The Sontag Foundation board of directors has awarded $695,000 in grants to support programs of 25 nonprofit organizations in Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau and St. Johns counties.
To date, The Sontag Foundation, based in Ponte Vedra Beach, has disbursed $5.75 million to help foster the self-sufficiency of individuals living in Northeast Florida.
“Nonprofit organizations in our community continue to increase programming to meet the needs of the individuals they serve, yet fundraising continues to be a challenge for them,” said foundation President Rick Sontag in a news release.
“We recognize the importance of these programs and desire to help individuals retain their independence through these difficult times,” he said.
Sontag made the following grants to programs enabling individuals to regain or retain their independence:
• BEAM, $35,000, Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry, prevention of homelessness in Duval County.
• Clara White Mission, $25,000, feeding the hungry in Duval County.
• Family Promise of Flagler County, $35,000, prevention of homelessness in Flagler County.
• Family Life Center, $25,000, supporting independence of victims of domestic violence in Flagler County.
• Micah’s Place, $25,000, supporting steps to independence for victims of domestic violence in Nassau County.
• Prisoners of Christ, $25,000, provision of housing, life-skills and employment training to released prisoners.
• St. Johns County Council on Aging, $35,000, providing safety accommodations and home repairs for the elderly.
• Samaritan Ministries, $20,000, a culinary arts training program in Flagler County.
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul, $35,000, assisting economically disadvantaged people with unexpected expenses.
• Senior Life Foundation, $25,000, assisting elderly people in Duval County with unexpected expenses.
• Trinity Rescue Mission, $25,000, feeding the hungry.
Sontag made the following grants to programs that help meet the medical needs of individuals in the community:
• Barnabas Center’s Samaritan Dental Clinic, $25,000, dental services for underserved in Nassau County.
• Flagler County Free Clinic, $25,000, providing specialized medical services to the underserved.
• Good Samaritan Health Center, $25,000, providing dental services to underserved people in St. Johns County.
• The Way Free Medical Clinic, $25,000, providing medical services to the underserved of Clay County.
• Volunteers in Medicine, $35,000, assuring that VIM patients in Duval County have necessary medications.
• We Care, $25,000, providing specialized medical services to the underserved of Duval County.
• West Jax Outreach, $30,000, providing medical and dental services to underserved people of Duval County.
Sontag made the following grants to programs meeting educational or employment training needs of individuals in the community:
• ARC Jacksonville, $40,000, individualized learning for young adults with developmental disabilities.
• BASCA, $35,000, expansion of Custom Creations, a work-skills development program in Clay County.
• International Learning Center, $25,000, language and life skills education for immigrants and refugees.
• Knots4Kids, $25,000, a life-skills program for youth.
• Learn to Read, $25,000, helping adults overcome illiteracy.
• Pine Castle, $25,000, enabling individuals with developmental disabilities to access employment programs.
• Reed Educational Campus, $20,000, supporting educational and life-skills program for youth.
The Sontag Foundation focuses on addressing the social needs of individuals in the seven-county Northeast Florida area.
It also supports medical research for brain cancer and rheumatoid arthritis at research centers and medical institutions throughout the United States and Canada. Since 2002, The Sontag Foundation has awarded more than $35 million in grants.
For more information, visit www.sontagfoundation.org.