The Claude Pepper Foundation

Florida State University

Claude Pepper Center

The Claude Pepper Foundation provided an endowment to Florida State University to establish and build the Claude Pepper Center to house the Claude Pepper Library, Pepper Foundation, Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy and to create the Claude Pepper Museum and the Claude Pepper Center department to conduct research, training, advocacy, the dissemination of relevant information, and activities designed to enhance the retirement security and overall well-being of older Americans. The endowment provided support for the Center’s building construction and furnishings as well as exhibits and audio tour, stained glass windows, artwork and Changing Gallery. Prior to the construction of the Center the Pepper Foundation provided oversight of the Pepper Collection to have it preserved, cataloged and stored following it being housed in Dodd Hall, which was the first location of the Claude Pepper Library at Florida State University.

Sculpture of Senator Claude Pepper, Claude Pepper Center

The Claude Pepper Foundation commissioned a prominent sculptor, Neil Estern, to create a life size bronze sculpture of Senator Claude Pepper located in front of the Claude Pepper Center at Florida State University.  Mr. Estern created the stunning bronze sculptures of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. and was chosen because of Senator Pepper’s admiration for Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the desire to have a connection between the two.

College of Human Sciences

The Claude Pepper Foundation provided support to the College of Human Sciences, Textiles and Consumer Sciences at Florida State University to conduct the Mildred Pepper Design Competition award program. The competition was first conceived by Mildred Pepper as a means to recognize and award students for apparel design. Students who participated in the program created a fashion design that was reviewed by a panel of judges who determined whose work should receive an award in different categories. A runway fashion show was held at the end of the competition to showcase the work of those who participated. Monetary and additional awards were provided to students who won the competition.

College of Communication and Information

The Claude Pepper Oratory Competition was a program that included the Claude Pepper Foundation and the Claude Pepper Library working in collaboration with Florida State University’s Forensics Department in the College of Communication and Information to present an oratory competition designed to encourage promising students with the opportunity to practice their debate and rhetorical skills. Monetary awards were awarded granted to finalists who delivered the most persuasive speeches.

Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy

The Claude Pepper Foundation provided:

  • Funds to support the work of the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy at Florida State University;
  • Funds to establish the Mildred and Claude Pepper Eminent Scholar Chair in Social Gerontology to provide a critical force in determining the focus and direction of gerontological research and teaching programs. The Chair will act as a catalyst to generate knowledge about the fastest growing segment of our society, increase attention on the aging process and the elderly, stimulate student interest in gerontology and provide a focal point around which multidisciplinary study and research may be accomplished;
  • Funds to establish The Fraternal Order of Eagles Memorial Professorship in the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy;
  • Funds to establish the Mildred & Claude Pepper Distinguished Professor in Sociology to support the Department of Sociology’s goal of creating a “tradition of excellence” by providing the best educational and training experience for its students; the Professorship will help the Department of Sociology obtain and retain outstanding faculty members who in turn attract outstanding undergraduate and graduate students;
  • Funds to the Pepper Institute for the production of a report on the annual state of the elderly in Florida, “Annual State of the Elderly in Florida, An Almanac of Information.”

Claude Pepper Library

  • Visiting Scholar Program
    The Claude Pepper Foundation established a Visiting Scholar Program to provide scholarships to encourage study in the Pepper Collection on policy areas that were advanced by Senator Pepper and also to study his life and political career.
  • Study Guide
    The creation of a study guide that would be useful to teachers who plan to bring their students to tour the exhibits of the Claude Pepper Museum.
  • Editing the Diaries of Senator Claude Pepper
    The Claude Pepper Foundation sponsored Dr. Fred Standley of Florida State University to work on editing and publishing the diaries of Senator Claude Pepper. Among the holdings of the Pepper Library are numerous diaries dating from the early 1920s when Pepper was attending Harvard University to the early 1980s when he had already firmly established himself as the “Champion of the Elderly.”
  • Digitalization of the Pepper Collection at Florida State University
    Digitization from the holdings of the Pepper Collection was made possible through a grant the Pepper Foundation received from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The work enabled researchers to search the digital archive of the most frequently used documents as well as showcase actual audio of the Senator’s top speeches.
  • Claude Pepper Biographical Film: Eyewitness to a Century
    The Pepper Foundation worked in conjunction with Ronald Goldfarb, Main Street Productions, and Florida State University College of Communication and Information/Seminole Productions to produce a documentary film on the life and career of Senator Pepper. The documentary, entitled Claude Pepper: Eyewitness to a Century, is narrated by actor Edward Asner and includes interviews with Senator Pepper conducted by Ron Goldfarb. The film also features several original photographs and audiovisual recordings from the Pepper Collection. The documentary has been added to the permanent collection of the Claude Pepper Library, and is presented to visitors in the auditorium of the Pepper Center. The film has also been broadcast on television stations nationwide and is made available for broadcast by the Pepper Foundation.
  • Filming of oral histories on the life and career of Senator Pepper to be included in the Pepper Collection.

Claude Pepper Foundation Projects and Co-Sponsorships

Pepper: Eyewitness to a Century
To obtain the rights to Senator Pepper’s biography, Pepper: Eyewitness to a Century, in order to have the book scanned and reproduced and made available to the public in digital format.

Commemoration of the Passage of Minimum Wage Law
A symposium held to examine the effect of the minimum wage on employment workers and industry upon its 60th anniversary.

National Issues Forum Public Policy Institute
A two-day intergenerational forum to discuss the future of Social Security and Medicare.

Project on Age Discrimination
A study on “The Status of Age Discrimination in American Society.”

Close-Up Program
A program to bring together elders and students to deliberate public policy issues and interact socially to increase intergenerational cooperation and understanding.

Nations Magazine
A project to provide literature to Florida high school libraries.

Florida Cities Awards
To present annual awards to Florida cities in recognition of the most outstanding programs benefitting senior citizens.

70th Anniversary Card on Social Security
Creation of an anniversary card on Social Security prepared and distributed to the Florida Legislature, Congress, Cabinet and the Washington and Florida Press and television stations directing people to access information on Senator Pepper’s role on the National Commission on Social Security on the Pepper Center’s website as well as a list of other issues.

Hip Fracture Prevention Project
A study of at-risk seniors that incorporated a multi-disciplinary community-based, team approach which addressed each of the risk factors responsible for falls and related, sometimes fatal, injuries.

Celebration of Senior Wellness Event
An event that was held to encourage physical activity and healthful living among seniors. The event included competitions for entrants 55 or older, a health fair and door prizes for attendees.

Claude Pepper Stamp Dedication
The Claude Pepper Foundation held an event to dedicate a postage stamp that was issued in memory of Senator Pepper.

Guardianship Study
An in-depth study of Florida’s adult guardianship system.

Teachers Workshop
A summer focus group/workshop held for teachers at the Pepper Center.

Social Security: America’s Radar Screen Public Hearing
Joint project with the Pepper Center to hold a public hearing to announce results of a national poll on the state of Social Security in America on what the general public thinks about the country’s public retirement program for the elderly, disabled, and dependents were discussed from bi-partisan perspectives. The public’s perspectives were discussed with implications for the future of the current Social Security system and possibilities for reform.

Claude Pepper Foundation Project Health Security Express
Participation in Health Security Express, which was a bus caravan to Washington, D.C. to make it possible for hundreds of citizens to meet with elected officials in support of universal health care coverage.

White House Conference on Aging
Joint project with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs to sponsor three regional conferences in Florida called for by the White House Conference on Aging to develop recommendations for the Conference.

Meals on Wheels
Joint project with the Florida Council on Aging to broadcast television commercials on Medicare and Meals on Wheels to educate the public on proposed funding cuts.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Joint project with Elder Care Services and Big Bend 4C to conduct a workshop on grandparents raising grandchildren to provide resources and information to individuals responsible for rearing their grand or great-grandchildren and a contribution made in memory of Shirley Lewis.

Florida Senior Day
Joint project with the Pepper Center to support a Florida Senior Day reception that hosted senior citizens who traveled to Tallahassee to attend the event, sponsors, partners and colleagues. Florida Senior Day is a collaborative event of the United Way and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs designed to bring together thousands of seniors and hundreds of corporate, philanthropic and non-profit organizations to support the full spectrum of services and needs of Florida’s seniors.

Families USA Foundation
To support a National Emergency Drive for HealthCare, a joint project of four organizations including the Pepper Foundation, to dramatize public support for health care reform.

Other Pepper Foundation Projects:

  • Creation of a traveling exhibit that conveys information on Senator Claude Pepper’s life and career displayed at schools, libraries, museums and other locations in and outside the State of Florida. A model of the permanent exhibits in the Claude Pepper Museum was also created for display at conferences and other public events.
  • Creation of a biographical video providing information on Senator Pepper, the Pepper Center, Museum and Library, and the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy to be viewed at public events.
  • Sponsorship of a town meeting held to discuss national health care reform.
  • Health care conference held to explore various policy options for providing comprehensive health care to all Americans and for financing it.
  • Mailings to educate the public on the need for health care reform and the proposals of the Pepper Commission on Comprehensive Health Care.
  • Presentation of Pepper Distinguished Public Service Awards.
  • National health care education project to support national health care in a series of newspaper ads.

Support of Other Organizations Programs and Initiatives

Ageless in America
The production of a pilot television series that featured interviews and information targeted to an audience 50 and older. The television show was co-hosted by Anna Johnson and Lew Wilson and produced by Impact Visual Media (IVM) and WCTV.

The Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging
To develop mechanisms for improved access, coordination and integration of community-based services as an initial means to the development of a more effective comprehensive long term care system for at risk elderly.

The School for Ethical Education (SEE)
To provide support to The School for Ethical Education’s Character Celebration. The celebration honored the top ten student essayists in a Laws of Life essay program. The essay described their personal values and ethics that will help them live a successful and productive life. SEE is a non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage positive ethics and character in students. SEE programs include student writing programs, school-based service-learning projects and strategies to encourage academic integrity.

Bowman Gray School of Medicine
To sponsor a project in Preventative Gerontology which focuses upon research, education, medical and public health to delay age-correlated declines in physiological efficiency.

Tallahassee Community College
To help fund an event for the International Year of Older Persons in Florida to raise awareness in the community about the situation of older persons and provide the opportunity to network with agencies, governments, individuals, families, educational institutions, etc. in our area.

Cape Cod Community College, Center for Successful Aging
To support programs in the arts, literature and education to benefit the Cape’s older adults or professionals in the service field.

Flemmings Fellows Leadership Institute, Center for Policy Alternatives
To advance education and democracy in Central America by establishing an Eminent Scholar Chair in Law in the name of Congressman John Joseph Moakley and to improve the quality of legislative services through advanced training for young legislators.

Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
To support the Frances Humphrey Howard Scholarship Fund for meritorious students at the Institute studying for careers in public service.

Florida International Volunteer Corps
To deliver short term technical assistance and training to lessen the suffering among the aging population in the Caribbean countries and Central America.

Miami Rescue Mission
To establish a Claude Pepper Scholarship Fund for the Nova Learning Program to educate unemployed persons, increase their self-esteem and qualify them for employment. The Miami Rescue Mission serves the homeless and needy of South Florida.

The Learning Experience
To provide funds to expand the facility for mentally handicapped children to include a middle and senior high school.

Kissimmee Charter Academy
To provide funds to sponsor the purchase of laptop computers for elementary school aged students to complete their homework and class assignments in and out of the school environment.

2030 Center
To support the 2030 Center’s Young Workers Retirement Health Project to produce educational materials about the retirement health of young workers, including a “policy manual” about how new Social Security reform proposals affect young adults.

National Academy of Social Insurance
To provide support to develop, distribute, and promote discussion of new materials describing the impact of “means-testing” and “privatizing” Social Security on its current and future beneficiaries, support for an institute for individuals who are young public servants to prepare them for careers in public service and to help fund the Academy’s program development.

Florida Commission on Aging with Dignity
To help develop a system of health and long term care that will maintain the human dignity of the elderly and prepare for the challenges younger Floridians will encounter both now and when they retire.

Long Term Care Campaign, Long Term Care Education Fund
To support a public education campaign to fight against the weakening of Medicaid.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Miami
To sponsor an intergenerational initiative designed to educate and increase the elderly community’s awareness of the need and personal rewards of working with young people as mentors and role models.

National Council on Aging
To provide support for the presentation of the Claude Pepper Award for Excellence in Community Long Term Care. The award was to recognize professionals who are committed to the development of a continuum of service to enable older people to live at home with dignity, independence and autonomy.

HealthRIGHT
To contribute towards the cost of a video petition to Congress for universal health care coverage produced by HealthRIGHT.

Florida Department of Elder Affairs
To sponsor the Pepper “Celebration of Life” Awards to recognize outstanding older workers.

Florida Council on Aging
To support Special Plenary Sessions at the FCOA Annual Aging Network Conferences.

Alliance for Aging Research
To prepare an official report to the 1995 White House Conference on Aging, “Putting Aging on Hold: Delaying the Diseases of Old Age.”

Alliance for Aging, Inc.
To provide support for the Alliance for Aging International Senior Festival and Expo.

IPU Conference
To sponsor a meeting on the Health and Well-being of the Elderly at the Interparliamentary Union’s Conference.

Alliance for Health and Long Term Care
To educate both policymakers and the general public about the issues surrounding health care reform.

Alzheimer Resource Center
To sponsor the Center’s annual conference, “Alzheimer’s on the Horizon.”

Institute for Advanced Studies in Immunology and Aging
To support a forum on Alzheimer Disease research.

National Parkinson Foundation
To provide support to benefit Parkinson Disease research.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission
To help build the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

National Academy of Social Insurance
To support the National Academy’s 10th Annual Conference.

Alzheimer Project of Tallahassee
To provide relief to people caring for family members with Alzheimer’s Disease, other memory impairments or Parkinson Disease.

Florida Disabled Outdoors Association
To support the association’s promotion for accessible outdoor recreation for people with disabilities.

1995 White House Conference on Aging
To prepare a video to be shown at the Conference.

Bayfront Park Management Trust
To retrofit the Pepper Fountain in Pepper Bayfront Park for more economical operation and its maintenance.

The Carrie Meek Foundation, Inc.
The Claude Pepper Foundation provided support to The Carrie Meek Foundation in its attempts to sponsor and promote programs in education, affordable housing, health care, economic development and community empowerment. The Carrie Meek Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for all residents of their community.

Helen Hayes McArthur Memorial Hospital
A gift made in memory of Miss Hayes to a hospital founded on the philosophy of treating people, not disabilities.

Anacostia Senior Citizens Couseling and Del. Service
To provide food to 150 low income minority seniors at Christmas.

Elder Floridians Foundation Disaster Relief Fund
To provide relief for South Florida’s older victims of Hurricane Andrew.

Florida Humanities Council
To fund a series of programs throughout Florida featuring actor Kelly Reynolds as Senator Claude Pepper.

Tallahassee Leon County Shelter
To support the Tallahassee-Leon County Shelter’s programs. The Shelter is a leading provider of services to homeless individuals in the city of Tallahassee and Leon County in Florida.

Echo Outreach Ministries
To provide support for the ministries emergency assistance in goods, clothing, funds for rent, utilities, medications and transportation to clients in emergency situations and to provide funds to purchase freezers needed to safely store USDA meats that ECHO receives free for distribution to very low-income families.