A Jacksonville law firm has made a significant local contribution to support vulnerable families following the loss of federal funding for Catholic Charities services in South Florida.
Pajcic & Pajcic announced April 16 a $100,000 donation to Catholic Charities in the Diocese of St. Augustine to assist with programs serving those in need, including refugee families and individuals requiring housing, food, medical care and other basic support.
The gift was prompted by national developments reported by the Miami Herald, which detailed the cancellation of an $11 million federal contract with Catholic Charities in Miami. The funding had supported care for unaccompanied migrant children entering the United States.
Photo courtesy of Catholic Charities Jacksonville
Catholic Charities agencies provide these services through federally authorized programs that operate within the law. Their work is humanitarian in nature, focused on caring for vulnerable individuals, especially unaccompanied children, while upholding the dignity of every person, regardless of immigration status. This commitment reflects the Church’s longstanding mission to serve those most in need.
According to reporting by the Miami Herald, the contract termination affects services that provide shelter and assistance to minors who arrive without a parent or legal guardian, raising concerns among service providers about continuity of care for this vulnerable population.
Moved by the situation, attorney Seth Pajcic and his uncle, Steve Pajcic, founder of the firm, acted quickly. After learning of the funding cut earlier in the day, Seth Pajcic contacted Catholic Charities locally and arranged for the donation to be delivered that same afternoon.
“We are all immigrants, and to take out a political vendetta against the most vulnerable is wrong,” Pajcic said in a statement. He also encouraged others in the legal community and beyond to contribute in support of those in need.
Eileen Seuter, regional director of Catholic Charities Jacksonville, expressed gratitude for the gift and emphasized its local impact.
“When we help our neighbors in need, it comes back around and makes us a better community as a whole,” Seuter said, noting that the funds will remain in Jacksonville to support area residents.
Within the Diocese of St. Augustine, Catholic Charities Bureau Inc. operates four regional offices—Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Gainesville and Lake City—serving a wide range of needs across North Florida. While each office responds to local circumstances, they are part of a broader network of Catholic Charities agencies across the state.
In Florida, Catholic Charities offices exist in each of the state’s seven dioceses. These agencies collaborate and share a common mission rooted in the Church’s call to serve the poor and vulnerable, even as they operate independently within their respective dioceses.
Catholic Charities agencies provide essential services including food assistance, financial support, housing help, refugee resettlement, and access to medical and social services. Changes in federal policy or funding—such as the recent contract cancellation in Miami—can have ripple effects across this network, increasing demand for services in other regions.
The Pajcic donation highlights how local individuals and organizations can respond quickly to emerging needs, even when those needs originate beyond their immediate community.
In addition to this gift, Pajcic & Pajcic is also supporting Catholic Charities Jacksonville as an “Angel of Light” sponsor for the organization’s upcoming Black & White Soirée on May 15, further contributing to its mission and outreach efforts. To purchase tickets for the annual fundraiser, visit https://www.ccbjax.org/bwsoiree.
As Catholic Charities agencies continue to assess the broader impact of federal funding changes, local leaders remain focused on meeting immediate needs within their communities.
For Catholic Charities in Northeast Florida, the unexpected gift provides both practical support and a visible sign of solidarity—an example of how quickly generosity can respond when the needs of the most vulnerable come into focus.
To learn more about Catholic Charities community outreach in the Diocese of St. Augustine, visit https://www.ccbdosa.org/.
