Mary Jane Jones says her parents instilled a strong sense of tradition and philanthropy in her at an early age.

"Even when I was a little girl, my parents taught me the importance of being charitable. It's a lesson that impacts who I am today."

She and her husband Buck met and married in 1973. For many years they remained in their home state of Tennessee where Mary Jane proudly states the family has lived for five generations. Eventually Buck was offered a career opportunity in Florida, and they have resided in the Tampa Bay area for over 20 years.

Buck and Mary Jane's tradition of helping non-profit organizations continued in Tampa Bay, where they have provided support to their church, Lowry Park Zoo, The Florida Aquarium, and many additional organizations.

A couple years ago, Mary Jane was introduced to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay by members of the Crisis Center's Women In Action group. She attended a Women In Action meeting and soon became a member. When the Crisis Center launched the Legacy Society, she and Buck made a commitment to include the Crisis Center in their estate plans. Mary Jane explains why she supports the Crisis Center.

"The Crisis Center provides help to all generations. They make daily telephone reassurance phone calls to elderly individuals, and kids and their caretakers can go there for counseling when they've experienced a traumatic event."

Mary Jane and Buck are now passing along the family tradition of giving to the next generation. They've asked their two sons, Madison and Logan, to continue to support the Crisis Center in the future. They encourage anyone who might be interested in learning more about the organization to take a tour of facility. If you've never toured the Crisis Center you can see a schedule of tour dates by clicking HERE.