Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Foundation Giving Tops $3.5 Million

June 28, 2017 by Amelia Island Concours

Every year during the second week of March, more than 20,000 individuals descend upon a small Northeast Florida barrier island to participate in a celebration twice named 'Motoring Event of the Year' by Octane Magazine. The energy is palpable. Vintage cars parade along the busy Fernandina Beach streets, hotels reach capacity, and the Island's restaurants serve countless meals. Then, almost as soon as it begins, Concours winners are declared and The Amelia is over.

But in many ways, even after the last historic vehicle begins the journey home, The Amelia is only beginning.

Since 1996, The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Foundation has donated a strong percentage of the event's proceeds to The Foundation's principal charity, Community Hospice & Palliative Care (formerly Community Hospice of Northeast Florida). Over the years, the foundations contributions to Community Hospice of $2.5million have made the non-profit Community Hospice's largest individual contributor.

In 2014, The Amelia's founder was formally recognized with the establishment of The Jane and Bill Warner Center for Caring located at 1348 S. 18th St. in Fernandina Beach. The center was created to provide a neighborhood location for individuals who require hospice care. The island location helps alleviate the travel burden faced by family members and friends.

The staff of The Amelia, along with a strong representation of board members and volunteers, gathered at Community Hospice & Palliative Care's headquarters on July 14, 2017 to present the organization with a check for $100,000. The gift will help to serve the mission of Community Hospice to improve the quality of life for patients and families, and to be the Compassionate Guide for end-of-life care in our community.

'Every year we gather to celebrate the work of Community Hospice and to present a check on behalf of The Amelia Foundation,' said Warner. 'After a few minutes with the staff and management I am reminded that the real gift is the work hospice does to serve those facing their darkest hour.'

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Foundation also supports Spina Bifida of Jacksonville, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society of Jacksonville, the Nassau County Sheriff's Office and Fernandina Beach Police Department's annual Shop With Cops Christmas programs, are also on the roster of the Amelia Concours' roster of recipients.

'Knowing that The Foundation is serving the community of Amelia Island throughout the year makes all of the work that our small staff and The Amelia's seven-hundred volunteers invest into the second weekend in March worthwhile,' said Warner. 'We may frame The Amelia around the cars, but it is people that take center stage.