Ocean State Air Conditioning & Heating is proud to announce the Northeast Florida Division of the March of Dimes has named Frieda Jones, the owner of Neptune Beach business Ocean State Air Conditioning and Heating, the 2015 Signature Chefs Auction Chair.
This event is a fundraiser for the fight against prematurity, and holds personal significance for Mrs. Jones, whose beloved granddaughter was born prematurely. Her granddaughter’s struggle has deepened Jones’ commitment to healthier mothers and infants, a passion she has shared for many years with the March of Dimes.
Jones gladly accepted the role as chair in the upcoming November auction and invites everyone in the Ocean State Air Conditioning & Heating family of customers and friends to join her. All Money raised will go to education programs and research on premature births
“Working with the March of Dimes is a real honor,” Jones said. “The Signature Chefs Auction gives the community the chance to come together for stronger, healthier babies and make a difference in the lives of millions of babies. I can’t think of a more important cause than healthy babies. As a business leader, I know that preventing prematurity can also help our bottom line by lowering health care costs.”
The addition of Jones as chair helps raise the profile of the auction. Jones has established herself as a pillar in the community, successfully running a respected local business for 40 years. In lending her service to the March of Dimes, Jones urged other First Coast business and community leaders to do the same. She pointed out that prematurity, in addition to being a global health issue, hits close to home for Floridians. Premature birth remains the leading cause of newborn death, and, in Florida, one in eight infants is born prematurely.
“This percentage is just not acceptable,” Jones said. “We encourage leaders in our community to work with us on events like Signature Chefs, which will raise the funds we need to help moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.”
The Signature Chefs Auction will celebrate its 25th year on November 12, 2015 from 6 to 9 PM at the Omni Jacksonville Hotel in Jacksonville. Attendees will embark on a culinary journey created by some of Jacksonville’s best chefs, complete with fine wines, live entertainment, and silent and live auctions. Chefs from acclaimed local restaurants and culinary schools will present their signature foods in a sampling format for guests.
The event is held every year in nearly 200 cities in the United States. In 2014 alone, the Signature Chefs Auctions raised $25 million to support the health of newborns and their mothers. The first ever Signature Chefs Auction took place in Florida in 1989, and the event has raised more than $150 million since.
Ocean State Air Conditioning & Heating is proud to support Frieda Jones and to be part of this significant event in Jacksonville on November 12, 2015. The Signature Chefs Committee is currently soliciting sponsorships for the event. For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Adrienne Veatch at 904-239-5825 or aveatch@marchofdimes.org, or visit marchofdimes.org/florida.
Offer valid on qualifying systems only. Financing available, subject to credit approval. Must present coupon at time of service. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Contact Ocean State for complete details.
