Spotlight on Charity – The Rita Foundation

Spotlight on Charity – The Rita Foundation

Aug 22, 2025

The Deercreek Women’s Alliance presented a $1500 check to The RITA Foundation for their continuing research efforts to suppress breast cancer.

If you are new to the Deercreek community or the City of Jacksonville, you may not have heard about The RITA Foundation. In 1997 our very own very own residents Chuck and Nancy Jantz founded the foundation with a tennis tournament and a silent auction at the Deercreek Country Club and it has morphed into the organization quietly raising funds through tennis tournaments, runs and effectively growing endowments dedicated to breast cancer as well as growing companion programs that assist those impacted by cancer.

RITA is an acronym for Research is the Answer, a local Foundation based in Jacksonville, no overhead, strictly all volunteer based, and all the monies raised stay in Jacksonville.
Through 12.31.24, The RITA Foundation has directly contributed $7,385,791 since our first event in 1997 at Deercreek Country Club. This does not include the proceeds from our 50 endowments……47 at Baptist and 3 at Mayo Clinic……approximately $2,000,000.00 producing 4.5 to 5% in annual proceeds…. another $ 90-100,000.00 annually forever.

  • We are currently funding research at Dr. Al Copland’s lab at Mayo Clinic with $65,000 in grants plus the proceeds from the 3 RITA endowments.
  • At Baptist, current funding includes $200,000 toward the new Beaches MRI and new prostate support program. Long term is the goal of our endowment program.
  • At Baptist MD Anderson we have endowments funding the Life Wellness Center and the Cool Cap program in the Infusion Center.
  • At Baptist Beaches, our endowments fund the new MRI, a prostate support group plus Mammograms. At Baptist South, our endowments provide Mammograms to the underserved population.
  • At Baptist Clay, more endowments provide ongoing funding of Mammograms to those who cannot afford this diagnostic treatment.

The RITA Foundation anticipates directly adding $350,000 for our 2025 events plus an additional $85 to $100,000 from our endowments. That will bring approximately a total $7,800,000 by year’s end. For 2026, The RITA Foundation will surpass $8,000,000.00………and again all without any salary or overhead costs……and all staying in Jacksonville.

The Deercreek Women’s Alliance has supported this charity since their inception, and we hope you continue to support the foundation through donations or participation in their events.
To know more about The RITA Foundation or donate go to www.the-rita-foundation.org or click on the link.

Pace Center for Girls is a Florida-based, nationally recognized not-for-profit organization that provides non-residential, prevention, intervention and diversion services for girls and young women of middle and high school age. Pace provides free year-round schooling in academics, case management, counseling and life skills development in a trauma and gender free environment.

The DWA supports Pace at their Mrs. Mary’s Boutique. The Boutique, formally known as “The Clothes Closet”, was started by now 90-year-old Mary Warner. The Boutique provides a way for the girls to “buy” items with points they’ve earned through grades, good deeds, class attendance and participation. We support the Boutique with donations of clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, and toiletries.

Mrs. Mary’s Boutique has its own permanent room. It’s decorated and set up just like a boutique in the mall. This makes the girls feel very special and gives them an opportunity to shop in a place that otherwise they cannot afford.

Thank you for all your support for Pace in the way of volunteering and donations. If you are interested in volunteering or have items to donate, please contact Vicki Khan at 904-923-3538 or [email protected]. Her address for drop off items is 10148 Deercreek Club Road.