On June 25, members of the Rotary Club of Palm Valley hosted a special “Chef’s Night In” for approximately 50 patient residents and their caregivers at Gabriel House of Care on the Mayo campus in Jacksonville.
The evening was a celebration of caring and community, with several Rotary members rolling up their sleeves to cook and serve the meal, while others engaged with guests to ensure everyone felt welcome. The heartfelt initiative highlighted the spirit of Rotary’s commitment to service, bringing a sense of warmth and camaraderie to the lives of those facing medical challenges.
Gabriel House was established through a significant donation from Jorge and Leslie Bacardi of the Bacardi Rum family. Jorge Bacardi had a congenital condition called primary ciliary dyskinesia. After receiving a double lung transplant at the Mayo Clinic in 2008, he lived a full life until his death in 2020.
Transplant recipients do not typically know the identities of their donors. However, Bacardi discovered his organ donor was a young man whom he called Gabriel, referring to the archangel. The residential facility was named in his honor.
Gabriel House provides affordable housing for transplant and cancer patients who travel to Jacksonville for specialized medical care. The facility features 29 fully handicapped-accessible bedrooms, two laundry rooms, multiple lounges with large-screen TVs, game rooms, a library, a peaceful reflection room and four large fully equipped kitchen stations, allowing guests to prepare their own meals if they wish.
The home also offers complimentary transportation to and from Mayo Clinic, which is one mile away, all for less than $50 per night.
The Rotary Club of Palm Valley recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The club meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at the Marsh Landing Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, where members enjoy a plated sit-down dinner and focus on fellowship, service and community impact.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Palm Valley, email admin@palmvalleyrotaryclub.org or call 904-226-2696.
