Impacting our community

Much more than donating money, we're lending a hand in a variety of ways.

At EverBank^®, giving back to our community isn't an obligation; it's another opportunity to do what we do best: identify pressing needs and provide innovative solutions. By focusing our charitable efforts on the most critical concerns of our community, we're making a real difference where it matters most.

• Building a long-standing history—HabiJax

  • In the last five years, it's estimated that the median home price in Jacksonville has risen over 70 percent. Though it reflects well on the city's growing appeal and economic resurgence, it's feared that rapidly rising home prices will make owning a home an impossible dream for those of modest means.

    Fortunately, HabiJax (Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, Inc.) is working to make homeownership a reality for well-deserving families whose incomes are well below the median area income. By partnering with local citizens and businesses, like EverBank, HabiJax has been providing affordable housing opportunities throughout Duval County since 1989, when the first HabiJax home was completed.

    As a leading HabiJax supporter, we're extremely proud of the relationship we've built with the organization over the course of a decade. Our generous cash donations of $1.2 million have funded the construction of more than two dozen homes throughout Jacksonville, built by EverBank employees who've donated thousands of hours to their fellow citizens.

    Offering an opportunity to learn new construction skills, build lasting friendships, and help others realize the dream of homeownership, participation in HabiJax has consistently been strong among EverBank employees. From serving up food at HabiJax volunteer luncheons to serving on the HabiJax Board of Directors and Board Committees, even executives at the highest levels at EverBank have made HabiJax a priority.

    Along with outright cash donations, EverBank is providing a $7 million working capital line of credit needed to fund the construction of homes. Once homes are completed, EverHome^® Mortgage Company takes on the loan servicing functions at reduced fees, allowing HabiJax to free up valuable employee time and resources for continued construction. EverBank has also purchased mortgages for HabiJax at critical times to provide much-needed capital.

    By offering both physical support and financial strength, EverBank is proud to have such a hands-on role in the ongoing success of HabiJax.

• Restoring homes and hope—Operation New Hope

  • More than restoring homes, Operation New Hope (ONH) is rebuilding lives in Jacksonville, Florida's most potentially vital, though historically troubled neighborhood-historic Springfield. An area in the midst of one of the country's most notable urban renewal projects, Springfield, which is listed on the National Register for Historic Places, is making steady progress, thanks in large part to ONH.

    Cautious of gentrification trends, ONH is committed to making Springfield a truly diverse, truly unique community, which families of a broad range of income levels can feel proud to call home.

    Through strategic partnerships with other faith-based organizations, nonprofit groups, government agencies, and private companies, ONH offers employment opportunities, spiritual support, financial literacy training, homebuyer education, subsidy assistance for down payment and closing costs, and reduced mortgage rates to highly motivated members of the community.

    A young organization with ambitious goals and a pioneering spirit, Operation New Hope has made tremendous progress since its inception in 1999. As one of its first corporate partners, EverBank is proud of its association with this community mover and shaker. Already, ONH has grown to be one of the premier developers in Springfield, building close to 50 homes and bringing $8.5 million of developing equity to a community on the mend.

    Taking a comprehensive approach to the affordable housing concept, ONH is restoring and rebuilding homes and helping residents elevate their credit standing so that they're in a better position to manage the financial responsibilities of homeownership. This is one of the many areas where EverBank is lending a hand.

    Offering free prescreening to potential homebuyers, EverBank regularly sponsors first-time homebuyer education seminars. And to those ONH applicants who qualify, EverBank extends home financing at substantially reduced rates.

    In addition, EverBank has provided ONH with one of its largest, single financial donations to date and has established a line of credit so that ONH has the working capital needed to continue making steady progress.

• Building better neighborhoods—Housing Partnership of Northeast Florida

  • One of the most productive community development organizations in Jacksonville, FL, the Housing Partnership of Northeast Florida offers a full spectrum of services that promote safe, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families and bring a better quality of life to communities in need. Each year, the Housing Partnership assists several hundred well-deserving families with home repair and rehabilitation services, homeownership education, credit counseling, down payment and closing assistance, and flexible financing to make homeownership an affordable reality.

    One of the Housing Partnership's newest laudable initiatives is a "mortgage recovery loan program’ that assists low-to-moderate income families who've fallen victim to predatory lending. By working with participating financial partners, like EverBank, the Housing Partnership has been able to refinance these homeowners’ first mortgages on much more reasonable terms. Through generous lines of credit, EverBank is enabling the Housing Partnership to extend new mortgages to homeowners in the program. Then, so that the organization can help even more predatory lending victims, EverBank purchases the refinanced loans from the Housing Partnership and refers the loans on to Fannie Mae for long-term servicing.

    Since joining forces with the Housing Partnership in 1999, EverBank has been actively involved in other Housing Partnership projects, including the organization's popular community service program, "Paint the Town Rehab Week." A favorite volunteer event amongst EverBank employees, Paint the Town is an intensive, weeklong, highly coordinated home rehabilitation effort between the Housing Partnership, neighborhood associations, local businesses, and community volunteers that takes place in targeted neighborhoods throughout Northeast Florida. Since 1994, when Paint the Town was conceived, hundreds and hundreds of homes have received a much-appreciated facelift and long-overdue repairs, including new roofs, window replacements, carpeting, landscaping, wheelchair ramps, updated electrical and plumbing, and, of course, fresh coats of paint.

• Making a difference—daniel

  • Recognized as Florida's oldest not-for-profit child-service agency, daniel offers a multitude of innovative and nationally recognized programs to assist thousands of at-risk youth in need and their families.

    One of daniel's most admirable efforts is its Full Service Schools (FSS) program in five area schools—where the goal is to raise the overall performance of all students by promoting positive youth development strategies and an improved learning environment. And for youth no longer in school, daniel is making the grade through its JaxBuild program, which provides vocational training and GED preparation for careers in construction and high school diplomas.

    To help daniel improve the odds for kids, EverBank offers support in a variety of ways. Our association with daniel began in 1999, when daniel refinanced the mortgage on its headquarters facility with EverBank. Since then, EverBank has become daniel's primary bank. Allowing daniel to benefit from low-fee, interest-bearing checking accounts specifically for not-for-profit clients is just a part of the story.

    Through the years, EverBank has sponsored a number of daniel events, including their annual Volunteer Appreciation Lunch and Annual Charity Golf Tournament. EverBank employees and customers have continually "outdone themselves" through generous contributions to the School Supply Drive held at EverBank locations throughout Jacksonville. And in an effort to make the holidays a little brighter, volunteers at EverBank have raised money for, assembled, and delivered gift baskets to the children of daniel.

    The EverBank-daniel partnership is another example of volunteer support that extends straight to the top. EverBank executives participate on daniel steering committees and volunteer for a variety of activities.

    In line with daniel's efforts to make a difference through education and help young adults live self-sufficiently, EverBank offers "Money Smart" seminars to daniel participants, where those receiving vocational training or their GED, can also learn about the basics of budgeting, building credit, and even working toward homeownership.

• Fostering growth and success—Grove House

  • Under normal circumstances, finding affordable housing is a major concern to most people. Imagine the added challenges faced by those with disabilities. For the disabled of Jacksonville, FL, fortunately, there's Grove House.

    Grove House began as a dream in 1986. A small group of individuals joined together to plan a residential group home for young adults with developmental disabilities. The goal was to provide well-deserving individuals with a safe and secure home and help them function in their community as independently as possible.

    Grove House has grown into two successful agencies offering highly successful, cost-effective programs. Grove House Supportive Services (GHSS) is one of the largest providers of supported living services for adults with developmental disabilities in Jacksonville and the major provider of supported living services for adults with acquired disabilities. Grove House of Jacksonville is the city's sole provider of quality, affordable rental housing for adults with disabilities.

    As the organization's primary bank, EverBank is financing nearly half of the client residences owned by Grove House. By providing financing at below market rates, EverBank lowered the debt on properties, enabling Grove House to rent the homes at affordable rates. And with the fall of interest rates, EverBank allowed Grove House to benefit by modifying their loan agreements and lowering their interest rates at no additional cost. Grove House is also reaping the financial benefits of EverBank's low-fee, interest-bearing deposit accounts, specifically offered to not-for-profit organizations.

    An enthusiastic supporter of many Grove House events, EverBank continues to donate thousands of dollars to support Grove House's annual Golf Tournament and has given generously to their Fundraising Auction.

    EverBank's contributions have been as big as helping Grove House establish an endowment fund to as small as sponsoring an orange tree for their annual Orange Sale event. And with executive-level participation on the Grove House board of directors, EverBank is proving just how committed it is to the organization's long-term growth and success.