Major Legacy Gift to Community Foundation Will Benefit Keys Gardens, Animals, Literacy, More

A significant $1.3 million legacy gift from the late Dr. Patricia Major to the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys (CFFK) will support the programs and services of numerous nonprofit organizations and benefit residents throughout the Keys for years to come. Dr. Major’s funding will provide aid for the homeless, preserve native flora, protect animal welfare, supply healthcare for critical care patients, promote literacy, provide tropical gardening education, and more. Dr. Major was a physician who lived and worked in Key West for more than 40 years until she passed away in late 2018.

Through the Patricia T. Major M.D. Endowment at CFFK, the Keys nonprofits sharing her generous support are the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition, Florida Keys SPCA, Friends of the Key West Library, Key West Garden Club, Key West Orchid Society, and Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden. Funding will also be provided for hospice services.

Attorney Samuel Kaufman, the legal advisor who worked with Dr. Major to establish her estate plan, said, “Dr. Pat was a caring physician and dedicated volunteer who loved the Keys and wanted to ensure its people, animals, and beautiful environment were helped for the future. She looked to CFFK because she wanted a reliable, capable, and strong organization to help carry out her charitable wishes.”

CFFK will administer the funding through annual operating grants to the nonprofits. “Dr. Major’s gift is a perfect example of how CFFK works with people to leave a legacy here that supports their passions and helps the place they love into future generations,” said Dr. Susanne Woods, Chair of the Community Foundation. “We are grateful that Dr. Major entrusted CFFK to fulfill her wishes and help so many throughout the Keys benefit from her generosity.”

One of the nonprofits benefiting from Dr. Major’s support, the Key West Garden Club, will use the funding to preserve the tropical gardens and provide outreach programs. Garden Club Board President Rosi Ware, said, “Dr. Pat cared deeply about the Keys environment and enjoyed spending time at the Gardens at West Martello, socializing and attending Garden Club lectures with her Garden Club Friends. Support from her generous legacy gift will enable us to continue to preserve the beautiful and unique native flora of the Keys and offer outstanding educational opportunities for our residents and visitors.”

In addition to her medical practice in Key West, Dr. Pat was a certified scuba diver, master gardener, and art collector. She also loved animals and was an avid reader.

More information about legacy gifts and Community Foundation programs is available at cffk.org.

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