Pine Castle

09/07/2026

09/05/2026

💙 Celebrate International Day of Charity by Making a Difference at Pine Castle!

Today is a beautiful reminder that generosity has the power to change lives. On International Day of Charity, we invite you to support Pine Castle and our mission to empower adults with intellectual and developmental differences to learn, work, connect, and thrive.

Every donation—no matter the size—helps create opportunities for the individuals we serve. Your generosity can support programs that build independence, meaningful employment, community connections, friendships, and so much more.

Your kindness can become someone’s opportunity. Your generosity can become someone’s independence. Your support can help someone discover what they CAN do.

💙 Today, will you make a gift to Pine Castle?

Together, we can continue creating a community where every individual is valued, included, celebrated, and given the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

👉 Give today. Make an impact that lasts. Join Friends of Pine Castle, monthly giving program.

Become a monthly donor and join a dedicated community of supporters who make a lasting difference every month.

09/04/2026

💚💙 904 DAY! 💚💙

Pine Castle was proud to join Jacksonville in celebrating 904 Day—a day dedicated to the people, places, and spirit that make our hometown so special! ☀️🌴

And what better way to celebrate than by showing some love for our hometown team, the Jacksonville Jaguars! 🐆🏈

From our Pine Castle family to Duval County, we’re proud to call Jacksonville home! DUUUVAL!

09/03/2026

Meet Cathy Taylor! 💙🌟

For the past 16 years, Cathy Taylor has dedicated her heart and talents to Pine Castle, where she currently serves as our Director of Residential Services. Throughout her Pine Castle career, Cathy has been a passionate advocate for the individuals we serve, helping them build greater independence, develop important life skills, and achieve personal goals.

One of the most rewarding parts of her work is witnessing the progress of the people she supports and celebrating their successes along the way. Her leadership, compassion, and commitment help create an environment where individuals are encouraged to grow, gain confidence, and live meaningful and productive lives.

Before joining Pine Castle, Cathy built an impressive career serving children, families, and adults through Daniel Kids and Lakeview Health Systems. Those experiences shaped the strong foundation of advocacy, education, mentorship, and leadership she brings to her work today. But for 16 years, Pine Castle has been home, and Cathy’s impact can be seen throughout our Residential Program and in the lives of the individuals she serves.

Thank you, Cathy, for your dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to Pine Castle! We are so grateful for the difference you make every day.

09/02/2026

🎶 YeeHaw, Y’all! 🤠🎸

Exploring different genres of music is an important part of discovering new talents, building confidence, and sharing creativity! From learning different instruments to finding the perfect southern twang, the talented participants in Pine Castle’s band showcased their incredible versatility and diversity through music.

This time, they traded in their usual tunes for some good ol’ country music—including a special tribute to the late, great Dolly Parton! 💕🎶

We’re so proud of our musicians for stepping outside their comfort zones, trying something new, and proving that there’s no limit to what they can do!

YEEHAW, Y’ALL! 🤠🎤🎸🎶

09/01/2026

💚 Community Connection in Action! 💚

Our Residential Program participants recently enjoyed an unforgettable evening at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining, experiencing the fun and magic of Shrek together!

But this was about so much more than a night at the theater. It was about creating memories, sharing laughter, building friendships, and enjoying a special experience together as an extended family and community. At Pine Castle, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to be an active and valued part of their community. Moments like these allow our participants to engage, explore, connect, and simply enjoy life alongside others. Most importantly, we are grateful to be part of a community that welcomes, embraces, and celebrates people for who they are and the unique differences that make each person special. 💚

Community connection isn’t just something we talk about—it’s something we live.

08/30/2026

💙 Celebrating Guardian Pharmacy! 💙

What a wonderful day of connection, service, and community! We are incredibly grateful to the team at Guardian Pharmacy for spending time at Pine Castle and investing in the people we proudly serve.

Their team joined us for a Pine Castle Experience Tour and volunteer engagement day, beginning with meaningful one-on-one interactions with our participants throughout campus. From dancing, basketball, tennis, and social interaction in the LEC gym to joining the Bible Study Club, their volunteers brought energy, kindness, and plenty of smiles to the day!

The experience continued with a Pine Castle Experience Tour, giving the Guardian Pharmacy team an inside look at our history, mission, and vision, while learning more about the incredible individuals who make Pine Castle so special. They also had the opportunity to see our Residential, Life Enrichment, and Community Employment Programs in action.

Thank you, Guardian Pharmacy, for your time, your generosity, and your commitment to our Pine Castle community! We are grateful to have you as part of the Pine Castle family!

08/29/2026

💙 Celebrating a Very Special Volunteer: Tatum! 💙

Sometimes a volunteer makes such a meaningful impact that they become part of the Pine Castle family—and that’s exactly what happened with Tatum!

What began as volunteering grew into a part-time summer position during her time off from college, giving Tatum even more opportunities to spend quality time with our participants and create special moments together. From making creative art projects to cheering on sports activities, Tatum brought energy, kindness, and genuine connection to every moment. Her willingness to jump in, engage, laugh, create, and simply be present made a lasting impression on the people we serve.

Thank you, Tatum, for sharing your time, talents, and heart with Pine Castle! We are so grateful for the memories you helped create and the joy you brought to our campus. 💙✨

Once a Pine Castle friend, always a Pine Castle friend!

08/28/2026

Keeping Pine Castle Clean: Our Custodial Crew

At Pine Castle, a job is more than a paycheck. It’s an opportunity to build confidence, learn valuable skills, contribute to the community, and take pride in a job well done.

Our Custodial Crew puts that philosophy into action every day across our 10-acre campus. From keeping common areas clean and organized to maintaining outdoor spaces and helping ensure our campus is welcoming for participants, staff, volunteers, and visitors, our crew plays an important role in keeping Pine Castle running smoothly.

But the impact goes far beyond a clean campus.

Through their work, crew members are earning a paycheck, developing hands-on job skills, practicing responsibility and teamwork, following workplace expectations, and gaining valuable experience that can help prepare them for greater employment opportunities.

There is something powerful about knowing that your work matters—and our Custodial Crew sees that impact every day. Whether they are tackling a big project or taking care of the small details that others may not notice, these dedicated employees are helping make Pine Castle a place where everyone can learn, work, and connect.

We are proud of our Custodial Crew and the important work they do! 💙

At Pine Castle, employment isn’t just about having a job. It’s about having purpose, being valued, and knowing you make a difference.

08/25/2026

A Milestone in Mental Health, Research & Service

Pine Castle proudly celebrates Dr. Danielle Bingham, Director of Mental Health Services, recently earning her PhD in Psychology from Liberty University.
Danielle’s published dissertation, Spiritual Abuse: A Qualitative Study on the Lived Experience of Survivors and Their Attachment to God, explores the complex intersection of trauma, faith, trust, safety, attachment, and healing—research that offers valuable insight for those supporting individuals through difficult experiences.

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor in Florida, Danielle has helped expand Pine Castle’s Mental Health Services, including Psychosocial Rehabilitation, individual counseling, clinical assessment and treatment planning, crisis intervention, and professional development.
Her research also brings an important perspective to our work with our participants, reinforcing the importance of trauma-informed, person-centered care that honors each individual’s voice, autonomy, dignity, and whole-person experience.

“A large portion of this PhD happened while I was working at Pine Castle, so it feels especially meaningful to reach this milestone here and to bring what I have learned back into a program and population that I care so deeply about.”
At Pine Castle, we believe in seeing the whole person—not simply a diagnosis or disability. Danielle’s achievement strengthens our commitment to providing compassionate, ethical, evidence-informed mental health services that honor every individual’s story, strengths, and journey.

Congratulations, Dr. Danielle Bingham! We are incredibly proud of you and grateful for the knowledge, leadership, and heart you bring to Pine Castle. 💙🎓