Trailblazers Set the Tone, Pace of Fundraising
Major gifts announced at rally for Groundwork’s Emerald Trail
Groundwork Jacksonville held an event for donors to the Emerald Trail initiative on Nov. 7 at the Ritz Theatre and Museum in LaVilla. The group of early investors, nicknamed “Trailblazers,” are credited for recognizing the role of private philanthropy in such a project and understanding the benefits of having a world-class trail system in Jacksonville’s urban core.
During the event, Kyle Reese, chair of Baptist Health’s Social Responsibility and Community Health Committee, made a pivotal announcement about funding for the first 1.3-mile leg of the Emerald Trail, the LaVilla Link.
“We understand the most important things regarding community health happen outside the walls of our hospital. Our Social Responsibility and Community Health Committee looks at all the ways we can provide strategic investment in our community to lift the health of all of our community members,” he said. “Baptist Health will be giving a strategic investment over the next two years that will fully fund the LaVilla link of the Emerald Trail.”
Reese called the move “personal” for Baptist Health. The 14 neighborhoods connected to the Emerald Trail are home to over 1,000 Baptist Health team members.
“We all understand, standing in this place, the historic LaVilla neighborhood, the walkability that we all desire…this was a no-brainer for us. What we hope this strategic investment will do will spur other organizations, businesses in the community so that we can get this done. And that we can continue to make our community all that we want it to be,” he said.
“When Baptist Health learned about this project, we knew it had to be among our top priorities for strategic investment in the community’s health,” said Michael Mayo, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “The Emerald Trail is more than just a trail – it’s a true community asset. It supports social connection, physical activity, overall well-being and economic vitality.”
Mayor Donna Deegan, a fellow Trailblazer with her husband, Tim, spoke at the event, saying she has always been a “huge believer in moving.”
“It’s been part of my vision from the beginning to make sure we’re connecting our neighborhoods…connecting people to health,” she said. “This is going to bring so much to Jacksonville in terms of economic development, jobs, business, but it is something we should all be incredibly proud of. I can’t think of another project that ties together so many of the things that will make our city great beyond the Emerald trail.”
While Baptist Health’s gift will help get construction of the LaVilla Link underway, Groundwork Jacksonville CEO Kay Ehas has also been working on additional funding, recently traveling to Washington, D.C. to promote the Emerald Trail.
“You know, we got the local option gas tax, right? $132 million. The downside of that is that pays out over 30 years. Nobody’s waiting 30 years to get this project done,” she said. “We submitted a federal grant request for $147 million that will enable us to complete the last five trail segments within six or seven years, maybe sooner.”
Ehas has had success in the past securing state and national grants for Groundwork Jacksonville’s other initiatives, McCoys Creek and Hogans Creek, including nearly $6 million for Hogans Creek from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund, it’s largest to date.
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