Grace Jones Community Center

Our History

Established in 1956 the Grace Jones Community Center was the vision of one woman, Grace Loretta Jones, who settled in Marathon in the early 1950’s. The Jones Family came to the Keys from the Bahamas hoping to find a better life and found that the only school for Black children was located in Key West. Through her courage and steadfast determination, Mrs. Jones managed to convince local and State elected officials to establish a school for Black children in Marathon.

Founder: Grace Loretta Jones

Today

The Grace Jones Community Center, located on 41ST Street in Marathon, is a non-profit day care center. The Center provides affordably priced day care including skill based development, meals and a secure environment for up to sixty children. At-risk children with various disadvantages, such as delayed development, isolation and neglect, are cared for in a safe and nurturing environment. Although carefully maintained for almost fifty years, the Grace Jones Community Center now needs to be replaced with a modern structure that meets the needs of our children having a variety of ages, skill levels and special needs.

We need your help and investment in our future.

Our Future

Better Facilities
Following in the community – minded spirit of Marathon visionary Grace Loretta Jones, local real estate developer Pritam Singh and his family have offered $300,000 in matching building funds for the Grace Jones Community Center. The Grace Jones Board of Directors asks the Marathon community to equal the Singh family and achieve the full vision of our new day care facility.

Proposed new Grace Jones Community Center
Grassi Design Group

Better Programs
With improved facilities, more extensive services can be offered that will provide day care, Head Start and after school care. The facility will also be ready to serve students in the state mandated Pre-K programs slated for 2005.

Donate

You may call 305.743.6064 for more information on how to donate to Grace Jones Community Center.

Download and print our adobe acrobat brochure here, which includes a donation worksheet. You may also follow the instructions below, and mail a check to the Grace Jones Community Center Building Fund.

Invest in Marathons Children and our future.

Friend $100 — $999
Angel $1000 — $4,999
Sustaining $5000 — $14,999
Supporter $15,000 — 24,999
Fellow $25,000 — $49,999
Patron $50,000 — $99,999
Visionary Over $100,000

As the Marathon community reaches major milestones in our fund
raising process, special public playground events will be held for
the children where all donors will be invited for special recognition
of their support in lieu of donor gifts.

Please make checks payable to:
Grace Jones Community Center Building Fund

Mail all checks, credit card authorizations and pledges to:
Grace Jones Community Center
P.O. Box 1376, Marathon, Florida 33050

Thanks very much for your contributions!