Jax Federal Credit Union has signed on as the first major sponsor at Unity Plaza, pledging a 10-year, $100,000 sponsorship of the UP commUNITY Center at the Brooklyn development.
“Our mission is to encourage the financial success of our members and the community at large,” said Chief Marketing Officer Angie Coleman-Rao.
She said by sponsoring a wellness center, Jax Federal Credit Union can teach financial education, such as how to buy a home and, for teenagers, how to manage money.
“Because it is a wellness center, we see it as financial wellness,” she said.
Jax Federal Credit Union is based nearby at 562 Park St. It serves more than 35,000 members and is open for membership in the greater Jacksonville, area.
Unity Plaza and Jax Federal Credit Union announced the sponsorship this morning. The plaza is an urban park and amphitheater under development at the 220 Riverside residential and retail development in the Brooklyn area near Downtown.
The rentable community education room is operated by the nonprofit Unity Plaza inside the adjacent 220 Riverside Ave. building.
Coleman-Rao said the center is in alignment with its mission, “and it is in a really great place.”
Unity Plaza announced it will begin daily programming April 1 to offer classes supporting veterans, seniors, emerging leaders, parents and children.
The UP commUNITY Center will feature four artist-in-residence programs as well as more than 100 classes, workshops and events each month in arts and culture, mind and body wellness and community history and education.
The center can be rented by corporations and individuals.
“This is our neighborhood,” Coleman-Rao said. ”Seeing a big project like this coming into Brooklyn is exciting for us and we want to be a part of that and support the growth.”
Unity Plaza was formed by Hallmark Partners, which is developing 294-apartment and retail 220 Riverside project. The first units are expected to be available in March or April.
A Unity Plaza marketing brochure outlines almost 80 10-year naming opportunities from $3,000 to $575,000. Executive Director Jennifer Jones said in January another large donor for another opportunity is confirmed, but has not been announced.
Jones said this morning that Jax Federal’s investment shows its support of Unity Plaza as a symbol of civic pride and community unification through cultural arts performances and wellness class outreach.
“Investing in these areas is key to uplifting Jacksonville, internally and externally,” Jones said.
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