Cultivating Compassionate Leaders: PHF's Scholarship Reception
Palm Health Foundation’s Scholarship Reception on October 28, 2025, brought together nursing and behavioral health scholars with their donors for an inspiring evening at The Center for Philanthropy in West Palm Beach, FL. Over 90 guests gathered in the center’s tropical courtyard to celebrate 62 scholarship recipients, with musical entertainment provided by orchestra students from Grace Notes Music Foundation. Together with donors, Palm Health Foundation has awarded more than $4.6 million in health professions scholarships since 2001.
Gratitude flowed throughout the evening as scholars met their scholarship donors—many for the first time—and two former recipients shared their personal stories of overcoming barriers to continue their education and become health professions leaders thanks to The Debra Coffman Howe Nursing Scholarship Fund at Palm Health Foundation.
Dr. Alice Brumley spoke about how her scholarship supported her through the challenges of nursing during the pandemic. “More than financial support, it was knowing that someone believed in me, and my community was supporting me,” she said. Today, Dr. Brumley serves as Interim Director of the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center at FAU, leading compassionate, community-centered care for individuals and families affected by memory disorders.
Elizabeth Lubin shared her personal story about receiving her scholarship during one of the most challenging times of her life — balancing school, her family, the pandemic, and a cancer diagnosis. “It felt like a tremendous burden was lifted,” she said. “Not just from me, but from my family as well. It allowed me to breathe again, to focus on my studies, and to continue pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse.” Lubin is now a charge nurse at a South Florida Level II trauma emergency room, where she makes a difference in people’s lives every day, and looks ahead to becoming a nurse practitioner.
Both former scholars encouraged students to persevere by remembering their “why” as they continue their school and career journeys—an important message to help address significant nursing and behavioral health workforce shortages.
Patrick McNamara, Palm Health Foundation President and CEO, echoed their sentiments and the foundation’s dedication to growing a skilled healthcare workforce. “You have lived through challenges and are determined to be the solution,” he said. “We and our donors are determined as well in developing diverse, dynamic professionals like you for the betterment of our community’s health.”
McNamara closed the event by announcing the foundation’s generous scholarship match program. From December 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026, Palm Health Foundation is matching every donation to The Nursing Advancement Fund and all nursing scholarship funds dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000. Palm Health Foundation nursing scholarships support students with financial need in undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate programs.
Notable attendees at the event included: Dr. Christine Koehn, PHF trustee/vice chair and scholarship fund holder; PHF trustees Julie Fisher Cummings, Dr. Naelys Luna, Dr. Lisa Kirk Wiese, and Clovis Moodie, and former trustee Ilene Solomon Silber; scholarship fund holders Dr. Alina Alonso, Denise Bober, and Donald Smith-Browne; and Tim Snow, president of George Snow Scholarship Fund.
To make a gift or create a donor advised fund to support health professions scholars, please contact Carrie Browne, director of stewardship and strategic partnerships, (561) 837-2281, carrieb@phfpbc.org.
About Palm Health Foundation
Palm Health Foundation is Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. With the support of donors and a focus on results, the foundation builds strong community partnerships, respects diverse opinions, advocates for its most vulnerable neighbors, and inspires innovative solutions to lead change for better health now and for generations to come. The foundation supports health equity for Palm Beach County residents of all backgrounds, heritage, education, incomes and states of well-being. Palm Health Foundation has invested more than $95 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001. For more information about Palm Health Foundation,
visit palmhealthfoundation.org or call (561) 833-6333.
