Volunteer Bios

I started volunteering 34 years ago when a friend asked me to attend a meeting in January. From the very beginning I knew I wanted to get involved with helping the children of Clay County to make their Christmas brighter. I began with helping plan the party, going toy shopping for the party, packing bags and handing them out at the Christmas Party. The Christmas Party is such a wonderful day of giving. Your emotions are high when you see the faces on the children and their families but sad when there are so many families who need our help.

Education is very dear to me and I was so excited when the charity began awarding scholarships to deserving Clay County high school graduates. Mr. Hall always wanted to help children year round and awarding scholarships was a good way to accomplish that desire.

I started volunteering for the JP Hall Children Charities Christmas Party as the official photographer. I was so impressed with what I saw, that the next year I became involved with packing bags and handing out the bags at the party. I continue to come back every year just to see the joyous expression on the faces of the children when they receive their bags. Knowing that they will have a wonderful Christmas, gives me a lot of joy.

I also like the annual auction so other people in the community can see what the charity does for the underprivileged children of Clay County.

 Kim Fortinberry says my mom and dad, Eloise and Richard Burman, started volunteering for the J.P. Hall Charities.  After a few events, we saw the joy it brought them and decided, perhaps, we could make this a family affair.

While the girls and I were living in Texas at the time, we usually came home every Christmas and Thanksgiving, so we decided to start volunteering too.

Mom and I both felt that the girls needed to know the meaning of volunteering with an open heart.  At first, the girls were too young to do a lot, so they volunteered to help sort toys, decorate trees and do odd jobs at the Christmas Party.

To Kim Burman-Fortinberry, it is about being part of a bigger community.  A community that helps those less fortunate or those who are down on their luck.  As a pediatric nurse, I see all kinds of kids come through my office.  Children are my passion, so being able to help with JP Hall Charities brings me great joy. 

Eloise and Richard Burman are an important part of the J.P. Hall Charities.  Eloise makes the baskets for the Auction and spends hours decorating the trees at the Christmas Party.  She always adds a special touch to everything she does.  While Richard loves volunteering at the Christmas Party, he is best known for greeting all the guests at the Auction and the Scholarship Dinner.

  

 

Shortly after my wife Pat, started volunteering for JP Hall Children’s Charities, she got me involved.

For me, it was about giving back.   

Each year, to supplement the toys we purchase, the Charities puts out toy donation boxes in various business location.  Virginia was in need of someone to coordinate and deliver these boxes.  It sounded like the perfect job for me.

I love it!  It has afforded me an opportunity to get to know many executives of our local businesses.  Now when I go to deliver a box, they greet me by name and show me where to put our box.  I get so excited when I pick up the box and it is full of toys.  

Volunteering for JP Hall is my privilege, something I really enjoy doing!

Bruce B. Butler, Jr , a native of Green Cove Springs, FL , was reared in the Clay County Florida public school system. At an early age Bruce was involved in many local and civic activities to include Clay County 4H program, Clay County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Explorer program & the Boy Scouts of America where he obtained the rank of Eagle Scout.

Bruce received a scholarship from the J.P. hall Children’s Charities in 1999. After high school Bruce attended the Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in Tallahassee, FL where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. While attending college Bruce worked for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in the Capitol Police Division. Bruce also served as a congressional intern for U.S. Congressman Adam Putnam in Washington DC. Bruce began his career in federal law enforcement in 2004 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Refuge Law Enforcement as a Federal Wildlife Officer.

Bruce has worked all over the country on special assignments and has represented his hometown at many national events in Washington, DC, and he always says, “All roads Lead to home.”  Bruce credits much of his success to the support of his community which has helped him to accomplish so much in life. The J.P. hall Children’s Charities Scholarship that he received was a small beginning that has turned into a great blessing. Bruce has been volunteering at the annual Christmas Party for over 20 years.