spoken in the words and from the heart of our First Coast News team is based on research. When viewers say 'trust' is what matters most in their decision to watch a local news source, we listen. We hear you. We're having thoughtful conversations and making intentional decisions. This is just the start of a campaign visible and vocal in its dedication to earn viewer trust. First Coast News Sports Director Chris Porter on Trust. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #NBC12 #ABC25 #Trust #Marketing #TVMarketing

EARNING YOUR TRUST. It happens when severe weather strikes. Take this weekend for instance, I found out about potential tornadoes tearing through on my cell phone thanks to First Coast News On Your Side. Later that night, my good friend Robby Thomas said his family endured it, thankfully no one was hurt. He even commented he saw our reporter Zach Wilcox taking you into the devastated areas hours later to report on recovery efforts. Earning your trust takes a team of meteorologists, producers, reporters and anchors working together as one. First Coast News Most Accurate Weekend Forecaster Robert Speta bet his degree on the twister, calling the storm and tornadic activity early, giving viewers advanced warning. Stay with the team On Your Side, stay with the team working to earn your trust, stay with First Coast News. #FirstCoastNews #OnYourSide #NBC12 #ABC25 #TeamTegna #SevereWeather #Tornado #weatherforecasting #marketing