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Humanitarian Awards Event

Each year since 1970, OneJax hosts a Humanitarian Awards Event to honor outstanding individuals who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our community.

Anyone in the community may submit a nomination for someone to be selected as a OneJax Humanitarian. Self-nominations are also considered. Nominations may be completed and submitted during the month of September each year.

Once the nomination period closes, a selection committee made up of members of the OneJax Executive Committee and previous Humanitarians evaluate the nominations and make the final selection. The Humanitarian Awards is the largest fundraiser OneJax holds during the year. This notable event includes a formal ceremony to recognize the new group of Honorees each year.

See the OneJax Circle of Honorees here

2024 Humanitarian Awards Event

Thursday, May 9, 2024
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts

2024 OneJax Humanitarian Awards Sponsor Package
Purchase Sponsorships or Tickets Online

2024 Event Chairs

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2024 Honorees

Martha Frye Baker

Community Trustee
Silver MEdallion

Martha Frye Baker is a community volunteer who is actively involved in philanthropy and leadership of numerous organizations. She has led the charge for many initiatives throughout the community for years, as well has working behind the scenes—sometimes anonymously—to help stimulate support for efforts needing a boost from the broader community.
She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Baptist Health Foundation, the WJCT Foundation, Renewing Dignity, Florida House and Davidson College Board of Visitors.
Martha is also a co-founder of the Beaches Community Fund and co-chaired the Women’s Collective Giving Network’s 2017 National Leadership Forum. She is a founding member of the Women’s Giving Alliance, a member of the Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital and a Christ Episcopal Church Foundation Trustee Emeritus. In the past, she has been a trustee of The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Bolles School, HEAL, MOSH, MOCA, Beaches Habitat for Humanity Advisory, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, and Episcopal Children’s Services Foundation.

William B. “Bill” Bond

Community Trustee
Silver Medallion

Bill Bond spent most of his career in banking, retiring as Vice Chair of First Union National Bank in 1989. While he was still working and, especially since he retired, Bill has spent his time, energy and treasure on many community issues, working closely with a wide assortment of organizations. Included among his activities have been: Serving as Chairman of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce in 1987. He also served as the Chairman of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce’s International Development Department. While Chairman of the Chamber, Bill and his Executive Committee dedicated themselves to trying to end the last vestiges of organized segregation in Jacksonville. He joined with the leaders of the Urban League and the NAACP to found the first Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast in 1988. Bill served as a Trustee of the National Urban League, the first person from Jacksonville to serve on its National Board. He was also the recipient of the Jacksonville Urban League’s highest award for his efforts to promote the inclusion of African-Americans in all levels of community activities. Serving on the Board of Directors of the University of North Florida Foundation, including one year as its president. He served on the Boards of Jacksonville Country Day School and Episcopal High School, including serving as board chair of each during his tenure. He also served as the Chairman of the Episcopal Foundation for several years. Bill, along with his wife, Sandy, were dedicated supporters of passing the updated Human Rights Ordinance, which final passed in 2017, after failing to receive City Council approval in 2012. They funded a documentary, “Six Words,” purchasing time on a local television station to tell the story of LGBTQ concerns in our city. Bill is a former member of many boards, including OneJax, Children’s Home Society, the Cathedral Foundation, the Mental Health Association of North Florida, United Way of Northeast Florida and the United Negro College Fund campaign, among many others.

Jeffrey R. Edwards

CFO, Beaver Street Fisheries
Silver Medallion

Jeff Edwards is a Jacksonville native. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania/The Wharton School of Business, he returned to Jacksonville and worked with the Arthur Young & Company and the Charter Companies for a few years. As a CPA, he joined he joined Beaver Street Fisheries in 1982 and has been there ever since, working his way up to Chief Financial Officer. Throughout his career, Jeff has been very involved with the community and has worked with several nonprofit and religious organizations, including Congregation Ahavath Chesed – The Temple, where he served as President, Treasurer, VP, Board Member, Campaign Co-chair, Committee Chair; the Jewish Federation of Northeast Florida as a Board Member; Campfire USA – Jacksonville (VP, Board Member); and Groundwork Jacksonville’s McCoy’s Creek Committee for Emerald Trail. In addition, he’s been involved and remains engaged with Junior Achievement of North Florida where he has served as Chairman, Treasurer and Board Member. He is also the recipient of the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame Award; Florida State College of Jacksonville Foundation where he has been Chairman, Treasurer, Board Member, Emeritus, Development Committee, Campaign Cabinet; the Rail Yard District Business Council, which he co-founded and served as President and Board member. They recognized Jeff with the Janet Owens Rail Yard District Leadership Award; River Garden Foundation where he was Board member and VP; River Garden Home where he serves as a Board member; and the Jewish Community Foundation, where he served as a board member and officer; many others too numerous to list here.

Brian Wolfburg

CEO VyStar Credit Union

Silver Medallion

Brian Wolfburg has made a big impact on the Jacksonville Community since arriving here in 2017 to become the president and chief executive officer of VyStar Credit Union. Prior to his current role, Mr. Wolfburg served as the chief operations officer for Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, where he was from 2013 through 2017, as well as previous employment with KeyBank, HSBC, Deutsche Bank and Merrill Lynch for a total of 25 years in diversified financial services. As much as Brian focused on building a better, more efficient and customer-oriented financial institution, he also jumped into becoming involved in the community. He is a member of the board of directors of the Jacksonville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Vice-chair of the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors advisory board, a member of the Jacksonville Civic Council and Chair of the Civic Council’s Foundation, a member of the Museum of Science & History board of directors, the USO Southeastern Board of Directors, the Jacksonville Country Day School board of directors and a member of the Credit Union National Association’s World Credit Union Committee. In addition, he served as co-chair of JASMYN’s capital campaign, co-chair of the OneJax Event Committee for the 2023 Humanitarian awards and has been recognized for his efforts with a number of awards and honors. Brian also facilitated VyStar Credit Union’s greater engagement in the community. It underwrites many programs and services for nonprofit organizations and awards grants throughout their market areas. The company also sponsors many local events and is the name sponsor of the VyStar Veteran’s Memoria Arena. VyStar Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative founded in 1952 as Jax Navy Federal Credit Union. It became VyStar Credit Union in 2002. With $13.5B in assets, VyStar is the third-largest credit union in the Southeast and the 13th-largest credit union in the United States, serving more than 925,000 members nationwide.

Rhianna Scyster

Community Equity & Policy Manager, 904WARD
Acosta-Rua Young Professional Medallion

Rhianna Scyster is a St. Petersburg native and lover of books—and a fervent advocate for equitable practices and policies in K-12 education. She currently serves as the Community Equity and Policy Manager at 904WARD. Prior to her current role, Rhianna was an educator and policy analyst. During her time as an undergraduate student at the University of North Florida, Rhianna became a Student Ambassador for the College of Education and Human Services and received a two-year scholarship from the Florida Funds Minority Teachers. In 2021, she presented at the WJCT TEACH conference, where she provided insight on the intersection of equity and policy in education. In 2020 she was awarded the Minority Fellowship from Jacksonville University, where she earned her Master’s in Public Policy. As a fellow, she interned with The Honorable Darryl Willie, District 4 Duval County School Board Chairman. She has been recognized by the Florida Black Expo as Top 20 Under 40,received the Alumni Achievement Award from UNF’s Black Alumni Association for her contributions to the field of education and was a distinguished panelist for the Black Mental Health Symposium. Rhianna has also been a guest speaker for the 2021-22 Teach for America cohort, 2022 City Year Leadership Panel, and has led the Jacksonville Urban League Young Professionals as its President for more than a year. She is honored to serve as a board member for The Sanctuary on 8th Street and a Board Service Fellow for the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. Her elevated experiences, coupled with hands-on community service, have developed Rhianna’s expertise on the impact of empowering differences and advocating through policy—she is dedicated to improving her community through justice work, policy development, and servant leadership. Her most valued roles are wife, aunt, and dog mom.

Become a Sponsor!

As an event sponsor, your leadership sends a powerful message in support of the mission of OneJax and of the Honorees’ good works in support of our city. Sponsors of this event gain exposure to a large group of community leaders. The impact of your sponsorship is equally powerful – enabling OneJax to create opportunities for diverse groups of individuals to learn about themselves and one another. As a result, you will directly help to reduce stereotypes and bias and develop community awareness and understanding about critical social issues facing our city.

See last year’s sponsors here.
2024 OneJax Humanitarian Awards Sponsor Package
Purchase Sponsorships or Tickets Online

2023 Humanitarian Awards Major Sponsors

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Phone: 904-799-5370
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