WATERSOUND, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The day following Hurricane Michael, The St. Joe Community Foundation (“Foundation”) announced a $1 million pledge towards relief efforts for the region of Northwest Florida affected by the storm. Since that time, as the residents and businesses of this great region are recovering and relief efforts are underway, the Foundation has been working diligently with local partners and government officials to identify the greatest and most immediate needs within the communities affected.
To date, of the $1 million pledged toward relief and recovery efforts, the Foundation has distributed $270,000 to local organizations, working directly with those in the community who are in need. The Foundation awarded $100,000 to the Bay County Sheriff’s non-profit organization, Bay Law Enforcement Assistance Fund, to assist with relief for more than 60 deputies who lost their homes to the storm. The Foundation also awarded $100,000 to assist the Methodist Learning Center in Port St. Joe, which provides childcare and education for many children in Gulf County, in becoming operational after sustaining major structural damage.
The Foundation also provided $20,000 to Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center to assist with many needs in several of its locations damaged by the storm. A donation of $50,000 has also been made to the Sacred Heart Foundation, to assist with transitional housing for the staff of Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf, located in Port St. Joe.
“Our Foundation has been focused on working directly with our neighbors, including first responders and local officials, in some of the hardest hit areas, to identify the strongest needs within the community,” said Jorge Gonzalez, The St. Joe Company President and Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of The St. Joe Community Foundation. Mr. Gonzalez added, “We are honored to be able to step up and support the community in its time of need and look forward to continuing to do so as this incredible region rebounds from the storm.”
For more information regarding The St. Joe Company and The St. Joe Community Foundation, visit www.joe.com.
About The St. Joe Community Foundation
Since its inception, the St. Joe Community Foundation (“Foundation”) has provided more than $20 million in grants to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves. The Foundation provides charitable grants toward the civic infrastructure of communities in Northwest Florida with a focus, but not a limitation, on Bay and Walton Counties. The Foundation’s primary focus is on strengthening education, improving healthcare, protecting the environment and supporting local cultural interests. These efforts help build healthy, caring, long-lived communities.
About St. Joe
St. Joe is a Northwest Florida based real estate development, asset management and operating company established in 1936. The Company focuses on thoughtfully planned destinations and thriving communities to Live, Work, Play, Shop, and Vacation near the region's beautiful white sand beaches such as WaterColor, WaterSound Beach, WaterSound Origins, WaterColor Inn, WaterSound Beach Club, VentureCrossings, Breakfast Point, Pier Park North, WindMark Beach, Camp Creek Golf Club, Bay Point Marina, among other distinct brand names. More information about St. Joe and our growing destinations and communities can be found at www.joe.com. Check out beach conditions at Joe’s WaterSound Beach webcam: http://clubsbyjoe.com/beachcam.
©The St Joe Company 2018. “St. Joe®”, “JOE®”, the “Taking Flight” Design®, “St. Joe (and Taking Flight Design) ®” and “The St. Joe Community Foundation” are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company or its affiliates.
