Our Impact

Putnam County

Now Accepting Applications!

Grants to support nonprofit organizations serving Putnam County.

A Lasting Legacy in Putnam County

A longtime Palatka businessman and philanthropist, Frank V. Oliver, Jr., quietly established a number of charitable giving vehicles when he died in 2010, including designated endowments for several beloved organizations in and near his hometown. But his vision also created a more flexible field of interest fund for Putnam County, so that other deserving programs that might need assistance in the future would benefit. In the decade since his death, we have helped shepherd more than one million dollars to benefit the citizens of Putnam County.

Frank V. Oliver, Jr.

With the help of Frank’s widow, Joyce Oliver, and a committed group of advisors, The Community Foundation has been able to help dozens of local organizations through annual grantmaking.

The Vision

Mr. Oliver’s vision was to improve the quality of life in Putnam County with emphasis on programs for the needy, young people and disabled persons. Here are just a few of the beneficiaries:

Education

Students from elementary through college have benefitted from the Frank V. Oliver, Jr. Fund. The Putnam County School District has just received a major grant to help stand up the Building Construction Technology Academy in the Putnam County Schools. We’ve funded scholarships for St. Johns Technical Institute. And Putnam County middle school students got to participate in Camp Osprey—a program designed to teach leadership skills and put kids on a path to higher education.

Food and Hunger

Food insecurity is a major issue in Putnam County, one of the poorest counties in the state. Working with multiple nonprofit organizations such as Epic-Cure, Feeding Northeast Florida, Hunger Fight and others, we have worked to help close the gap between food providers and residents.

Veterans

We supported the Putnam Habitat for Humanity in its mission to build veteran’s housing for honorably discharged veterans. We helped provide significant funding, starting with creation of the original plans through construction. In 2020, the first veterans moved into The Veteran’s Village in Palatka, located on—appropriately enough!—F.V. Oliver Way and Veteran’s Way.

Additional Funds Established by Mr. Oliver

Mr. Oliver also established separate funds at The Community Foundation to benefit specific agencies in perpetuity:

Putnam County Bread of Life
Putnam County Elfs for Kids
Putnam County Gator Club
Putnam County Humane Society
Rodeheaver Boys Ranch
St. Johns River State College

“It’s remarkable that we have surpassed the $1 million in grants milestone in just seven years of grantmaking. Frank would be delighted to see what a difference his generosity is making in Putnam County.”

– Joyce Oliver, the donor’s widow, in 2019

To learn more about our recent grants in Putnam County, click here.

Here to Help

For more information, contact:

John Zell, CAP^®

Senior Vice President, Development

jzell@jaxcf.org 904.356.4483