Chamber Donates Auction Proceeds

The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce reported to Historic City News that they recently presented a check for over $1,000 to the St. Johns County Center for the Arts at St. Augustine High School (SJCCA).

The check presented represents half of the proceeds raised from the live auction held at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner, where the SJCCA Chorus and Madrigal Singers performed last October at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse. The auction was emceed by Mike Davis of A.D. Davis Construction Corp. and Troy Blevins of the St. Johns County Parks & Recreation Department.

Don Wallis of Upchurch Bailey & Upchurch Atty, and then incoming Chamber Chairman, selected SJCCA along with Youth Leadership St. Johns (YLSJ) to each receive half of the proceeds. YLSJ is a program of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce intended to develop a corps of informed, committed and qualified young people capable of providing dynamic leadership in their schools, careers and communities as they mature into adulthood.

SJCCA is a means for students to develop their unique talents in the performing and visual arts while gaining hands-on exposure through a rigorous and challenging curriculum presented by a knowledgeable and emotionally supportive faculty.

“Because our Chamber prides itself on offering its members opportunities to become more successful, it is important that we support organizations that do the same for our community’s youth,” noted St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Chairman Don Wallis.

As noted in the SJCCA’s mission statement, upon graduation these young artists will possess the capability to pursue their artistic dreams – embarking on careers in the arts or furthering their artistic study and development at colleges, universities, and schools of the arts.

Wallis continued, “I am certain that the opportunities to which SJCCA students are exposed will develop not only their artistic skills, but also their self confidence, a necessary ingredient for future successes. The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce is proud to contribute to such an effective program and such a worthy organization.”

Photo Caption: Robin Burchfield, President of St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce; Jeff Dodd, Director of St. Johns County Center for the Arts; Don Wallis, Chairman of St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce; Dawn Sapp, Assistant Principal of St. Augustine High School.