The Rice Family Foundation


	History & Geographic Focus The Dianne T. and Charles E. Rice Family Foundation (the "Foundation") was established in 2001 with assets garnered from Charles Rice's work as an entrepreneur and leader in the banking industry. Dianne and Charles Rice have a long history of philanthropic stewardship that is reflected in the substantial donations that they have made in their beloved community of Jacksonville, as well as throughout Florida. By creating the Rice Family Foundation, the founders have provided an innovative vehicle for continued responsible philanthropy that will not be limited to their lifetimes. Through the Foundation, the Rice Family is able to give back to the communities that so positively impacted the founders' lives, and implement the founders' vision through the continued Rice Family involvement in the Foundation's philanthropic activities. In honor of the founders' legacy and intentions, the Rice Family Foundation funds proposals that fit its established guidelines in the hopes of making a positive difference in Florida.

Mission and Values

Mindful of the founders' advice to their children that an education is the only gift they can receive that cannot be taken away, the Rice Family Foundation's mission is to empower people to seize opportunities that foster personal development, self-esteem and leadership to achieve one's maximum potential. The Foundation is interested in supporting entrepreneurial programs and organizations that will advance the development of humankind, stimulate personal excellence and promote values that we embrace:

generosity,
compassion,
honesty,
integrity,
stewardship,
respect.

At the Rice Family Foundation, we are guided by the belief that education is the means to achieving one's potential, which, in turn, will ultimately benefit all of society. We further believe that the most effective way to fulfill this mission is to invest in educational and developmental programs. After the Foundation's inception and as a result of several years of research and findings in the field of education, we became extremely interested in and began to embrace the concept of early childhood literacy . An overwhelming abundance of evidence shows that children who have an opportunity to experience quality early childhood education are more likely to succeed academically and socially and to grow up to become contributing and successful citizens. Thus, the current primary focus of the Rice Family Foundation is early childhood literacy.