Mayo Clinic gifts $5M to Sulzbacher Center to address critical community healthcare needs

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Sulzbacher, one of the area’s best known non-profit organizations, received a $5 million donation to help its mission in housing the homeless and providing healthcare, and food to those in need.

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The $5 million donation came from the Mayo Clinic as part of its goal to support organizations that share a vision for creating a better community.

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“We are excited about the opportunity to play a significant role in this investment that Sulzbacher is leading, said Mayo Clinic in Florida, CEO Doctor, Kent Thielen. “I feel that the impact of this community, especially the location of this new village is significant. I am about the long-term future of this capability.”

These are some designs of what the facility will look like for the multibuilding expansion in Northwest Jacksonville.

Five million dollars is a significant amount for a donation but there’s a reason for that. Dr. Kent Thielen said it’s an investment.

“One of the opportunities is to be the healthcare partner for them in this new facility. There will be a space that’s directed specifically towards delivering healthcare.”

Sulzbacher President and CEO, Cindy Funkhouser, reacted when she heard of the donation amount and the mission behind it.

“Absolutely dumbfounded. absolutely amazed, humbled, gratified, and gobsmacked -- I would say that. It’s going to be huge and not just for Sulzbacher but for the entire Jacksonville community.”

The building will provide resources for people and families with limited access to healthcare housing and even job training.

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Mayo will invest an additional $22 million in organizations in these communities that address access to healthcare, housing, food insecurity, and safe places for learning and enrichment for youth.

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