Stearns Weaver Miller Gives Initial Support for Community Foundation of North Florida Press Forward Campaign

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Stearns Weaver Miller is pleased to announce that it has donated the initial support to kickstart the Community Foundation of North Florida’s Press Forward initiative. Press Forward North Florida aims to bring together community stakeholders to identify local information needs and facilitate the co-creation of solutions that strengthen civic engagement and ensure the long-term resiliency of trusted local news in the community. With support from a generous grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the organization is investing in research, partnerships, and dialogue that will lay the groundwork for innovative and sustainable approaches.

In 2026, the organization plans to:

• Roll out a coordinated public awareness campaign highlighting the importance of local reporting and the role it plays in the community.
• Support the Capital Region News Collaborative, a solutions‑focused initiative that shares resources and produces deeper reporting on local elections, economic mobility, and other issues.
• Fund two new full‑time reporting fellowships at The Tallahassee Democrat and WCTV News to expand newsroom capacity and create pathways for early career journalists to serve the community.
• Continue partnering with WFSU, WTXL, and FAMU on the Rural News Service to expand access to trusted information in rural Panhandle communities.

Shareholder Kelly A. O’Keefe has been a Board Member of the Community Foundation of North Florida since 2022 and currently serves as Chair. “As Chair, a key priority is getting this program off the ground to strengthen access to reliable local news and information. It is vital that our community stay informed, engaged, and connected to local issues and to each other. I am grateful to my firm for supporting this critical initiative and I am hopeful that others in the community will join us to help pave the way for stronger civic engagement.”

For more information on the Press Forward initiative and to donate, please visit the Community Foundation of North Florida website at https://www.cfnf.org/press-forward/.