$1000 Aramark Donation to Support the Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries

We are excited to announce a $1000 grant donation from Aramark to support the Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries.

We are incredibly thankful to both Aramark and Mike Gilligan, Senior Director of Marketing, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, for this generous gift, which will make a great difference at the Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries. 

Mike Gilligan, Senior Director of Marketing, Aramark volunteering at the Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries on MLK Day

Mike has been at several cemetery cleanups, and he nominated the West Augustine Improvement Association for one of Aramark's 10 community grants.

 “I think it is important to support all community members and acknowledge their history and contributions,” said Gilligan. “This cemetery has been overlooked for decades, but a group is working to resuscitate it and tell the stories of many who are laid to rest here, including many military veterans.” Mike Gilligan, Senior Director of Marketing, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality. 

Aramark encourages their employees to volunteer, and to commemorate MLK Day, Aramark Community Relations invited employees who volunteered for community service projects to recommend a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to be considered for one of 10 community grants. 

When WAIA took ownership of the cemeteries there were no funds and very few volunteers able to help, and we are beyond grateful for all of the volunteers and donors who are helping us make a difference and honor those who rest at the Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries. 

There are so many exciting changes coming up, and we couldn't have done it without the community and volunteers. Save the date for the upcoming spring cleanup on May 4th, 2023, the cemetery tours on May 11th, and the fall cleanup/gravestone reveals on October 19th. More details will be coming soon, but you can also sign up for the WAIA news alerts here. 

If you want to help, we always looking for community partners and active members of our very small organization. You can also donate in several different ways. 

• Donate via the West Augustine Improvement Association's PayPal account
• Donate via check made out to the West Augustine Improvement Association and mail it to: The West Augustine Improvement Association, 455 South Volusia Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• If donating directly via check or PayPal, please leave us a note, and make sure to let us know who you are, and if you want the donation to go to a specific effort community cleanup, cemetery cleanup, grabbers, D2, headstones, etc. And let us know how we can contact you, so we can thank you for your sponsorship. 
• Donate to the Pinehurst & San Sebastian Cemeteries on GoFundMe.
• If you need our EIN number contact westaugimprovementassoc@gmail.com

We are always grateful for any kind of help whether it is time, skills, equipment, or monetary donations. We are small non-profit organization run by volunteers, and we need all the help we can get to carry out our mission of improving the cemeteries, the community, and bringing people together.