PRESS RELEASE: JUNE 16, 2025

SJR State Foundation Partnerships Create Opportunities for Students

HCA Florida Orange Park

Clay Electric

The St. Johns River State College Foundation wrapped up a meaningful and productive spring semester, continuing to focus on what matters most—supporting students.

New $10,000 Match from HCA Florida Orange Park Boosts Nursing Scholarships

We’re excited to announce a new partnership with HCA Florida Orange Park, which provided a generous $10,000 match to the State of Florida Line Grant. This investment directly supports SJR State’s nursing students and strengthens our healthcare workforce pipeline. We are grateful to HCA Florida Orange Park for joining our mission and making an immediate impact!

Longtime partner HCA Florida Putnam Hospital also continued its support with $16,000 in matching funds for the Florida Blue nursing grant. These partnerships are vital to ensuring students pursuing healthcare careers have the resources they need to succeed.

As a result of the Foundation’s expanded outreach and marketing efforts, scholarship interest has surged. We received over 600 applications for 2024–2025—our highest number ever!

Random Acts of Kindness Fund Extends Its Reach

This spring, the Foundation also prioritized support for students facing emergency situations through the Random Acts of Kindness Fund and the Viking Exchange Food Pantry. Working closely with our dedicated student support ombuds, we awarded $3,831.20 to students in crisis.

Thanks to our generous community—including private donors, a grant from Clay Electric Cooperative Operation Round Up, and proceeds from the Palatka Campus Trivia Night—we raised $27,591 this semester to continue helping students in real-time.

Together, We Make a Difference

To all of our donors, partners, and volunteers: thank you for standing with us in our mission of opportunity, kindness, and student success. Your support is creating brighter futures—one student at a time.