Nassau County Council on Aging receives largest donation in 50-year history
A philanthropist who lives on Amelia Island has gifted $4.9 million to the Nassau County Council on Aging, the 50-year-old nonprofit's largest donation ever.
Julie Wood made the donation through the Indiana-based Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation, named after her and her late husband, an Indianapolis auto executive who died in 2010.
The "transformational" gift will help seniors "age in place," expand nutrition programs and pay off the mortgage at the Janice Ancrum Senior Life Center in Fernandina Beach, according to the council. The center, which tripled capacity, is in a renovated, 25,000-square-foot building at 1901 Island Walkway off Florida 200.
The Wood funds will also support future needs by creating the council's first endowment, which will be spread over four years and require matching dollars.
"Our mission to ensure seniors live happy, healthy lives is now strengthened by this incredibly generous gift from Julie Wood and her family foundation," President and CEO Janice Ancrum said. "We are extremely grateful to Mrs. Wood and her family for helping our seniors receive critical services for aging in place."
She said the money is for specific initiatives and that the staff will continue to count on the community for ongoing fundraising efforts to provide core programs.
Tom and Julie Wood were married for 51 years. Before his death from lung cancer, they decided to start a family foundation to contribute to the community. Julie Wood, son Jeff and daughter-in-law April are in charge of the legacy.
The foundation's philanthropic relationship with the Council on Aging began in 2011 when Julie Wood was one of the first donors to pledge $100,000 to the capital campaign the nonprofit had underway at the time, according to Ancrum. The $4.9 million gift is the first of its size to a Nassau County nonprofit from a private donor or family foundation, she said.
"My heart goes out to our seniors and we’re so grateful to have Nassau County Council on Aging," Wood said. "Under Janice’s leadership, our community has come together to support this mission and help promote independence, dignity, health and safety for older adults, their caregivers and families. I’m blessed to be able to honor my husband in this way and give back at the same time."
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Council board chairwoman Karen Hackett said the gift will help the nonprofit meet the needs of Nassau County’s rapidly rising senior population.
"Julie Wood and her family’s benevolence for our community’s seniors is awe-inspiring," Hackett said. "The lasting impact on our community is immeasurable."
The Wood Foundation has made multiple philanthropic gifts in their home state of Indiana. Earlier this year the foundation donated $20 million to establish the Tom and Julie Wood Center for Lung Cancer Research at Indiana University's Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, according to a university report. In 2023 the foundation also gave $4.5 million toward an Indiana University Health mobile lung cancer screening program.
Founded in 1974 by local citizens, the Nassau council helps people age 60 and older live independently at home and provides age-appropriate socialization. In 2023 the council served about 6,897 seniors, including providing 47,913 meals and 1,800 activities at senior centers, according to its annual report. At least 25,000 seniors reside Nassau County, according to Ancrum.
bcravey@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4109
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Amelia Island woman donates $4.9 million to Nassau Council on Aging
