Defending the Future
The Downtown Ecumenical Services Council (DESC) celebrated 40 years of providing critical care to those struggling with poverty at DESC Defenders: Into the Future on Thursday, Sept. 21, at the WJCT studios in Jacksonville.
“I am ecstatic that DESC Defenders was another great fundraiser,” said Alex Benavides, event chair and DESC board member.
The poverty-fighting fundraiser, emceed by Action News Jax’s Tenikka Hughes, raised more than $330,000 for DESC. Presenting sponsors were the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund and the Hall-Halliburton Foundation; Randy and Allison DeFoor served as honorary chairs for the event. The event featured two “time machines”: A smaller unit at the reception which showed guests the challenges of families struggling to make ends meet, and a larger one which converted the WJCT Studio into a time machine showcase of how DESC services help people today and into the future.
“Our volunteers stepped up to make this event a great success by recruiting new and repeat sponsors committed to helping those struggling with poverty,” said David Clark, DESC’s executive director. “The contributions ensure this ministry can continue to spread hope and encouragement to thousands of families and individuals every year.”
Proceeds from the event will help the community’s impoverished and homeless fight poverty. DESC was founded in 1983 by several downtown churches to help working poor families and homeless people. The center is in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church. In 2022, it provided more than 15,000 services of emergency financial assistance, groceries, clothing and case management.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading... 
