Mayport USO

MAYPORT - The Mayport USO Center has been renovated and enlarged and has more parking space thanks to a recent $720,000 donation from a Massachusetts resident who wanted to honor his late father, who fought in World War II, by contributing to the military service organization. That's the largest private donation the Mayport USO Center has ever received, USO officials said. USO officials held a reception Monday at the center at 2560 Mayport Road for Mark Gelfand of Newton, Mass., who made the contribution in December 2004. Gelfand's late father, Harvey was a corporal in the U.S. Army in World War II, and his parents retired in Florida. Gelfand first approached the world headquarters of USO in Arlington, Va., and officials directed him to the Mayport USO. The Mayport officials gave a presentation, and Gelfand agreed to donate to that center, said K.C. McCarthy, executive director the Greater Jacksonville Area USO. The Mayport USO Center provides social services to many of the military families stationed at Mayport Naval Station. The center was a major player in providing relief to military families relocated from the Gulf Coast to the First Coast after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. For more details: [email protected], (904) 249-4947, ext. 6313