Northeast Florida corporations, foundations and philanthropists are pledging more than $2 million to Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund to support immediate needs caused by the COVID-19 disruption.
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Jewish Federation and Foundation of Northeast Florida, United Way of Northeast Florida and United Way of St. Johns County reactivated Florida's First Coast Relief Fund.
Twelve nonprofits in Duval, St. Johns and Nassau counties already received $405,000 to provide relief and resources to families in the region and the agencies that serve them.
The first round of grants focuses on the immediate needs of shelters and those providing emergency food and financial assistance.
The recipients include Barnabas Center, Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, Catholic Charities in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, City Rescue Mission, Clara White Mission, ElderSource, Feeding Northeast Florida, Jewish Family & Community Services, St. Francis House, Sulzbacher and Trinity Rescue Mission.
Contributions include:
• Jessie Ball duPont Fund, $500,000
• Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, $400,000
• Jim Moran Foundation, $250,000
• Weaver Family Foundation Fund, $250,000
• Lucy Gooding Charitable Trust, $150,000
• The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, $100,000
• GuideWell/Florida Blue, $100,000
• Riverside Hospital Foundation, $50,000
• Zimmerman Family Foundation, $50,000
• Wells Fargo, $40,000
• DuBow Family Foundation, $25,000
• Robert and Margaret Hill, $25,000
• Jewish Federation and Foundation of Northeast Florida, $25,000
• VyStar Credit Union, $25,000
• Anonymous donation, $25,000
More than 50 other donors made gifts totaling $44,000.
United Way’s 211 call center, which provides information and referral services to more than 100,000 callers annually, has seen a 20% increase in calls during the COVID-19 disruption.
The release says 100% of donations to Florida's First Coast Relief Fund will benefit local COVID-19 relief efforts. The money will be granted to organizations providing services to people in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns counties to meet needs not addressed by government programs.
Learn more about the Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund here.