About The Jacarlene Foundation

On a late September Tampa afternoon in 1987, John Howley and Aleen Steinberg met with Jacqueline (Jackie) Preis to discuss the idea of using a four million dollar inheritance from Jackie’s mother's estate to establish a philanthropic foundation in Florida. 

A year later, on the 15th of November, John and Aleen joined by Byron Smith, met in Jackie’s living room and held the first official Jacarlene Foundation board meeting. The trustees approved two grants. The first grant of $2,481 was made to a Tampa food pantry to help fund the costs of a commercial rotary toaster, a portable mobile hot cabinet, a busboy cart and a utility cart. The second for $4,000 helped with the purchase of a Burdick EKG Machine for a local health clinic. Several months later, the trustees made their inaugural grantee site visit to view the rotary toaster in action. It was a satisfying moment seeing their donation in operation, toasting multiple slices of bread at one time. “Jacarlene was in business!”

Jackie Preis was a strong determined woman who liked innovations, was curious, and sought to make a positive difference through charity. She enjoyed adventure. From whitewater rafting to hang gliding, she traveled the world, engaged with her faith community, and in the process, made a positive impact on a large number of people and animals. 

JACARLENE, the name of Jackie’s family’s grove in Seffner, Florida, combines the names of Jacqueline, her father Carl, and her mother Helene. The Foundation’s logo depicts the State of Florida and was created using the orange and green colors of the grove, with rays emanating from Jackie’s Tampa home to the entire state. Jackie’s mantra “what can I do for you” is now the mantra of the Foundation: “what can we do for you” to help strengthen Florida through the arts, the environment, and education. 

In 2010, Jackie appointed Jacquelyn Rogow and Thomas J. Hughes to the board of trustees. Tim Center was appointed in 2017 and Ian Ombres joined in 2022. Upon Jackie’s death in 2022, The Jacarlene Foundation became the beneficiary of her estate and trust.