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AMELIA ISLAND CVB LAUNCHES “AMELIA ISLAND TOURISM GIVES” SUPPORT INITIATIVE

OSPREY VILLAGE AWARDS 2020 SILVER PEN SCHOLARSHIPS Osprey Village, a luxury senior living community on Amelia Island, announced the 2020 winners of its annual Silver Pen Scholarship competition. The scholarship was started in 2012 by its parent company, The Maxwell Group, and has awarded over $275,000 to high school seniors with the goal of bridging the communication gap between high school seniors and members of the senior living communities. “It’s a great scholarship opportunity, as local students write essays on a chosen topic and our members get to read and judge the entries based on the set criteria” said Matthew Barger, Osprey Village’s executive director. “Our members love participating, and it’s a great way to connect with our local community”. This year, the essay topic chosen by Osprey Village was: “In recent years, trade schools have been increasingly popular and lucrative to the work force. In this essay, please compare and contrast the outcome of receiving a four-year degree from a university or attending a trade school for a more hands-on skill set.” Scholarships worth $3,750 were awarded to Skye Black, first place, Sonshine Christian Academy; Jeremiah Giedrys, Fernandina Beach High School, second place; and Sydney Krug, Camden County High School, third place. Congratulations to all!

The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched “Amelia Island Tourism Gives,” an initiative providing support for our hospitality industry – and its workers –devastated by the pandemic. “The travel industry on Amelia Island is deeply affected by COVID-19, with more than 2,000 hospitality employees out of work, numerous restaurants and shops closed, and hotels either closed or running single-digit occupancy,” said Jack Healan, CVB board chair. With a matching investment of $50,000 from the Nassau County Board of Commissioners, a total $100,000 will go to Barnabas, a multi-service agency providing food, housing assistance, and medical care to those in crisis. Wanda Lanier, CEO of Barnabas, said private donors will match gifts, resulting in a $200,000 cash investment for crisis assistance programs. “It’s encouraging to see community and industry coming together in a true private/ public partnership to help those who are bearing the brunt of this crisis,” said Lanier. To learn more, visit BarnabasNassau.org, call the Chamber of Commerce at (904) 261-3248, or email info@nassaucountyflchamber.com. Amelia Island Tourism Gives has also launched a website called AmeliaIslandMarket.com, featuring products from local businesses including clothing, accessories, activities, and gift cards. Check online as offerings continue to expand.

BAPTIST HEALTH AMONG FIRST TO DISINFECT N95 MASKS FOR COVID-19 SAFETY When it comes to responding to COVID-19, our own Baptist Health is leading the industry as one of the first healthcare facilities in the region to disinfect N95 masks. This is an innovative response to a shortage that has impacted hospitals across the U.S., with big implications when it comes to the safety of health professionals. “During an ongoing crisis like the one we are facing now, we are applying innovative ideas that are shown to be effective,” said David Rice, MD, senior vice president and chief quality officer for Baptist Health. To meet this need, robotic disinfecting technology is used to clean and preserve masks. First, a room is dedicated for the purpose. Next, the masks are strung on wire shelving resembling clothes on a line, and then the robot gets to work. After a five-minute disinfection cycle, the masks are rotated and exposed for five minutes on the other side, allowing both their exterior and interior to be decontaminated. “The use of Xenex robots to disinfect our masks is just one of the ways we are rethinking how we do things so that we can benefit our patients and team members alike,” said Rice.

24 AMELIA ISLANDER MAGAZINE • MAY 2020