The link, Northeast Florida’s innovation hub and community connector, announced that proceeds raised from JaxFuse and the Back to the ’80s Party have been donated to local nonprofit organizations advancing food security, clothing access and youth empowerment across the region.
The fundraising efforts culminated during EnterCircle 2025, held in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, where community leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives and residents gathered not only to exchange ideas, but also to give back with purpose.
During Women’s Day at EnterCircle, attendees were reminded that food insecurity continues to be a pressing challenge within local communities. Founder of Three Grains of Rice Mission, Edward Perez, received the check and spoke about the organization. He mentioned the SNAP crises and the need to fill community pantries for families in need. He shared insights into the growing need for resources to support families facing hunger.
Funds raised through JaxFuse and the Back to the ’80s Party were formally presented during the event, reinforcing the link’s commitment to pairing innovation with compassion.
“Entrepreneurship and disruption must always be rooted in humanity,” said Gurpreet Misra, co-founder of the link. “While JaxFuse celebrates the creative economy and the Back to the ’80s Party brings joy and connection, it was important for us to ensure these events also create tangible impact for our community.”
JaxFuse, a multi-day festival celebrating food, art, music, film and fashion, and the Back to the ’80s Party, a communitywide fundraiser, were intentionally designed to spark creativity, collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas — values that align closely with the missions of the nonprofit partners supported through the proceeds.
One of the recipient organizations, the Jacksonville Arts & Music School (JAMS), empowers the creative leaders of tomorrow through immersive arts education and leadership development.
“We are incredibly grateful to the link and JaxFuse for their support,” said Tori Peoples, director of institutional advancement at JAMS. “This contribution directly advances JAMS’ mission to empower the creative leaders of tomorrow by expanding student access to in-depth arts programming, leadership development and meaningful life experiences.”
Another recipient, The Giving Closet Project, focuses on upcycling lost-and-found clothing from local schools and redistributing it to families in need, strengthening the region’s safety net while restoring dignity and reducing waste.
“We are grateful beyond words to the link for their generous $500 donation to The Giving Closet Project,” said Jennifer Smith, CEO and founder. “It was truly an honor to be part of such a special and inspiring evening at JaxFuse Fashion Day. When community, creativity and compassion come together, real impact happens. Thank you for helping us meet needs, restore dignity and uplift our students and families.”
Through initiatives like these, the link continues to demonstrate how purposeful events can bridge entrepreneurship, innovation and meaningful social impact.
For more information about the link, upcoming events, or ways to get involved, go to www.thelink.zone or follow @thelinkusa on social media.
Located in Ponte Vedra, the link is a 22,000-square-foot LEED gold-certified innovation hub built to break down silos and fuel the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through thoughtfully curated programs, events and shared workspaces, the link serves as a platform where entrepreneurship, technology, arts and community intersect.
