Gabriel House of Care

Gabriel House of Care opened its doors in April 2011.The original four bedroom house, located on the property of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church by the Sea, was built around 1915 as a private residence in the Historic Riverside District of Jacksonville. Years later, the house was moved by waterway to Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach. In the 1950’s, the property became home to St. Andrew’s Church.

Over the years, the house served as auxiliary meeting rooms and storage for the main church but eventually fell into serious disrepair. In 1996, the church considered demolishing the house, but a parishioner suggested it could be put to use as temporary lodging for families who were coming to Jacksonville for medical treatment. Church members overwhelmingly supported the idea and the vision of a “home away from home” began to take root and grow.

The need for expanded lodging opportunities was felt by everyone. In 2008, St. Andrew’s Lighthouse, Inc. and Mayo Clinic forged a partnership to address the need. Mayo Clinic proposed a plan to construct a thirty-bedroom house to serve transplant and cancer patients. With approval by the Boards of Directors of both organizations, the partnership to open Gabriel House of Care began.

Jorge and Leslie Bacardi provided the lead gift that energized the capital campaign to build Gabriel House of Care. The Bacardi’s also made a major gift to the St. Andrew’s Lighthouse, Inc. Campaign for Gabriel House.

Your Home Away From Home

In 2011, St. Andrew’s Lighthouse, Inc., in partnership with Mayo Clinic Florida opened Gabriel House of Care to provide family support and fellowship opportunities for patients and caregivers in an innovative new facility designed with their needs and well-being in mind. This beautiful 37,500 sq. ft. home is located on a beautiful lakeside setting on the Mayo Clinic Florida campus. Features include:

•     28 bedrooms with private bath
•     Great room with large screen TV
•     Two Game/TV rooms
•     Library, Reflection room, and Guest Business Center
•     A large central four-station kitchen and large dining room
•     Fitness room
•     Laundry rooms
•     Fully-screened back porch with views of the largest lake on May Clinic’s Florida campus
•     Beautiful grounds and walkways

More than a decade ago St. Andrew’s Lighthouse, Inc. began providing affordable, long-term housing to cancer and transplant patients. St. Andrew’s hospital hospitality houses have provided shelter and support to patients and families from across the country and the world, touching lives in ways that go far beyond just being a place to stay.

Board of Directors

OFFICERS

President - Trevor S. Lee, AlA
Vice President – Rev. Michael D. Blaker
Secretary – Aaron J. Kaufman
Treasurer – J. Jennifer Foreman

AT LARGE MEMBERS

Steven J. Buskirk, M.D.
Farley J. Grainger
Justin H. Nguyen, M.D.
Angela P. Spears
Faith M. U’ren, R.N.

STAFF

Ed Asher, Executive Director      
Karen Hensel, Director of Development                
Kathy Granger, Guest Services Manager           
Barbara Smith, Business Manager                         
Rod Lee, Resident Manager                                     
Karlann Bock, Weekend Manager                            
Amber Funk, Guest Services Coordinator             
Debe Thompson, Community Outreach Coordinator    
Debby Hays, Development Services Coordinator          

Mission, Goal, & Vision

Our Mission - To provide hope and compassionate support to patients and their caregivers in a “home away from home” setting.

Our goal is to help ease the financial, physical and emotional stresses that accompany serious illness by providing temporary lodging and support to those who come to Northeast Florida from other communities to receive life-saving medical care.

Our vision is that no one should ever have to face these challenges alone.