JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The goal of the City of Jacksonville's Safety & Crime Reduction Commission is to help fund community activities for children to give them options before potentially going down a path that would lead to a life of crime.
Friday the Commission announced $300,000 in available grant money for community organizations. The $9,000 grants are specifically geared towards small nonprofit organizations in Duval County with operating budgets of less than $100,000, but for organizations like that, this money could make all the difference in the world.
"We're not going to solve crime with $300,000, but I think there's a lot to be learned from these organizations in our community," said Ronnie King, chair of the Safety and Crime Reduction Commission.
Currently the application window is open for organizations to receive $9,000 grants to help fund their programs this summer. The applications can be found on the city's website and a link to the application can be found here.
Sitting in the front row of the audience to watch the announcement was Joyce Delifus, the founder of the Shawn D. Delifus Foundation, which is a non-profit that teaches kids in Jacksonville how to swim. Delifus said this $9,000 grant would be invaluable to her organization.
"It would help us to teach probably about 140 children how to swim and get teenagers off the streets," said Delifus.
Aside from teaching kids to swim, the foundation also trains teenagers how to become lifeguards so they can earn a paycheck and in the process, stay off the streets, which is something Delifus learned was key during her 37 years as a social worker in Jacksonville.
"I know in going into 27 to 28 housing complexes you have to have the children engaged in something," said Delifus, "and if it's something they enjoy it's a wonderful experience, it's an exciting opportunity and they're having fun on top of it."
Her mission of teaching kids to swim came from her son Shawn who was a swim instructor but passed away in 2016. She carries his picture with her wherever she goes.
"Once a mother, always a mother, these kids remind me of him because he loved the water," said Delifus.
And she hopes that by receiving one of these grants she can pass along that love to more children in Jacksonville and maybe make the city a better and safer place to live.
"It's been the joy of my life, I experience Christmas every single day when a parent calls me or when they apply," said Delifus.
If you're interested in signing your child up for swim lessons this summer through the Shawn D. Delifus Foundation, click here.