Automotive business pioneer Jim Moran’s legacy of kindness, compassion and generosity grows even stronger with a new $2 million grant to the Community Foundation of Broward.
This month, Jan Moran – Jim’s wife and a Community Foundation Fundholder and former Board Member – shared the exciting news that The Jim Moran Foundation has awarded a $2 million grant to the Jim Moran Children’s Fund at the Community Foundation.
Such critical support will fuel more educational and career opportunities for Broward young people who need a hand up. This partnership with the Community Foundation is part of more than $20 million in proactive grant commitments beyond its traditional funding during The Jim Moran Foundation’s 20th anniversary for nonprofits in Broward, Duval and Palm Beach counties.
“With this grant, we are reaching back to honor Jim’s intent and reaching forward to prepare and empower our next generation of leaders,” said Jan Moran, who serves as The Jim Moran Foundation Board Chair and President.
Throughout his life, Jim Moran carried a steadfast determination to work hard and give back. At just seven years old, he started selling soda pop from his red wagon at a baseball field to help his family make ends meet. And during his six decades of pioneering work in the automotive business, Jim’s success as a car dealer and champion of customer courtesy included establishing JM Family Enterprises, Inc. as an industry leader.
A dedicated philanthropist, Jim created The Jim Moran Foundation in 2000 to ensure his giving would endure for future generations. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of innovative programs and opportunities that meet the ever-changing needs of the community.
In addition, Jim in 1993 partnered with the Community Foundation of Broward to create the endowed Jim Moran Children’s Fund – providing permanent support for programs that empower at-risk youth to succeed at school and build career skills.
Since his passing in 2007, support from The Jim Moran Foundation as well as Jim’s endowed Fund at the Community Foundation have fueled solutions that make life better for children and families in Broward and across Florida.
Jan Moran said this special $2 million gift to the Jim Moran Children’s Fund at the Community Foundation is meant to continue her husband’s mission to open doors of opportunity to more of Broward’s young people. Jan said her husband believed that making a meaningful difference in the community requires providing opportunity for others. Through the years, the Jim Moran Children’s Fund has already provided more than $700,000 in support for:
- Job coaching for high school-aged foster children
- “Soft skills” training to help teens – struggling with mental health or behavioral problems – land part-time jobs
- Meals for children in need
- Hands-on learning experiences for students about career opportunities through the arts
- A groundbreaking pilot program to improve attendance, course performance and behavior for middle school students falling behind in the classroom
- And much, much more
The Jim Moran Foundation’s new $2 million grant to the Community Foundation ensures that Jim’s BOLD legacy of support will reach even more of the children who need it most – today and for generations to come.
“I would like to thank Jan Moran and The Jim Moran Foundation for this generous grant,” said Community Foundation President/CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, Ph.D. “We are proud to partner with them to further the work of the Jim Moran Children’s Fund, which for nearly three decades has helped empower Broward’s youth to overcome obstacles and achieve success.”
To learn how you can make BOLD impact with an endowed charitable Fund at the Community Foundation of Broward, contact Vice President of Philanthropic Services Nancy Thies at nthies@cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503.
