The Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida announced Nov. 2 that local executive David Miller and the Miller families have established a $1 million fundraising match to address antisemitism in the Jacksonville area.
The organization announced the Miller families created the Together Strong Community Fund after the recent string of antisemitic messages displayed on highway overpasses, TIAA Bank Field and a Downtown building before and during the annual Georgia-Florida college football game .
Miller is co-founder and executive chairman of Jacksonville-based Brightway Insurance, a national property/casualty insurance distribution company with more than $860 million in annualized written premium.
He has served in board leadership positions of the Jewish Community Alliance and JAX Chamber.
“My family is fiercely devoted to the greater Jacksonville community, and we see this as an opportunity to show each other and the world that Jacksonville is better than the rogue comments of a misguided few,” Miller said.
“The time is now to forge alliances and promote education so everyone in our community can reach their personal potential in a just and equitable society that we are proud to call our home,” he said.
According to the news release, the fund is meant to support communitywide education, conversation and interaction to “combat the root causes of bias.” It also will augment short-term local security initiatives that already are underway in the area’s Jewish community.
The news release says the Miller families want to involved other stakeholders in the effort through the matching challenge.
The Together Strong Community Fund is in addition to the Miller families’ recent $1 million gift to the Jewish Community Alliance’s upcoming capital campaign, which will allow the JCA to enhance its work and reach, according to the release.
“We are exceptionally grateful to David and the Miller families for this powerful commitment to the protection of the Jewish community,” said Mariam Feist, CEO of Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida.
“And we are deeply moved by their desire to bring their message of hope and opportunity to the wider community so that we may all benefit from greater tolerance and understanding.”
For more information, contact Feist at [email protected] or 904-224-1410, or Kellie Smith, foundation director, at [email protected] or 904-512-3796.