–Today, the Jr. Service League of Panama City was presented with a $25,000 grant from The St. Joe Community Foundation to benefit two projects: the Child Service Center and Happy Hanger, which provide new clothes for school children. Each year, the projects clothe more than 1,200 local school children.

“We are very grateful for the generosity of The St. Joe Community Foundation,” said Brandy Haiman, president, Jr. Service League. “With their support we will exceed our goal of helping children get the clothing they need to do well in school.”

The Jr. Service League of Panama City began the Child Service Center project in 1952.  During its bi-annual event, the organization busses school age children from Bay and Gulf counties to Sears and ensures that the children receive the proper clothing they need for the school year. 

In addition, the Jr. Service League sponsors Happy Hanger, which is a stocked closet of clothes for underprivileged school children in the Bay County. Guidance counselors at area schools contact the Jr. Service League when a child is in need of clothing or shoes during the school year. Traditionally intended for elementary and middle school students, Happy Hanger began also including high school students this year and has recently assisted victims of Hurricane Katrina.

“Every child deserves to feel comfortable at school,” said Jane McNabb, executive director of The St. Joe Community Foundation. “The St. Joe Community Foundation is pleased to sponsor the Jr. Service League and their efforts to improve the lives of area youth.”

Organized more than 50 years ago, the mission of the Jr. Service League of Panama City is to foster interest in the social, economic, educational, cultural, and civic conditions of its community.

About The St. Joe Community Foundation

The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) created The St. Joe Community Foundation (STJCF) in 1999 to invest in community initiatives that pay long-term returns on the quality of life in Bay, Franklin, Gulf, and Walton counties.

Since its inception, STJCF has granted more than $4.5 million to the region; grants to date for 2005 exceed $650,000. STJCF’s unique funding structure is based on payments from JOE that are a percentage of the proceeds from new sales in specific JOE communities.  Payments continue each time the properties are resold through deed covenants requiring a transfer fee to be paid to STJCF each time a property is subsequently sold.  In this way, JOE and property owners are partnering with the community for the betterment of the entire region.

Focused primarily on education, regional health care delivery, art and culture, parks and recreation and community spirit, STJCF investments are based on building civic infrastructure and providing ongoing improvements in the region through grants and initiatives that promote teaching and learning and create healthier communities.  To learn more about STJCF, log on to www.stjcf.com. 

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