Freedom and Belonging | June 2024
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
Giving Back. Giving Forward.
This summer, I said goodbye to my four children as they took an airplane to Michigan to spend the summer with their grandparents.
After I walked them to the gate at the Jacksonville International Airport, I gave them each a hug and a kiss, one by one, oldest to youngest, before they boarded the plane. The last one was my 5-year-old son, Isaiah II, affectionately known as Bobo. I was touched by how he stood patiently, trusting his turn would come, before finally giving me a warm embrace that I will cherish all summer.
I shared this story last week at the City of Jacksonville’s bipartisan Juneteenth celebration, which I was invited to emcee. Juneteenth is a holiday that is special to me, as it celebrates the day that millions of enslaved African-Americans were informed of their freedom. The people of Galveston, Texas, felt great joy in the fulfillment of a long-awaited promise, first articulated in 1776 in the Declaration of Independence, but not realized until after the Civil War.
Juneteenth is first and foremost a celebration - and, also, it’s a complicated holiday. It leads us to reflect on where we must make more progress in our struggle for all Americans to be free and to feel a sense of belonging in their communities, regardless of their identity or background.
On that note, I am looking forward to hearing from Bryan Stevenson, the visionary executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, this fall. The A.L. Lewis Black Opportunity & Impact Fund is hosting this event, “An Evening with Bryan Stevenson,” as part of its efforts to fundraise for grantmaking that benefits local Black communities. I hope you will join us for an inspirational evening as we build, together, a community of bold belonging.
Gratefully,
Isaiah M. Oliver, President, The Community Foundation
Congratulations to the Tenth Class of the Weaver Philanthropic Initiative
Eleven emerging philanthropists have completed the Weaver Philanthropic Initiative, The Community Foundation’s hands-on learning program about strategic philanthropy, and made grants totaling $55,000 to support nonprofits that align with their philanthropic missions. Congratulations to Ansley Busch, Brian Bush, Maureen Bush, Marion Cangemi, Melanie Cost Young, Stephanie Harden, Brooke Michaelis, Shelita McGowan, Erik Rostholder, Entrice Rowe, and Jake Wolfburg.
Beaches Community Fund Awards More than $290,000 in Grants to 18 Nonprofits
The Beaches Community Fund, an initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, recently made more than $290,000 in grants to 18 nonprofits that address critical needs facing their Beaches-area neighbors. This collective giving circle, which has grown to 35 families who each contribute annually to the grants pool, has now invested more than $2.3 million in grants to nonprofits since the Fund began making annual grants in 2015.
Cuts to State Arts & Culture Funding—What's Next?
Amy Palmer, Program Director at The Community Foundation, was on First Coast Connect this week to inform the community about cuts to state arts and culture grants affecting our local area, totaling $1.1M for Northeast Florida. Stay tuned to this newsletter for more information on The Community Foundation's Art Ventures - Small Arts Organization grants. This funding opportunity opens on August 1 and includes new funding through the recently established Delores Barr Weaver Black Arts Organizations Fund.
Georgetown University Case Study Highlights Success of Partnership Supported by TCF
Last year, The Community Foundation received a national award for its leadership role in helping launch the Office of Strategic Partnerships in the Jacksonville Mayor’s Office. Now, Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy has published a case study highlighting the successful model of enhancing collaboration between nonprofits, philanthropy, and the public sector.
Exploring Criminal Justice Reform with The Bail Project
Bail reform is an issue with bipartisan support because it presents an opportunity to save taxpayer dollars and provide critical services to people who have been arrested and deemed eligible for community release by a judge. In 2022, The Community Foundation and its donors contributed $1.25M to help launch The Bail Project in Jacksonville. Two years later, the results have been dramatic, with a vast majority of clients returning to their court dates. This month, the CEO of The Bail Project, David Gaspar, joined TCF President Isaiah M. Oliver fireside chat regarding opportunities for bail reform throughout Northeast Florida and beyond. To learn more about this issue, please visit the recap and recording of our December 2022 Donors Forum on Criminal Justice Reform.
The Community Foundation Awards Nine Grants to Nonprofits in Putnam County
The Frank V. Oliver, Jr. Fund, a component fund of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, has provided more than $120,000 through nine grants to support youth development, food security, and other essential services to Putnam County residents. Congratulations to the Children’s Home Society of Florida, Feed the Need of Putnam County, Friends of Welaka, Interlachen Soup Kitchen Ministries, Palatka Police Athletic League, Putnam County Bread of Life, Putnam County Parks and Recreation Department, Putnam First Cancer Fund, and Putnam Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
The Community Foundation is pleased to welcome our new program assistant, Olivia Rearick! Olivia holds a bachelor's degree in child psychology from UNF, where she previously served as Coordinator for Alumni Events. As program assistant on the Program & Initiatives team, Olivia manages a variety of administrative and grantmaking tasks. Fun fact: Olivia previously worked in hospitality at a Walt Disney World resort.
