PRESS RELEASE: DECEMBER 5, 2024

An SJR State holiday tradition continues through Project PRAISE

SJR State President Joe Pickens, Chief Operating Officer Melanie Brown and Executive Assistant Susan Sutliff stand among gifts to be delivered to children this Christmas as part of an annual charity program of Project PRAISE.

St. Johns River State College employees were able to help make Christmas a little brighter for 50 children with donations of toys, clothing and other goodies to the Project PRAISE organization. According to SJR State employee and Project PRAISE site coordinator Kara McKinley, the College is one of the largest contributors in Putnam County to donate to the federal program managed by Putnam County School District. The gifts will be delivered just in time for Christmas to children selected by the organization who are experiencing economic hardship.

McKinley said the Christmas project, one of the many projects sponsored annually by Project PRAISE, has become a College tradition. “Among the College’s many service projects, this has become an employee favorite,” McKinley said. “This project would not be the success it has become without the generosity of the faculty, administration and staff.”

McKinley added that this is the 21st year the College has participated in the event.

For more information, contact Project PRAISE at (386) 329-0543.