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Writer's pictureDanae Leake

LSS awarded $300,000 from Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund to support refugee housing initiatives in Jacksonville


From Left to Right: LSS Refugee Services Director, Laura Cook; Preferred Communities Manager, Lily Attallah; refugee services client.

Jacksonville, Florida - Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida (LSS) is pleased to announce a $300,000 grant spanning the next three years from the esteemed Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund at the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. The generous donation will be used to support housing initiatives within the agency’s refugee resettlement program.


The Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund was created in 2012 by Delores Barr Weaver, who co-owned the Jacksonville Jaguars (1993-2011) with her husband, Wayne Weaver. Mrs. Weaver has an exceptional history of altruism and philanthropy, in which her giving exceeds $200 million – most of it staying in Northeast Florida. 


Bill Brim, President & CEO of LSS expressed, “We are immensely grateful for this funding partnership from the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund. This gift will move LSS forward in welcoming refugee families seeking a brighter tomorrow in our city.”  



The funding will support the housing initiatives to resettle refugee families arriving in Northeast Florida, with first priority given to Afghan refugees. In 2023, 2,542 refugees received comprehensive support through LSS. The agency served nearly 45,000 individuals in 2023. 

LSS had rented two transitional houses that were fully furnished to temporarly place Afghans traveling with short notice to the area while LSS secured permanent housing.

The generous donation is the latest monetary gift from the Weaver family to LSS. In December 2021, LSS and Catholic Charities Jacksonville each received $500,000 of the $1 million Afghan Refugee Support Fund, donated by Weaver Family Five.


LSS received the donation as resettlement agencies nationwide worked to resettle the initial wave wave of Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban that took over the capital city of Kabul on August 15, 2021 following the initial withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.


At the time, LSS resettled 376 Afghans during the initial surge in 2021. Housing at the time was a large challenge due to the high frequency of arrivals and the state of the housing market. Housing continues to be a challenge, and the funding from the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund will help housing efforts.


Visit the LSS Refugee Services webpage to learn more about our resettlement initiatives.


VOLUNTEER AT LSS: We are always looking for volunteers to help with tasks such as setting up apartments for families, furnishing household items, and more! Discover the different ways to help by visiting our Get Involved webpage.


About the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund:  

The Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida was created by Delores Barr Weaver in 2015 as the natural evolution of the Delores Barr Weaver Fund, which has awarded more than $86 million in grants since she created it in 2012. She also provides separate, annual support to 20 local, non-profit organizations for their annual fundraising events through the Delores Barr Weaver Forever Event Fund. Like the Delores Barr Weaver Fund, the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund’s purpose is to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that do work she has supported over many years and to encourage others to do so as well. Mrs. Weaver has an extraordinary legacy of philanthropy, and she has provided transformative support to dozens of nonprofit organizations that uplift, enlighten, and advance our community. 


About Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida:

Established in 1979, Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida is a nonprofit organization supporting five program areas within the Northeast Florida community. Through hunger relief, HIV services, representative payee services, refugee resettlement and career/financial coaching, LSS has assisted hundreds of thousands of people. Located at 4615 Philips Highway, Jacksonville, FL 32207. Learn more at www.lssjax.org.



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