The Jaguars Foundation Board announced the awarding of $293,000 in its second and final grant cycle of 2011 to 10 local nonprofit organizations serving economically and socially disadvantaged children and families in Northeast Florida. This brings the total in grants awarded in 2011 to $1,073,000.
Under the leadership of Delores Barr Weaver, Jaguars Foundation Chair and CEO, the Foundation's total grant giving since 1995 is nearly $15 million for youth-serving programs in the Jacksonville area, which includes Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. This level of giving is among the top few of professional sports teams. "Our dream of the Jaguars Foundation began even before Jacksonville was awarded the 30th NFL franchise in 1993, and we awarded our first grants before the team played its first game in 1995," Weaver remarked.
Peter Racine, the Foundation's President, noted that the Jaguars Foundation will be continuing its grant making program under the leadership of team's new owner, Mr. Shad Khan. Mrs. Weaver said, "We are very pleased that Shad Khan has made the commitment to continue the Foundation's important work to help provide children and youth with the support and opportunities they need to succeed in life."
Mrs. Weaver added, "I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to the Jaguars Ltd. Partners who have provided the funding for the Foundation's grant making program over the past 17 years; and particularly to Elizabeth Petway, Lawrence DuBow and Wayne Weaver for serving on the Foundation's Board throughout these years." The Jaguars Foundation does not solicit contributions nor hold fundraising events. The team's grant making program is funded primarily from team revenue.
The following grants were awarded in 2011 Cycle Two:
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida NFL - YET (Youth Education Town): $52,000 for its multi-service after-school and summer programs at the NFL –YET in the Brentwood neighborhood.
Fresh Ministries: $28,000 for the Youth Employment Preparation and Placement Program for up to 50 youth, at the Eastside Resource Center.
Heart for Children: $20,000for it's* *after school program and summer camp at the Glen Myra Park Community Center.
Independent Living Resource Center: $20,000 for the Youth High School Transition Program for Nassau County and Baker County (as matching funds for the State of Florida ABLE Trust grant).
Junior Achievement:$25,000 for its gender specific Financial Literacy Education Program for Girls and Young Women.
Limelight Theatre Inc.: $25,000 for its multi site theatre outreach program.
Metro Kids Konnection: $46,000 for its Rising Stars after-school and summer program for middle and high school students.
National Council of Negro Women's Child Watch Partnership of Jacksonville's Reed Center: $25,000 for its after-school and summer enrichment program for girls.
Stage Aurora Theatrical Company: $22,000 for their 100 Youth Voices performing arts program.
Youth Crisis Center: $30,000 for the Touchstone Village Transitional and Independent Living Program's resource team.
For information on the Grants Program guidelines and application, please visit the Jaguars Foundation website at ****www.jaguars.com****
About the Jaguars Foundation:
*The Jaguars Foundation focuses on strategic grant making, networking, and volunteer support to serve economically and socially disadvantaged youth and families of Jacksonville. *
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*Other Foundation programs include: *
- *Honor Rows
uses seats at Jaguars home games to reward economically and socially disadvantaged youth for reaching pre-determined academic, behavioral, and public service goals; * * Straight Talk™, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and local media, to help reduce teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases; * * *Jaguars Play 60 Challenge, co-sponsored by Baptist Health/Wolfson Children's Hospital, in partnership with the NFL, American Heart Association and Duval County Public Schools, to help prevent youth obesity, promote physical activity and good nutrition; and, * *Jaguars Don't Smoke, an initiative to reduce tobacco use among youth. *
