Total Grant Awards for 2007 Top One Million Dollars
The Jaguars Foundation Board announced the awarding of $440,000 in grants in its second grant cycle of 2007 to thirteen local nonprofit organizations serving economically and socially disadvantaged children and families in Northeast Florida.
Under the leadership of Delores Barr Weaver, Jaguars Foundation Chair and CEO, the Foundation's grand total in grant giving for 2007 is $1,057,850. The grant total since 1995 is more than $10.9 million for youth-serving programs in the Jacksonville area, which includes Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties.
"Our dream of the Jaguars Foundation began even before Jacksonville was awarded the 30th NFL franchise in 1993, and we were already awarding grants before the team played its first game in 1995," Weaver remarked. "I am proud of the Jaguars Partners for making a million dollar commitment annually to support the Foundation's grant making and other important programs for youth and their families." Unlike most sports teams, the Jaguars Foundation does not solicit contributions nor hold fundraising events.
The Jaguars Foundation made the following grant awards in the second cycle for 2007:
• American Legion Post 194 (through EPIC Community Services): $20,000. After school and summer program for elementary students in West St. Augustine.
• Art with a Heart for Children (through Baptist Health Foundation): $30,000. Art therapy program for children at Wolfson Children's Hospital.
• Betty Griffin House: $46,000. Children's program at the domestic violence shelter; school and community prevention and outreach programs; and the Peace Club.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida: $64,000. Operating support for the National Football League - Youth Education Town (NFL-YET) after-school and summer program for youth in the Brentwood neighborhood and surrounding communities. (Grant utilizes donations received by the Jaguars Foundation from the Jacksonville Jaguars Booster Club.)
• Heart for Children, Inc, $20,000. After school program/summer youth program at the Glen Myra Park Community Center.
• Independent Living Resource Center: $20,000. Youth transition program for special needs and disabled high school youth in the Nassau and Baker County Public Schools.
• Limelight Theatre, Inc.: $25,000. Theatre training program and acting classes' tuition scholarships for children in low-income families in St. Augustine and surrounding communities in St. John's County.
• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Jacksonville, $100,000. Support for LISC's work with nonprofit Community Development Corporations to revitalize Jacksonville's distressed neighborhoods.
• Metro Kids Konnection, $20,000. After school and summer program for youth residing in the Cleveland Arms Apartments and the surrounding community.
• Outward Bound, Inc, $22,000. "Summer of Discovery" Outward Bound River Course for youth from The Bridge of Northeast Florida, Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida and other non-profit agencies.
• St. Vincent's Foundation, $33,000. Support for St. Vincent's Ronald McDonald Care Mobile for pediatric medical outreach for low-income families; including collaboration with the Jaguars Foundation's What Moves U youth anti-obesity program.
• Stage Aurora Theatrical Company, Inc, $20,000. Support for youth acting and musical theatre after-school and summer training programs and performances.
• Student Conservation Association, $20,000. SCA's Jacksonville 2008 summer internship program in partnership with the National Parks Service, Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department and nonprofit agencies.
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. Other Foundation programs include:
• Honor Rows®, in partnership with Reebok, which 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;
• The Official Playbooks®, in partnership with Reebok and Pepsi, to encourage reading and use of local public libraries;
• What Moves U, co-sponsored by Wolfson Children's Hospital, in partnership with the NFL, American Heart Association and Duval County Public Schools, to prevent youth obesity, promote physical activity and good nutrition; and,
• Jaguars Don't Smoke initiative to reduce tobacco use among youth.
For information on the Grants Program guidelines and application, please visit the Jaguars Foundation website at http://www.jaguars.com/foundation/grantmaking.aspx
