Upon inheriting a giving account from his late grandparents, Mernik was tasked with perpetuating their lifelong interest in philanthropy.
“They left no instructions or recipe card for the trust,” Mernik said. “They wanted us to give back and support nonprofits of our choosing that were meaningful to us and that would allow their legacy to carry on while we built our own.”
Mernik gave it some thought, and decided that his alma mater, Flagler College, was the best place to invest his resources.
“My time at Flagler was so impactful,” he said. “I met lifelong friends, I studied abroad, I got involved, and I grew so much as a person. I knew after graduation that I needed to stay involved and contribute as much as possible to the future of Flagler.”
Mernik graduated in 2021 with a degree in Criminology. During his time at Flagler, he served as Vice President of both Student Affairs and the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He is the first generation in his family to graduate.
“I know that made my grandparents very proud,” Mernik said. “They neither graduated from college nor had the means to go.”
In honor of his late grandparents, whom he called his “twin pillars and biggest supporters,” Mernik established the Richard and Judith Anderson Memorial Endowed and Annual Scholarships. Matched 2:1 by a grant provided by the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, the awards benefit first-year students with a declared major in Criminology, a minor in Pre-Law or a major in Business Administration.
“I see investing in scholarships as a way to support the development of talented individuals who can contribute positively to society,” he said.
Mernik also named the College’s Mail Services Facility and the Printing Room in Flagler’s cutting-edge entrepreneurial location, the Brown Innovation Center. He felt especially connected to the latter space because his family’s business specialized in folding carton and printing.
Remarking on his prolific giving so far, Mernik said, “I believe it’s always a good time for philanthropy. What I thought would be just a simple donation to my college before graduation turned into funding two scholarships, two buildings, and being more involved than when I was on campus.”
Recently, he served on the Campaign Steering Committee (CSC), which was responsible for overseeing the Flagler Forward Campaign. As a member, he financially contributed to the cause, helped plan strategy and engagement, and cultivated donors by leveraging his own contacts within the community.
He credited learning to “speak up and have an opinion” to his time on the Committee.
“I loved working on the CSC and was honored to be selected,” Mernik said. “I loved that I was the youngest member and the most recent graduate. It was nice to have a ‘kid’s’ perspective voiced.”
Through this role, Mernik learned the value of his young perspective on philanthropy, commenting on the importance of young donors in general.
“They bring new ideas and perspectives,” he said. “Because they are in a different phase of life from the ‘traditional’ donor, their concerns can reflect more closely those of the people benefitting from philanthropy in a college setting.”
Mernik takes this rare position seriously, often marveling at how quickly time has passed since he began his own Flagler career.
“I’ve come so far since getting my acceptance letter back in 2017,” Mernik said. “When I drive by the Mernik Mail Services now, I think about the ripple effect of my initial acceptance.”
Mernik has plans to attend law school and is currently studying for the LSAT. He frequently visits Flagler’s campus and works closely with the Office of Institutional Advancement on naming opportunities or other projects underway.
When he arrived on campus from small-town Minnesota, Mernik never foresaw the level of involvement he now enjoys with Flagler, but he has loved growing with the College, becoming one of its most devoted supporters.
“I started a whole new life when I arrived here,” he said. “Luckily, I landed on my feet and took off running.”
And he hasn’t stopped running with this momentum. Now, he has one piece of advice to any prospective donor:
“Step out of your comfort zone and take risks,” he said. “You’re never too young to give back.”
To learn more about how you can make a difference at Flagler College like James Mernik, visit The Flagler Forward campaign webpage.
