Mayo Clinic in Florida announced Dec. 20 it donated $5 million to the Sulzbacher nonprofit homelessness services provider and will become the health care partner of Sulzbacher’s Enterprise Village, a multibuilding expansion in Northwest Jacksonville.
The expansion will provide resources to people and families with limited access to health care, housing, social services, job training and education. Enterprise Village is expected to be completed by 2026.
“Mayo Clinic is committed to being a positive force in the Jacksonville community,” said Dr. Kent Thielen, CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida, in the release.
Mayo Clinic said the $5 million gift to Sulzbacher, Northeast Florida’s largest provider of comprehensive services for people experiencing homelessness, is part of the clinic’s commitment to the communities it serves in Jacksonville, Arizona, Minnesota and at its Midwest Mayo Clinic Health System locations.
This month, Mayo will invest an additional $22 million in organizations in those communities that address access to health care, housing, food insecurity, and safe places for learning and enrichment for youth.
Mayo said it chose the organizations based on community needs, how their work aligns with Mayo Clinic’s mission, and Mayo’s history of partnership with each organization.
“As the ‘Healthcare Partner’ sponsor for our new Enterprise Village campus, Mayo has shown its commitment to health equity for every person in Jacksonville,” said Cindy Funkhouser, Sulzbacher president and CEO.
“Mayo Clinic investing in the largest health desert in our city will hopefully motivate and inspire others to invest. This investment is a game-changer for Sulzbacher, the people we serve and the entire city,” she said.
Mayo’s gift to Sulzbacher will be used to provide space at Enterprise Village for primary care, behavioral health, optical and dental services, and a pharmacy. In addition, Mayo will work with Sulzbacher to design access to its virtual care capabilities and services.
Sulzbacher’s health centers are classified as Federally Qualified Health Centers, offering comprehensive health care to anyone in the community in need.
Mayo Clinic said it began its collaboration with Sulzbacher in 2008. It has provided medical assistance and expertise, and participated in mobile health care programs.
Mayo assisted Sulzbacher during the coronavirus pandemic and employees volunteer at its health centers and serve on its board of directors.
In June, Mayo Clinic in Florida launched its Learners Community Clinic at Sulzbacher to address health care disparities by providing weekly medical care to Jacksonville’s most vulnerable patients and clinical education to residents and fellows, the release said.
Mayo Clinic provides primary care, family medicine and cardiology services, and expects to offer additional health care specialties soon.
This gift is in addition to almost $323,000 in grants Mayo Clinic in Florida awarded in November to 28 organizations and programs, including Sulzbacher, to address community health needs identified in the Northeast Florida Community Health Needs Assessment.