by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
A new young professionals group has been named after one of Jacksonville’s top business and philanthropic leaders and the group would be pleased to accomplish a tenth of what Bob Shircliff has achieved in his lifetime.
The Shircliff Society held its kickoff event Wednesday at Bistro Aix in San Marco and about 60 people attended the launch of the young professionals section of the St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation.
“It’s a brand new group of young leaders who we hope will become advocates for the mission of St. Vincent’s,” said Josh Cockrell, campaign coordinator for St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation. He helped to develop the group.
The group’s namesake has helped raise millions of dollars for organizations throughout Jacksonville, including St. Vincent’s HealthCare.
“Before all of you were born, I was a volunteer at St. Vincent’s,” said Shircliff, speaking to the gathering of young professionals.
“The satisfaction of giving back to your community is overwhelming. It’s been a constant in my family, a constant in my life,” he said.
The mission of the Shircliff Society is “to engage and inspire developing leaders, 21-40 years of age, through St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation to become advocates for a compassionate and just society, focused on improving the health of individuals and communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.”
The society lists its benefits as opportunities to meet and network with top business and philanthropic leaders in the community and to participate in community projects that focus on improving the health of individuals and communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.
Members are required to attend a least three events a year, be 21-40 years old and pay annual dues of $25 a person or $45 per couple.
“I’ve always known about the impact St. Vincent’s has had on the community,” said John Roberts, the inaugural president of the society.
“When Molly Haston told me about the group, I knew I wanted to get involved,” he said. Haston is the foundation’s special events coordinator.
Roberts later commented that he would be happy if the group was able to accomplish a tenth of what Shircliff has achieved in his philanthropic efforts.
St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation is a not-for-profit, philanthropic organization established in 1982 and it has served as a liaison between St. Vincent’s HealthCare and its donors.
Since its founding, the foundation has provided financial assistance of more than $1 million each year in support of the mission of Jacksonville’s Daughters of Charity, a worldwide religious community of sisters founded in France in 1633 by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac with a mission of service to the poor.
The foundation supports St. Vincent’s Community Outreach Ministries, capital building and equipment needs for St. Vincent’s Medical Center, St. Luke’s Hospital and St. Catherine Labouré Manor, as well as various medical programs.
356-2466