Duval, Clay and St. Johns Sheriff’s deputies will give away 1,000 $100 gift cards to local residents
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Attached - Lt. Michael Layne of the Clay County Sheriff's Office picks up gift cards from Erin Broderick, Senior Director of Finance, at The Community Foundation.
JACKSONVILLE, FL – December 17, 2024 – For the sixth time, local deputies will surprise local residents with $100 gift cards as part of a project called #904SecretSanta, which leverages private philanthropy to enhance police-resident relations through random acts of kindness at the holidays.
The gift cards are made possible by anonymous donors who made a $100,000 gift through The Community Foundation for this purpose, at no taxpayer expense. This year, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will distribute $50,000 in cards and St. Johns and Clay sheriff’s deputies will each distribute $25,000 in cards. Residents who benefit from these surprise gifts are encouraged to share their story and photos on social media using the hashtag #904SecretSanta.
“The donors behind #904SecretSanta chose to be anonymous because they truly want to keep the focus on the good work of local deputies and the residents who will have a little extra money in their pocket this holiday season,” said John Zell, Senior Vice President of Development at The Community Foundation, who worked with the donors to accept the charitable donation, purchase the gift cards through the funds, and distribute them to the sheriff’s offices. “We’re proud to help them carry out their vision.”
#904SecretSanta started in 2015, when donors approached The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida through their professional advisor, and a Donor Advised fund was established at The Community Foundation to carry out their wishes. After a hiatus during COVID, the project returns this year for the sixth time, with a total of $350,000 given away to local residents in three counties.
About The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida ([www.jaxcf.org]www.jaxcf.org), Florida’s oldest and one of its largest community foundations, works to stimulate philanthropy to build a better community. The Foundation helps donors invest their philanthropic gifts wisely, helps nonprofits serve the region effectively, and helps people come together to make the community a better place. Now in its 60th year, the Foundation manages more than $650 in assets and has made more than $750 million in grants since inception.
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Contact: Stephanie Garry Garfunkel
VP, Strategic Communications
904-356-4483 | sgarfunkel@jaxcf.org