Jaguars, Jaguars Foundation to Honor and Donate to Victims of Jacksonville Shooting

The Jacksonville Jaguars will honor the victims and heroes of the Aug. 26 racially motivated shooting in the New Town neighborhood in the home opener vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, the team announced on Thursday.

"During the first quarter of the game, the Jaguars Foundation and NFL Foundation will join with local community organizations to present a combined donation in support of the residents of New Town," the Jaguars said.

"The Jaguars’ and NFL Foundation’s contributions of $300,000 will go to food security, victims, community support and long-term community advocacy, in addition to the collective donation with the local nonprofits for the First Coast Relief Fund, a collaboration of the area’s leading philanthropic organizations dedicated to helping Northeast Florida residents in times of crisis.

"The Jaguars’ funding contribution was made possible through the Jaguars Foundation, which strives to uplift our community by providing economic and equal opportunity through programs that strengthen our neighborhoods and develop our youth."

A white man wearing a mask and firing a weapon emblazoned with a swastika gunned down three Black victims on Aug. 26 in a racist attack at a Jacksonville Dollar General Store. The shooter, Ryan Christopher Palmeter, had also posted racist writings.

Sunday will be the Jaguars' first home game since the day of the mass shooting.

“The Jaguars are more than a football team. We are a community partner with an opportunity to help a city that needs healing,” said Mark Lamping, president of the Jaguars. “The local entities receiving these funds are best positioned to identify the areas of the greatest impact and need to support the recovery efforts of New Town.”

"The heartache I share with family and friends of the victims today is deepened knowing this tragedy in New Town will be remembered as an act of hatred against Black people of our community," Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement after the shooting.

"Some things in our lives are beyond our control, but we are able to determine how we treat, respect and love each other. Hatred cannot be a choice. No one should be victim of hatred. No one should hate."