JACKSONVILLE, FL – May 16, 2025 – The A.L. Lewis Black Opportunity & Impact Fund has distributed a total of $79,500 in grants to 40 grassroots nonprofits, a collection of strategic investments designed to create transformational change in Jacksonville.
As a collective giving initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, the A.L. Lewis Fund launched in 2022 with a focus on health, education and economic development in Jacksonville. The Fund is named after A.L. Lewis, Florida’s first African-American millionaire and co-founder of the Afro-American Life Insurance Company. It continues Northeast Florida’s rich tradition of Black philanthropy. Since inception, the A.L. Lewis Fund has made a total of $380,000 in grants.
“These grants are strategic investments designed to support great work that otherwise may not attract philanthropic dollars,” said Tim Johnson, chair of the A.L. Lewis Fund. “We’re proud to support these nonprofits, and we’re grateful to the members and donors who helped make these grants possible.”
As the A.L. Lewis Fund looks ahead, the steering committee is actively seeking to grow its membership. Anyone may join the fund by reaching out to Wanda Willis, VP of Civic Leadership at The Community Foundation, at (904) 356-4483, or wwillis@jaxcf.org.
“Collective giving is a powerful tool to bring new people into the important work of philanthropy,” said Wanda Willis, VP of Civic Leadership at The Community Foundation. “We welcome people of all backgrounds and any means to join us in our work.”
The following organizations each received a $2,000 grant:
- ActNUALEJ Inc. — for haircare workshops for teens
- Adore Me Nanny Nonprofit Organization — for free mental health counseling for new and existing mothers
- Bridgepoint CD Corp — to provide entrepreneurship and financial literacy programming to youth
- Empowering Changes Inc. — to offer a financial & food empowerment program in under-served neighborhoods
- Empowerment Academy — to provide a two-day financial literacy workshop focusing on understanding credit and budgeting/financial health and wellness
- First Coast Black Nurses Association — to support the 2025 Community Health Symposium by providing educational materials and branding materials
- Foundation of My Success — to support the Zella Patterson Food Drive
- Global Patch Gaming / Program — for a one—day summit to promote financial literacy and health
- I Am the Prize, Inc. — funding to essential supplies and food across I Am the Prize’s key programs
- Infinity Food Pantry Inc. — to provide food and supplies to individuals and families utilizing pantry services on Jacksonville’s Northside
- R.E. LEE Jacksonville FAMU Alumni Chapter — to assist with providing academic scholarships for students enrolled to attend FAMU for the Fall 2025 / Spring 2026 academic year
- Jacksonville Youth Works, Inc. — to youth workforce development in construction
- Jaguar Legacy Center — to support youth workforce development programs
- JAX STARS — to support K-8 grade students enrolled in the 2025 Summer Camp Youth Program
- Justice League of Fitness — to support the operation of the 2025 Community Health and Wellness Day
- Kelly’s Kids Inc — to support youth programming providing life skills, mentoring, and resources
- Leadership Embedded Academy — to provide support, mentorship, and field trips to youth with adverse childhood experiences
- Liam Lives Foundation, Inc. — to provide doula services and education to expectant mothers on maternal and infant health
- Men of Loyalty Youth Boxing Training Program, Inc. — to provide youth programming in boxing and life skills
- Mentoring Families and Kids Inc — to supply clothing and materials to resource closets serving PreK—2nd grade students
- Northside Coalition of Jacksonville — to assist with providing materials and resources for the Annual Community Health Fair and Food Give Away
- Project New Perspective Inc — to support youth wellness groups to aid in mental, emotional, and physical well-being of youth
- Read30® Inc — to prevent summer learning loss and enhance literacy for rising third grade students
- Royal Court Mentoring, Inc. — to help provide tools for enhancing self-esteem, leadership development, and community involvement
- SISTUHS, Inc. — to support programs that foster entrepreneurship, job training, and financial literacy skills
- Skylyfe — to enhance youth understanding of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality
- Synagogue Center — to support youth programming promoting personal hygiene, financial literacy, and life skills
- Tamika’s School of Epicure — to support a six-week nutrition education course
- The 1Eighty Group — to incorporate math education into a basketball outreach program
- The Center One Foundation — to support a six-day series of events helping students understand the value of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Friends of Brentwood Public Library Inc — to support snacks for children and youth at the library, and a young writers’ festival
- The LeSane Project, Inc. — to assist with a social-emotional learning program for young people
- The ScienceSIS Foundation — to introduce girls in grades K—6 to career pathways in STEM through key programming
- The Soyini Circles Girls Corp — to assist with programming to support girls aged 12—18 with personal and life skills
- Tristan’s Acceleration Academy, Inc. — to expose program participants to Gullah Geechee culture to enhance understanding of history, cultural diversity, and sustainable agriculture
- UNF Black Alumni Association, Inc. — to fund programming related to providing educational and economic development resources to local students
- Unified Community Investors — to support civic engagement and build advocacy skills among neighborhood leaders in the urban core of Jacksonville
- Urban Geoponics — to assist with costs to install raised beds for neighborhood gardens
- WHOLE H.E.A.R.T. FOUNDATION INC — to expand programming to provide access to free health screenings, mental health services, and wellness programs for African-American women
- Youth Exposure Inc — to provide youth programming to foster job readiness and entrepreneurship
About the A.L. Lewis Black Opportunity & Impact Fund
The A. L. Lewis Black Opportunity & Impact Fund is a collective giving initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. The Fund invests in solutions to advance transformational change in Jacksonville communities, continuing the legacy of Abraham Lincoln Lewis, was a local entrepreneur, humanitarian and philanthropist who became Florida’s first African-American millionaire.
About The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida (www.jaxcf.org), Florida’s oldest and one of its largest community foundations, works to stimulate philanthropy to build a better community. The Foundation helps donors invest their philanthropic gifts wisely, helps nonprofits serve the region effectively, and helps people come together to make the community a better place. Now in its 61st year, the Foundation manages more than $700 million in assets as of 12/31/2024 and has made more than $850 million in grants since inception.
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Contact: Stephanie Garry Garfunkel
VP, Strategic Communications
904—224—7208| sgarfunkel@jaxcf.org