FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

120 Years of Community Service

Food for today. Skills for life.
Vocational Training Programs
Certified by the State of Florida
Commission for Independent
Education
Contact:
Ju’Coby Pittman, CEO/President
Clara White Mission
(904) 354-4162 x 1100
jpittman@clarawhitemission.org

Culinary Arts Training Clara White Mission Issues Statement on the

Programs Office of Inspector General, City of Jacksonville
CWM Feeding Program Management Review
Riverside North
Transitional Housing Program
Drop-In Day Center
Eartha’s Farm & Market
Eartha White Historical Museum

Board of Directors Jacksonville, Fla. July 2, 2024 – The Clara White Mission, would like
Dinah Mason
Chairperson to issue an official statement regarding the Office of Inspector
General Management Review of the Clara White Mission.
Athel Avant
Tavares Bethel
Marshelle Berry For over a Century the White Mission has been committed to the highest
Steve Cole standards of service in fulfilling its mission to support the homeless, low-income,
Robert Davis
Dr. Julius Demps and veterans in our community, including a commitment to transparency, and
Valencia Floyd accountability in that process. We appreciate the Office of the Inspector General's
LaTanya Wynn-Hall
Marlon Hubbard efforts to review the management of grants awarded to our organization.
Carlton Jones Unfortunately, their office has been unfair in communicating to the Clara White
Troy McNair
Solomon Olopade Mission in addressing any concerns. Although promising to do so, never gave
Jacqulyn Perry Clara White the chance to address the errors in their report. Indeed, the IG
Linda Price
Ephraim Riggins refused to even inform Clara White as to which grants were being reviewed, or
Michael Searcy what issues were those that they wanted to address. However, it is essential to
Calena Shirley
Edward Smith clarify some key points and inaccuracies raised in the report.
Dr. Jevetta Stanford
Bracy Taylor
Dr. Fern Webb
1. Oversight and Documentation: The report highlights significant gaps in the
James Wesley city's oversight and documentation processes. Clara White Mission has
Pastor Jared Williams
consistently provided the required information and documentation to the city
CEO/President and OIG. The discrepancies noted in the report stem from the City Division of
Ju’Coby Pittman
Grants & Compliance's allged failure to accurately record and maintain
Chief Operating Officer
proper records of its oversight activities and may indicate a failure of the
Meg Fisher
department to accurately file and maintain public records to the mission and
Chief Financial Officer
Terri Foreman

613 West Ashley St. Jacksonville, FL 32202 904-354-4162 Fax – 904-791-4360

www.clarawhitemission.org
 perhaps other non-profits that we were unaware of. However, Clara White
always provided the necessary documentation for all grants.

2. Meal Distribution and Bagged Lunch Program: Clara White Mission has been dedicated to serving
meals to those in need, including both morning hot meals/bagged lunches.

The Clara White Mission maintains daily data on the number of individuals served, generated through
HMIS entries. While the Mission provides an additional bag lunch to each individual receiving meal
service, the bag lunches are not reported as a part of our meal delivery total. The IG simply visited
the facility on a few occasions. That is not a fair method to get an accurate meal count.

The Clara White Mission does not require that individuals disclose names to receive services if they
are unwilling or unable to do so. We will never turn away a hungry individual because they don't
provide identification information. This information is stated in our grant application and our
methodology for meals counts is included in our reporting to the City. Accurate and effective
expenditure of grants and taxpayer money is of primary importance to Clara White,

3. Vocational Training: The mission developed its vocational training program in 2003. This program
was established to provide job training and employment opportunities to the underserved by
equipping them with valuable skills for the food and hospitality industry with successful outcomes.
During COVID-19, culinary training at the Mission was suspended for health and safety reasons, a
situation faced by many organizations and non-profits. Clara White Mission resumed this program in
April 2024 and is now continuing to provide valuable training in culinary arts. These temporary
changes were reported when they occurred. We resumed operations as soon as it was safe and
feasible, and as funding permitted. Clara White has never served 1 or 831 on a given day.

4. Veterans Assistance Program: The overbilling identified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
was an unintentional error, and Veteran Affairs agrees. Clara White Mission has been proactive in
addressing this issue and is making repayments as required. We remain committed to serving our
Veterans with integrity and diligence. The VA information request from the OIG had no relationship
to the City grants review being conducted, so it is puzzling as to why OIG would add at topic that was
not within their jurisdiction and had already been resolved. The issue was resolved approximately 11
months ago. The VA determined there to be no intentional misuse, but a misinterpretation of cost
allocation controls. This matter is completely unrelated to the COJ investigation of its grants and
compliance. The Clara White Missions continues with the repayment process assigned by the VA.

5. Internal Auditing- At Clara White Mission, our commitment to transparency and accountability
extends to rigorous internal oversights. Clara White Mission administrative staff conduct oversight of
internal processes to ensure accurate management of all funds and compliance with grant requirements.
613 West Ashley St. Jacksonville, FL 32202 904-354-4162 Fax – 904-791-4360
www.clarawhitemission.org
In addition to internal monitoring, we submit regular reports as required, and the agency has an annual
audit conducted by an Independent Auditor. City staff conducts an annual fiscal and programmatic
review and never reported any issues to Clara White Mission. These combined efforts underscore our
dedication to maintaining the highest standards of fiscal responsibility, data management, and
operational integrity.

COVID-19 represented an unprecedented time for not only Clara White Mission but the nation as a
whole. Our organization adapted to the challenges presented by the pandemic to continue providing
essential services to those in need.

I have been at the helm as the CEO/President of the Clara White Mission for 31 years and two-terms
as a Jacksonville City Council Member. My leadership and the Clara White mission work speaks to the
body of work that we have been able to achieve in carrying on the legacy with impact. As we get
through this hurdle that the OIG has unfairly caused our organization, due to the internal processes,
of the Division of Grants and Compliances that they acknowledged, the Clara White Mission remains
committed to feeding the hungry in our community, ensuring that no one is turned away, and
upholding the integrity of our services. Public funds used to help the most vulnerable citizens in our
City are among the most impactful dollars we spend. The integrity of the expenditure of these funds
must be beyond question. As a Council Member, I believe in ensuring transparency, accuracy, and
proper use of taxpayer dollars. That is why I will file legislation to create additional checks and
balances for the Division of Grants and Compliance. This will not only benefit the City and enhance
trust with taxpayers, it will ensure that nonprofits performing critical and grassroots services in our
communities can have confidence in their interactions with local government.

Moving forward, Clara White Mission will continue to work closely with the City of Jacksonville to
ensure that all oversight and documentation processes are clear, accurate, and transparent. We are
committed to serving our community effectively and maintaining the trust of our donors, supporters
and community partners, as we have for 120 years.

613 West Ashley St. Jacksonville, FL 32202 904-354-4162 Fax – 904-791-4360

www.clarawhitemission.org