Local yoga enthusiasts gathered Saturday, Sept. 23 on the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse lawn for a Yoga With Heart fundraiser. Organized by Ponte Vedra resident Aimee Boggs, the event raised more than $5,000 for Jacksonville nonprofit Volunteers in Medicine.
The event started off with a gentle yoga class – led by Boggs – followed by a breakfast of muffins and mimosas. The fundraiser marked the first time the TPC lawn had been used for a yoga class.
“A lot of people were trying yoga for the first time, but for a lot of regular practitioners, hopefully, it was just nice to have a different kind of setting to do their yoga practice,” Boggs said.
Boggs, who is a licensed yoga instructor, is also the senior vice president of investments for Boggs Huffman Wealth Management of Raymond James. In February, she became involved with Volunteers in Medicine – a free healthcare clinic in Jacksonville that serves Northeast Florida’s working, low-income and uninsured individuals and families – when she was named one of the nonprofit’s 12 “Women With Heart” honorees.
“Women With Heart is an annual luncheon that recognizes 12 outstanding Northeast Florida women for their leadership, philanthropy and personal commitment to improving the lives of individuals and families in our community,” Volunteers in Medicine Chief Development Officer Cindy Cooper said. “In addition to being recognized at a kick-off luncheon, each woman then agrees to serve as an ambassador for Volunteers in Medicine during a month in which they advocate, ‘friend-raise’ and fundraise to help raise awareness and much needed funds for patient services and programs.”
According to Cooper, the proceeds of Women With Heart events are contributed toward the organization’s various patient services and programs, including annual wellness exams, mammograms, medications and more.
In addition to raising funds and awareness for Volunteers in Medicine, Women With Heart honorees also have the unique opportunity to wear a $7,000 diamond necklace donated by Beard’s Jewelry. The necklace, appropriately named “The Heart of Jacksonville,” features a 2-carat diamond heart-shaped pendant. Designed to stand out, the necklace serves as a conversation starter to help honorees spread the word about Volunteers in Medicine. After each honoree has worn the necklace, it will be raffled off at the next Women With Heart luncheon in February 2018.
Although she will have to pass the necklace on at the end of the month, Boggs was glad to have been able to contribute toward the cause of Volunteers in Medicine.
“I am thrilled that everything came together – the weather, the crowd, the volunteers – and we just were blessed to have this experience,” she said.
