Weaver Family Foundation Fund Awards Barnabas Center of Nassau County $100,000 Challenge Grant

Barnabas Center Jasmine_Office_Center_rendering
Barnabas Center – Jasmine Office Rendering

Barnabas Center Press Release submitted by

Mary Ann Blackall, Community Relations Manager

 

Continuing with their philanthropic goal of addressing critical community issues, J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver announced today a pledge of a $100,000 challenge grant to Barnabas Center. The gift will be made through the Weaver Family Foundation fund managed by The Community Foundation in Jacksonville and will support Barnabas Center’s “Building More Room For Compassion” campaign.  The Weaver Challenge Grant funds will match, dollar for dollar, all donations made to the campaign in 2013 from $1 to $5,000 toward this $100,000 grant.

Wayne and Delores Weaver share a common value with Barnabas Center’s board and staff members that every gift makes a difference, regardless of the amount of the gift. “Wayne and I are honored to support the great work of Barnabas Center and invite everyone to join us.  Our challenge grant will allow each of us to leverage our dollars no matter the size of the gift”, said Delores Barr Weaver.  “I was never told that whatever I could give would help make a difference, so that is the real message I wish to send.”

Barnabas - 2Recently, the Barnabas Center Board of Directors announced their acquisition and renovation plans for a building that will allow for consolidation of its multiple service programs in one location; and expansion to meet the growing needs of the community.  This newly acquired building, located in Fernandina Beach, will allow the nonprofit agency to expand its crisis assistance program and food pantry, as well as its health care programs that will serve as a “medical home” for residents in need of primary medical, dental and behavioral health care services.  Renovation of the building is expected to be completed by late summer of 2013.

At a recent public announcement of the building campaign, Wanda Lanier, Executive Director of Barnabas Center, stated “I am delighted to share the good news that the first phase of our building campaign has brought the agency to the half way mark toward our goal of raising        $1 million dollars; yet, we have a long way to go.”  In addition to the $1 million goal for the building, the agency has a goal of raising $250,000 toward a capital reserve fund to help with future building maintenance and repair costs.

Since 1986, Barnabas Center has been the safety net provider connecting Nassau County’s most vulnerable citizens with the help and hope they need to overcome crisis – whether that crisis is hunger, potential homelessness, or the need for medical and dental care. Over the past few years, the agency has experienced an extraordinary increase in demand for its services, serving over 5,000 individuals last year alone; more than a third of them were children.  Program expenditures have tripled over the last five years, from $1 million to $3 million just last year.

Barnabas Center has achieved a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for its sound fiscal management and efficient use of resources six years in a row; less than three percent of nonprofits nationwide can claim this accomplishment.  The last fiscal year, 95% of total agency expenses supported people in need.    The agency relies on donations from individuals, churches, businesses and private foundations, with minimal support from government sources.

Donations may be made to:  Barnabas Center, 11 S. 11th Street, Fernandina Beach, FL  32034.  Please note in the check memo line “Building Campaign”, or visit www.barnabascenterinc.org.

For further information, contact Wanda Lanier, Executive Director, at 904-261-7000 x 101 or [email protected]

February 18, 2013 4:55 p.m.