JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 16, 2026 – JWB Cares, the nonprofit charitable organization of JWB Real Estate Companies, announces the first of eight Welcome Home Fund recipients have officially become homeowners. The Warrick Family purchased a home on Jacksonville’s Southside in the Chet’s Creek area (32216) on January 28.
The Warrick Family was selected in the Welcome Home Fund process in 2025 among 450 other applicants. Applicants had to demonstrate financial need, a commitment to giving back to the Jacksonville community, ability to participate in JWB Homebuyer Education classes and purchase a home in Northeast Florida in 12 months from the announcement in October. The Warricks rented from JWB for more than seven years and are now first-time homeowners. They also qualified for JWB Property Management’s HomeStep, which helps renters earn $100 a month to put toward a new home (up to $3,600 total).
“We are deeply grateful to be recipients of the JWB Welcome Home Fund’s down payment assistance and HomeStep,” said Nicole Warrick. “It has made buying our first home a reality and finally let us plant real roots in Jacksonville after years of renting. This support has transformed our dream of long-term stability and community investment into something real and lasting.”
The Welcome Home Fund is the only one of its kind supported by a property management company in Jacksonville. The fund will help eight residents become homeowners through a generous charitable fund of $160,000 in down payment assistance.
JWB Cares previously built and gave away a single home annually to deserving and underserved residents who could not afford homes of their own. That program resulted in six new homeowners.
“JWB Cares expanded our impact through the creation of the Welcome Home Fund to provide critical assistance to deserving families who would not otherwise find homeownership accessible,” said Alex Sifakis, president of JWB. “The Welcome Home Fund is unique in our market and we are pleased to help one of our rental homes families buy a home of their own.”
JWB Cares is funded through annual generous donations by employees, vendors, clients and partners and its annual golf tournament. JWB’s property management company currently manages more than 5,700 rental homes in Jacksonville, the majority of which are affordable housing.
JWB is dedicated to Jacksonville’s growth and success which goes beyond rental housing. Through its nonprofit JWB Cares, the organization has donated over 10,000 volunteer hours, built six homes for families in need, and raised and donated more than $1.7 million for local causes.