By Jill Alexander
Jacksonville and the surrounding communities have a time-honored tradition of helping kids. This vision can be seen in many different realms.
It can look like new Chromebooks for a science class. It could look like new dugouts for community baseball fields. It might just be new drums for a youth drumline. All of these projects have the same vision, the same goal: helping kids.
Since its inception in 1967, the Jacksonville Children’s Foundation (JCF) has given over $2 million to help support visions in Jacksonville, and the surrounding areas. The foundation averages 11 grants per year with amounts ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, all in an effort to support the visions of community members who work tirelessly to see and create the opportunities to foster the potential of the local youth.
This vision was created by the Minnie Barr family, who generously donated farmland that generates income for this foundation. Each year, the foundation meets to listen to grant proposals and then works to disperse the funds. The funds are then gifted to the organizations at the annual meeting in January.
The Jacksonville Children’s Foundation is grateful for all those who cast the vision for area children.
