Beaches Community Fund Grants More Than $270,000 to Beaches Nonprofits
A total of $2 million granted in just eight years by generous Beaches families
The Beaches Community Fund, an initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, recently made more than $270,000 in grants to 15 nonprofits that address critical needs facing their Beaches-area neighbors.
This collective giving circle, comprised of 30+ Beaches-area families, has now invested more than $2 million in grants to nonprofits serving residents from Mayport to Guana since the Fund was established in 2015. This summer, The Community Foundation’s board of trustees approved an endowment for the Beaches Community Fund (BCF) and seeded it with $25,000, in response to a member-led effort. As the endowment grows – accepting contributions from anyone in the community, not only those who are members of the BCF – earnings will provide additional annual income for grantmaking, ensuring support to Beaches nonprofits is available forever.
“Collective giving is at the heart of what we do at The Community Foundation,” said Tom Caron, Vice President of Donor Services at The Community Foundation. “We are grateful to the generous donors at the Beach who are helping ensure no one is left behind as the area continues to grow and prosper.”
The Beaches Community Fund (BCF) continued its focus on direct financial aid and food assistance, while also funding educational supports for students and people with special needs. Through the grants, BCF members also invested in the long-term sustainability of Beaches nonprofits by facilitating learning and collaboration in partnership with the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida.
“Because there is significant affluence at the Beach, people sometimes mistakenly think there isn’t a lot of need,” said Kris Moss, a BCF member. “The Beaches Community Fund is proud to support the great work of nonprofits that are helping all people thrive in our area.”
Agencies that received grants to improve the lives of those living between Mayport and Guana include:
$40,000 to BEAM for food assistance, emergency financial assistance, and case management programs.
$25,000 to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Emergency Assistance Ministry to provide food and emergency financial assistance to residents in the West Atlantic Beach/Mayport area during times of need.
$30,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Northeast Florida, Inc. (Feeding Northeast Florida) to support food distribution at the Beaches.
$24,720 to First Coast Blessings in a Backpack to provide food packs during fall break, winter break, spring break, and summer for students at Beaches schools who rely on free and reduced‐price lunch during the school week.
$10,000 to We Care Jacksonville, Inc. to support wound care for the Beaches Health & Wellness Collaboration.
$25,934 to Mission House to support its crisis care services for people experiencing homelessness.
$15,000 to Beaches Habitat to provide mortgage relief for Beaches Habitat homeowners.
$15,000 to Baptist Health Foundation to support the Tipping the Scales mentoring and employment program at Baptist Beaches.
$20,000 to Communities in Schools to continue the Student Enrichment Program at Mayport Middle School.
$23,000 to Episcopal Children’s Services to support conversion of one classroom at Rhoda Martin Head Start Center from Early Head Start (infants and toddlers) to Head Start (ages 3‐5).
$5,000 to Ferst Readers of Duval County to send age‐appropriate books and monthly parent engagement newsletters to children from birth to age 5.
$20,500 to the Nonprofit Center for Northeast Florida for the Eleanor Ashby Beaches Leadership Series and customized consulting services for Beaches nonprofits.
$8,600 to Beaches Council on Aging (Dial‐A‐Ride) to provide the community match needed to secure a new van from FDOT, to increase the number of rides Dial‐A‐Ride can provide weekly.
$5,000 to Literacy Alliance of Northeast Florida to provide literacy education for adult learners at the Beaches, to enhance their ability to live and work independently.
$2,500 to PossAbilities Plus for the EDCESS drama program for teens and adults with developmental disabilities and autism, to build and practice verbal and non‐verbal communication and social skills.
About The Beaches Community Fund
The Beaches Community Fund was established in 2015 by charitable Beaches-area families to address concerns about the issues affecting their neighbors between Mayport and Guana. Beaches Community Fund participants pool their charitable dollars to tackle community issues such as transportation to jobs, food, medical care, and essential services; early childhood literacy and development; and affordable housing. They also encourage Beaches nonprofits to grow stronger and collaborate. To learn more: www.jaxcf.org/learn/beaches-community-fund or contact Kacie Smyth, Director of Development, at ksmyth@jaxcf.org or 904-356-4483.
About The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida (www.jaxcf.org), Florida’s oldest and largest community foundation, 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. Created in 1964, the Foundation has made more than $695 million in grants since its inception, and manages assets of more than $630 million at their peak in 2021.
###
Contact: Stephanie Garry Garfunkel
VP, Strategic Communications
904-356-4483 | sgarfunkel@jaxcf.org