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904SecretSanta spreads holiday cheer with $100 gift cards

For Clay Today
Posted 12/19/24

CLAY COUNTY – For the sixth time, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office participated in the Community Foundation’s #904SecretSanta to distribute $100 gift cards to leverage private philanthropy to …

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904SecretSanta spreads holiday cheer with $100 gift cards


Posted

CLAY COUNTY – For the sixth time, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office participated in the Community Foundation’s #904SecretSanta to distribute $100 gift cards to leverage private philanthropy to enhance police-resident relations through random acts of kindness.

CCSO joined the St. Johns and Jacksonville Sheriff’s offices to give away $100,000 in cards this year. The cards were donated by anonymous donors through the Community Foundation, with $50,000 going to Jacksonville residents and $50,000 each to Clay and St. Johns counties.

“The donors behind #904SecretSanta chose to be anonymous because they truly want to keep the focus on the good work of local deputies and the residents who will have a little extra money in their pocket this holiday season,” said John Zell, Senior Vice President of Development at The Community Foundation, who worked with the donors to accept the charitable donation, purchase the gift cards through the funds, and distribute them to the sheriff’s offices. “We’re proud to help them carry out their vision.”

The #904SecretSanta program started in 2015 when donors approached The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida through their professional advisors. A donor-advised fund was established at The Community Foundation to carry out their wishes. After a hiatus during COVID, the project returns this year for the sixth time, with $350,000 given to residents in three counties.

Sheriff Michelle Cook made several stops on Tuesdays, handing out cards to convenience store clerks and workers at Waffle House.

“Our deputies are hitting the streets with $25,000 gift cards from private donors who’ve stepped forward to ensure our community has a great Christmas,” she said. “This is our way, on behalf of the donors and behalf of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, to all of you and #904SecretSanta to say Merry Christmas.”