JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Nathaniel "Nat" Glover, former Jacksonville sheriff and president of Edward Waters College, will receive the top honor at the 2021 OneJax Humanitarian Awards.
At an April 15 virtual ceremony, Glover will receive the Gold Medallion for Lifetime Achievement from OneJax, a nonprofit interfaith organization that promotes racial, religious and cultural tolerance in Northeast Florida.
Glover was sheriff from 1993 to 2003 — the first African American elected in Florida since the Reconstruction era — and president of historically black EWC from 2010 to 2018. In addition to his professional career, he continues to be involved in community service activities.
The Humanitarian Awards "honor those who have demonstrated the highest level of personal and professional integrity, have given generously and extensively to the community and have been dedicated to the improvement of human relations among diverse groups in the community," according to OneJax.
Receiving Silver Medallion Awards will be:
• Martin Goetz, CEO of River Garden Senior Services, which provides elder care in residential, outpatient and community-based settings. Goetz has been there since 1978, becoming CEO in the mid-1980s. RiverGarden is a nine-time recipient of the prestigious Governor’s Gold Seal Award that recognizes long-term excellence in nursing home facilities.
• Community volunteers Robert Hill, former CEO and vice-chairman of Acosta Sales & Marketing, and his wife Margaret Hill. Both have been volunteers, board members and donors for a wide variety of nonprofits and health care centers.
"We are honoring a group of deserving people who have made a positive impact on our community and are passionate about making Jacksonville the best place it can possibly be," said Kyle Reese, former pastor of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church who was named OneJax executive director in 2020, succeeding Nancy Broner. "These honorees represent a cross-section of people doing meaningful work to make an important difference in the lives of so many in Northeast Florida. Their impact is immeasurable.”
Founded in 1970, OneJax has been an institute at the University of North Florida since 2012. It offers civil discourse programs, community suppers and conversations and interfaith dialogues, among other things.
"OneJax has been doing important work for many years in our community — but perhaps never as important as during this past challenging year," said board chairman Michael Korn.
"This year’s honorees reflect our efforts to emphasize civility in conversations, even when difficult subjects are discussed, and embody the characteristics of understanding and respect for all through education, dialogue and community building," he said. "Their impact has been felt and realized throughout our community and beyond."
The annual Humanitarian Awards are typically handed out at a fundraising dinner, but the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the move to a virtual event last year and again this year.
Beth Reese Cravey: bcravey@jacksonville.com
ONEJAX HUMANITARIAN AWARDS
A virtual networking reception will begin at 6 p.m. April 15, followed by a one-hour program at 7 p.m. The event is free, but reservations are required at unf.edu/onejax/humanitarian_awards.aspx. Online sponsorships are available by contacting OneJax at (904) 620-1529 or emailing onejax@unf.edu.