Q: What drew you to the foundation?
A: Civic engagement and giving back to my community are important to me. I was born at St. Mary’s Hospital and my mom and dad had roots in the Glades. I’ve always been involved with organizations that have a significant influence in guiding the county’s development, including the West Palm Beach Rotary Club in my early career where I was president, and the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, where I worked my way up to chair. Philippe Jeck, a fellow chamber member and Palm Health Foundation trustee, asked me if I would be interested in replacing him to fill the foundation’s need for an attorney on the board. I knew if Philippe was involved, it had to be a good organization. I joined the board at the same time Patrick McNamara was hired as president and CEO. We went through a learning process together and the more I got involved, the more I realized all the good the foundation was doing.
Q: What are some examples of the foundation’s impact that have been particularly meaningful to you?
A: The foundation’s Healthier Together initiative is a model that could be replicated in areas of need. It’s a grassroots movement that aims to—and does—provide better health outcomes to underserved communities. It’s also an example of how the foundation is partnering with residents and other players in the Palm Beach County community. We provide resources and they provide knowledge to direct where those resources need to go. BeWellPBC is another example of that model in mental health and wellness, an area where the foundation is making significant investments. Who among us hasn’t been touched in some way by a mental health situation? We’ve made brain health outcomes one of the legs of the foundation’s stool. It’s a focus area that resonates with the community and is very much needed.
