Thirty-five small nonprofits will receive grants of $2,000
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — June 4, 2026 — The A.L. Lewis Fund, a collective giving initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, has awarded 35 grants of $2,000 to support grassroots organizations that are creating pathways to economic mobility, education, and health across Jacksonville.
Rooted in the legacy of Abraham Lincoln Lewis—a pioneering Black entrepreneur and philanthropist—the A.L. Lewis Fund reflects the power of collective giving to build a better community.
“Each of these organizations embodies the spirit of A.L. Lewis—investing in people, advancing opportunity and strengthening communities from within,” said Tim Johnson, chair of the A.L. Lewis Fund. “Together, they are building a more equitable and thriving Jacksonville.”
Anyone can join this collective giving initiative with an annual membership of $1,500. The fund also accepts donations from the public in support of its grantmaking. To learn more and join, visit www.jaxcf.org/al-lewis.
The Fund awarded $2,000 grants to the following organizations and their programming:
- 1925 Alpha Men of Jacksonville Foundation, Inc. — Year-round mentoring and leadership development program supporting young men with college readiness, character building and academic success.
- 32209 Experience Inc. — Community gardens initiative increasing access to fresh food while strengthening neighborhood connections in a designated food desert.
- Ball For Us — Free online carpentry pre-apprenticeship program teaching technical and professional skills for careers in the skilled trades.
- Bridgepoint CDC Corp — Youth workforce and entrepreneurship lab providing hands-on job training and real-world business experience.
- Davis Street Soil Project — Expansion of a community garden and farm to support food access, education and neighborhood resilience.
- EmpowerHR Collective Inc. — Career accelerator series helping Black women build job readiness, digital literacy and career advancement strategies.
- Empowerment Academy — Employment readiness workshops equipping teens with job skills, financial literacy and career awareness.
- First Coast Black Nurses Association — Community health symposium offering education, screenings and resources focused on health equity.
- Florida A&M University National Alumni Association (Jacksonville Chapter) — Scholarships and mentoring support to expand college access and academic success.
- Friends of Brentwood Public Library — Young Writers Festival fostering literacy, creativity and exposure to careers in the arts.
- Greenwood 100 Inc. — Financial literacy and workforce development workshops focused on homeownership, entrepreneurship and economic stability.
- I Am The Prize Inc. — Long-term youth program for girls integrating entrepreneurship, education, financial literacy, and mental wellness.
- Infinity Food Pantry Inc. — Food distribution program addressing food insecurity among seniors, students, and low-income families.
- IO for Teens Inc. — Elementary enrichment program building confidence, leadership, and emotional skills through structured learning.
- Jaguar Legacy Center Inc. — Workforce and life skills training for justice-impacted youth to support career readiness and stability.
- Lillian Key Lewis Foundation — Wellness support and care kits for breast cancer patients and survivors.
- Little Hands Big Hearts Little People’s Service Organization — Trauma-informed support program strengthening emotional well-being for children and families.
- Marie Barney Boston Scholarship Foundation — Service-learning placements connecting future educators with students in under-resourced schools.
- Molding Minds, Inc. — Summer youth programming focused on mental wellness, conflict resolution, and violence prevention.
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (Greater Jacksonville Chapter) — Integrated programming advancing economic empowerment, education, and health equity.
- Pink & the Blue Breast and Prostate Cancer Foundation — Community-based cancer awareness and prevention initiative promoting early detection.
- Project New Perspective Inc. — Accessible mental health services for youth through community-based therapeutic programs.
- Read30 Inc. — Early literacy initiative providing books and resources to expand reading access for children.
- Reclaim Global Inc. — Trauma-informed healing program helping adults build resilience and life skills.
- Richard Webster-Bass Health Institute — Community symposium advancing awareness and care for sickle cell disease.
- Royal Court Mentoring Inc. — Youth empowerment initiative providing school supplies, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities.
- Royalty Connections Inc. — College readiness and life skills workshop preparing students for postsecondary success.
- Sciencesis Foundation Inc. — STEM enrichment programs building confidence and exposure for young girls in underserved communities.
- SHINE (Seeking Harmony in Neighborhoods Everyday) — Career readiness and entrepreneurship education supporting workforce development.
- Silent Women Speaking Foundation, Inc. — Trauma-informed healing and empowerment program for mothers who have lost children to violence.
- Step by Step 4 Help Foundation, Inc. — Mobile mental health outreach bringing services directly into underserved neighborhoods.
- Tamika’s School of Epicure Inc. — Culinary education program teaching cooking skills, nutrition, and career pathways for youth.
- The Soyini Circles Girls Corp — Summer STEM and leadership program building confidence and career awareness for girls.
- Whole H.E.A.R.T. Foundation Inc. — Mental health and wellness programming for women and girls in underserved communities.
- Worth Pursuing — Youth life skills program focused on professionalism, hygiene, and confidence building.
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 62nd year, the Foundation manages more than $809 million in assets as of 12/31/2025 and has made more than $925 million in grants since inception.
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Contact: Stephanie Garry Garfunkel
VP, Strategic Communications
904-224-7208 | sgarfunkel@jaxcf.org