CAP is thrilled to announce Karen and Greg Montana as the distinguished 2024 Guardians of the Arts for their efforts to safeguard and advance the arts along the First Coast.
The Montanas will be recognized at the 19th annual Spring for the Arts on Friday, April 26, 2024, at Epping Forest Yacht & Country Club. Guiding this event are Amy and Gary Norcross, serving as the Honorary Chairs, alongside Marisa and Frank Martire as the Event Chairs. Spring for the Arts is CAP’s signature fundraiser which celebrates community engagement in support of funding arts education initiatives throughout the region. Since its inception, the event has generated nearly $8 million to expand arts education for children in Northeast Florida.
Gregory and Karen Montana, 2024 Guardian of the Arts award recipients
“It is with immense gratitude to Karen and Greg Montana that they have allowed us to recognize them as the Guardians of the Arts this year,” said CAP President & CEO Rev. Kimberly L. Hyatt. “The Montanas have a deep understanding and commitment to providing equitable opportunities to children so they can follow their dreams and reach their goals in life.”
Karen and Greg Montana have exemplified a dedication to education and its impact on professional growth throughout their lives. Karen, a Georgetown University alumna, initially carved her path as a marketing executive with Bank of America and Chase Manhattan Bank, where her journey with Greg began. Greg holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Boston College. Greg most recently served as Chief Risk Officer and Executive Vice President of FIS. Prior to FIS, he served at some of the world’s most recognized financial services firms such as Bank of America, Lloyds Banking Group, PayPal, Deloitte Consulting, and JP Morgan Chase. He was also an adjunct faculty member at Flagler College teaching at the School of Business, Education and Math.
“A complete education includes the arts,” said Greg Montana. “Arts education teaches innovation and creativity, but most importantly it nurtures empathy and enhances the wellbeing of children by providing a creative outlet to express themselves.”
Karen and Greg’s passion for community service is deeply rooted in their lives. Their dedication to enriching the places they live and work is evident in their involvement in various organizations. Karen’s commitment to arts education led her to serve on the Board of the Cathedral Arts Project from 2017 to 2021. Greg has served for three years on the Board of Trustees of the United Way of Northeast Florida. He has also served for nine years on the Catholic Charities of Jacksonville Board of Directors and for 17 years with the Board of Metrolina Association for the Blind in Charlotte, N.C., in addition to working with the American Heart Association in Jacksonville.
“It is our honor to be recognized as the Guardians of the Arts this year in support of CAP and the extraordinary work they do providing all children access to quality arts education,” said Karen Montana. “CAP instills creative spirit and initiative in the children of our community, impacting generations over the course of its 30-year history.”
