Impactful Public- Philanthropic Partnerships Recognized in Jacksonville

From left, MaliVai Washington, Founder, MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation; Kevin Gay, CEO/Founder, Operation New Hope; Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry; Cindy Funkhouser, President and CEO, Sulzbacher Center; Alesia Scott-Ford, HUD Jacksonville Field Office Director; Dawn Lockhart, City of Jacksonville Director of Strategic Partnerships.

Three Jacksonville partnerships that have made significant impact to improve the quality of life in the community were recognized with the 2021 City of Jacksonville/HUD Jacksonville Office Public-Philanthropic Initiative Award.

Created to locally replicate the HUD Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships (www.huduser.gov/portal/about/Pub_Phil_Intro.html), it recognized Operation New Hope for its work with ex-offenders; The Malivai Washington Youth Foundation for their work with youth and the variety of services they provide; and The Sulzbacher Center for their extensive ongoing work with the homeless population, and during the COVID pandemic.

The Secretary's Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships recognizes excellence in partnerships that have both transformed the relationship between the sectors and led to measurable benefits in terms of increased economic employment, health, safety, education, disaster resilience, inclusivity and cultural opportunities, and/or housing access for low- and moderate-income families.

The Jacksonville recognition (www.coj.net/mayor/mayor-s-blog/june-2021/recognizing-great-partners-in-improving-lives-in-j) looked at the relationship between the public/philanthropic sectors that lead to measurable benefits for low-and moderate-income individuals and families in Jacksonville. The criteria for this award included: 1) strength of the cross-sector partnership, 2) locally driven outcome, 3) lasting impact, 4) evidence-based innovation, and 5) transferability. "There is power in partnership," said Alesia Scott Ford, HUD Jacksonville Field Office Director. "Collaboration is the key to many success stories we witness today."

###