In November 2009, the Charles and Patsy Blount family were honored at the national Council for Resource Development Conference in Washington DC as the recipients of the Region IV Benefactors of the Year Award.  It was a great honor for the Santa Fe Foundation and employees of Santa Fe College to recognize the tremendous efforts of this man and his extraordinary family by recommending Charles and Patsy Blount for this prestigious award.

Mr. and Mrs. Blount have been, and continue to be, the largest contributor to the welfare of Santa Fe College.  Mr. Blount has said many times that Gainesville and Alachua County have been good to him and that he wanted to give back to the community.  He stepped forward in a most magnificent and monumental manner. 

Mr. Blount donated more than $5 million dollars in cash and in-kind contributions for the benefit of Santa Fe students and to develop the Blount Center in downtown Gainesville, which serves 2,600 students annually.  The Blount's have also established two scholarship programs resulting in a $3.6 million dollar scholarship program for students attending Santa Fe College.

Under Charley's leadership, the Santa Fe College Automotive Technology Program was revitalized and recognized locally, statewide, and nationally.  As a result of his leadership in contributing funds from his auto dealerships throughout Central Florida, permanently endowed funds in excess of one-half million dollars provide for state-of-the-art equipment and student scholarships in the automotive technology program.

Several thousand students have directly benefited as a result of his leadership and generosity; thousands more will benefit each year in perpetuity.