The Frank V. Oliver Fund issued grants totaling more than $120,000
JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Frank V. Oliver, Jr. Fund, a component fund of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, has provided more than $120,000 through nine grants to support youth development, food security, and other essential services to Putnam County residents.
A longtime Palatka businessman and quiet philanthropist, Frank V. Oliver, Jr., established a number of charitable giving vehicles at The Community Foundation when he died in 2010, including designated endowments for several beloved organizations. But his vision also created a more flexible field of interest fund for Putnam County, so that other deserving programs that might need assistance in the future would benefit.
“Our grantmaking in Putnam County has highlighted the many strong nonprofit organizations working to meet the needs of their communities,” said Reagan Bass, program officer who helps manage grantmaking alongside a grants committee of leaders of Putnam County. “We’re proud to support them, and grateful for the generosity of Frank V. Oliver, who made these grants possible.”
Grants made from the Fund this year include:
- Children’s Home Society of Florida – $15,392 to provide home visits, care coordination, and pre/post-natal items to new and expectant moms in Putnam County through the Healthy Start program
- Feed the Need of Putnam County – $15,000 to purchase food for weekend backpack and summer programs feeding elementary school students
- Friends of Welaka – $20,000.00 to purchase equipment needed to maintain children’s garden and senior food pantry programs
- Interlachen Soup Kitchen Ministries – $6,000 to support the installation of four showers on site
- Palatka Police Athletic League – $10,000 to wrap community outreach mobile trailer with PAL logo and outfit it to provide youth mentoring programs
- Putnam County Bread of Life – $17,800 to renovate kitchen sink and outdoor patio area
- Putnam County Parks and Recreation Department – $2,000 to support summer 2024 swimming lesson scholarships for 57 children in Putnam County
- Putnam First Cancer Fund – $10,000 to provide emergency assistance to cancer patients and diagnostic testing for low-income residents
- Putnam Habitat for Humanity, Inc. – $25,000 to support the building of the fourth home in the veteran’s village and home repairs for veterans
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 60th year, the Foundation manages more than $650 million in assets as of 12/31/2023 and has made more than $750 million in grants since inception.
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Contact: Stephanie Garry Garfunkel
VP, Strategic Communications
904-356-4483 | sgarfunkel@jaxcf.org