The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Foundation will celebrate its third year of serving the community with the 2026 Denim & Diamonds Gala on Thursday, Sept. 10.
The Foundation was established in 2023 to extend the Chamber's philanthropic reach and to create additional opportunities to fundraise and advocate for issues that impact local businesses as well as the larger community.
September's event will also celebrate Leadership St. Johns Class of 2026, a cohort of local business and government leaders who are completing this year's program.
LSJ is the cornerstone program of the Chamber Foundation, and accelerates the development of leadership skills for business, government and community professionals by building relationships and enhancing their knowledge of St. Johns County.
In addition to Leadership St. Johns, the Chamber Foundation’s other focus areas include the creation of an emergency relief fund for businesses to support recovery from natural disasters or economic downturns and workforce development and attainable housing. Through research, education, and strategic partnerships, the Foundation supports community-driven solutions that expand housing opportunities, helping local workers and their families thrive, while enhancing the county’s economic vitality and quality of life.
The annual gala will support the Foundation’s mission by raising funds for scholarships for Leadership St. Johns, contributing to the emergency fund, and providing resources for advocacy work for attainable housing.
The event will be held at Ancient City Farmstead in St. Augustine and will feature a silent auction, which will open for bidding ahead of the event, along with an exciting live auction of items like international trips, jewelry, sports memorabilia and more. Sponsorships and tickets are available, and businesses and individuals are invited to donate items to the auctions.
More information about the St. Johns County Chamber Foundation and the 2026 Denim & Diamonds Gala can be found at sjcchamber.com/foundation.
