Blog

CAP Receives Transformational Financial Investment from the Foley Family Charitable Foundation

The Cathedral Arts Project has announced the receipt of a $3.75 million gift from the Foley Family Charitable Foundation – the largest gift in the organization’s 29-year history.

The gift will establish the Carol Johnson Foley President & CEO Endowment Fund for CAP and also provide unrestricted support of annual operations. This investment from the Foley Family Charitable Foundation will allow CAP to fuel innovation, address emerging opportunities or unanticipated needs and sustain the organization’s service to children for generations to come.

CAP receives $3.75 million gift from the Foley Family Charitable Foundation - the largest gift in the organization’s 29-year history - establishing an endowment fund and providing unrestricted support for annual operations. Share on X

“We are honored to receive this transformational gift from Carol and Bill Foley and their family in support of arts education in our community,” said Rev. Kimberly Hyatt, CAP President & CEO. “Their generosity will propel us forward in achieving our vision: for Northeast Florida to lead the nation in providing essential and accessible arts education that recognizes, grows and amplifies every child’s unique skills and strengths.”

When the Foley’s relocated FNF to Jacksonville in 2003, Carol took an immediate interest in the Cathedral Arts Project. During her first year living in Northeast Florida, she spearheaded an initiative to support the work of CAP, raising awareness about the organization throughout the community. She saw the importance of CAP’s mission and the promise of the work when few people were even aware of the organization’s presence in the community.

Teaching Artist Fellow Josh Stone performing with the CAP String Orchestra

Today, CAP is in the process of transitioning to a teaching artist fellowship model that will allow it to triple the number of children reached each year with impactful arts programs. Fellows in each of the arts disciplines – dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts – will reach children in a variety of settings, including charter and traditional public schools, youth-serving community organizations and the juvenile justice system.

In addition, CAP will also be able to offer more programs in support of children with specialized development needs under this new model. In addition to providing dynamic arts education opportunities for children, the teaching artist fellowship model is also a platform for professional development for the teaching artists participating in the program. CAP teaching artist fellows will serve the program for a tenure of three to five years and leave as highly trained arts professionals entering the Northeast Florida workforce.

“The impactful work CAP does in serving children in Northeast Florida is truly inspiring,” said Carol Foley. “This gift is an investment in the future of our entire community, providing opportunities for all children to have access to the arts for generations to come.”


About the Foley Family Charitable Foundation
The Foley Family Charitable Foundation was established by Carol and William P. Foley II. William “Bill” and Carol created the Foley Family Charitable Foundation to support the communities where the family works and lives. Carol Foley has always had a passion for the arts and believes creating opportunities for children to engage in arts programs is of great importance. The Foley family called Jacksonville home for many years and business connects them to the community to this day. Bill is Chairman of Fidelity National Financial and Chairman Emeritus of Black Knight, Inc. The Foleys currently split their time between Las Vegas where they own the Vegas Golden Knights and Northern California where Foley Family Wines is based.


For media inquiries, contact Nan Kavanaugh, Senior PR & Communications Manager, Wingard at nan@wearewingard.com.

"The most important thing I learned in my CAP class is to inspire other kids and follow your dreams." From students to stakeholders - the commitment to CAP’s long-running programs is due to the compelling nature of our curriculum, the quality of our local teaching artists and the desire of children and families to embrace education in the arts as a means of fostering true change in their lives. Learn more about our programs at capkids.org. #CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp #artsed
CAP’s vision is for Northeast Florida to lead the nation in providing essential and accessible arts education that recognizes, grows and amplifies every child’s unique skills and strengths. 

The driving force behind all CAP programs is the belief that the arts matter—they provide essential skills, like creative thinking, perseverance, teamwork and self-discipline that benefit all people in all areas of their lives. 
Visit capkids.org for more info. #CAPkidsjax #TheArtsAddUp
Artistic expression communicates the feelings, preferences, interests and experiences of the artist. Arts education provides children with essential tools to communicate more clearly, providing insight into a better understanding of each other and themselves. Learn more about our #artsed programs and our mission to inspire the creative spirit in every child at capkids.org. #TheArtsAddUp #artsed #CAPkidsjax
Did you know? Arts learning improves cognitive development in children, including verbal communication attentions skills and memory retrieval that also apply to other subject areas. 

Learn more about how you can support CAP’s mission to empower every child’s creative spirit, elevate arts educators in their field and advocate for access and equity in arts education by visiting our link in bio. 
#TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax #artsed
Arts learning improves cognitive development, verbal communication, attention skills and memory retrieval. CAP's sensory arts program at Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center inspires growth in these areas and beyond.  Learn more about how you can contribute to our mission to empower every child’s creative spirit, elevate arts educators in their field & advocate for access and equity in arts education by clicking the link in our bio. #TheArtsMatter #CAPkidsJax #artsed
Did you know? The arts add up to increased graduation rates, a stronger economy and more creative individuals equipped to solve the challenges of tomorrow. Learn more about why #TheArtsAddUp and how you can support CAP's mission by visiting the link in our bio. #CAPkidsjax  #artsed
Learning any art form allows children and youth to gain essential skills like creative thinking, perseverance, teamwork, and self-discipline that benefit them in all areas of their life. The arts provide experiences that are personally enriching, building the confidence and character children need to excel. Visit the link in our bio to learn more about how CAP instructs, instills, and inspires students in our community!  #TheArtsAddUp #CAPkidsjax #artsed
“We all have dreams, but making dreams come to life takes a lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort—that is the most important lesson I’ve learned through CAP.”

Every child has a creative spirit. For some, it comes alive through the visual arts: turning blank pages and digital canvases into expressions of hope. For others, it breathes through their bodies – transforming notes, choreography, and words into personal statements of joy.
 
Children develop the technical skills to prepare for these moments through instruction in the arts. Along the way, the arts develop their unique strengths – like self-confidence, creative thinking, self-respect, empathy and perseverance. Learn more at the link in our bio.
Excitement is building as CAP students prepare for the upcoming Performing Arts Showcase on April 13! Dance, music and theatre performers will take the stage and give their all as they show their friends and family what they've worked so hard to achieve this year. The opportunity to perform at Showcase serves as a reward for students' hard work and reinforces the self-confidence and maturity fostered in CAP
programs. We cannot wait to see them shine! Learn more at capkids.org/showcase.
Support CAP today! For 30 years, CAP has been a catalyst for change, providing transformative arts experiences to thousands of students each year. Through our programs, we have unlocked the doors to creativity and self-expression for children and young adults, helping them find their voice and passion. 

We aim to reach more children, schools and communities, and your support enables us to do so. Please join us as we embark on this incredible journey into the next chapter – 30 more years of empowering every child’s creative spirit!

Visit the link in our bio to support.
Did you know? Not only does participation in the arts unleash a child's creative spirit, but research shows clear links between arts involvement and positive outcomes in academics, school attendance, creative and critical thinking, personal behavior, and social and civic participation. Learn more about why the arts are important, and how you can support CAP's mission, by visiting the link in our bio.

JOIN THE CAP MAILING LIST