Chioma Deere, Esq., a Florida attorney and member of the Philanthropy Committee at Palm Health Foundation, is passionate about helping individuals and families leave a legacy of health and wellbeing through strategic philanthropy. As the founder of The Deere Law Firm in West Palm Beach, she assists clients with estate planning, probate, and charitable giving. Deere-Law.com
Hospital Conversion Foundations are Connected to Community Needs
December 20, 2024
Article written for the Estate Planning Council's annual Estate Planning Supplement by Palm Health Foundation Philanthropy Committee member Chioma Deere, Esq.
Hospital conversion foundations are unique and powerful forces in advancing community health. These charitable organizations are born when non-profit hospitals are sold and converted to for-profit entities. A foundation is then established from the proceeds of the sale or “conversion.”
Because of their history in healthcare, these organizations are deeply rooted in the community, and therefore in touch with our neighbors’ most pressing health needs. Though these foundations carry forward the charitable missions of the original hospitals, they are nimbly positioned to respond to the ever-changing health landscape and can connect donors to the health causes closest to their hearts.
Rooted in Community
Hospital conversion foundations are deeply embedded in the fabric of the communities they serve. Unlike national health organizations, these foundations focus on hyper-local health needs and can partner with residents, philanthropists, institutions, and fellow nonprofits to drive innovative solutions to the biggest health challenges that communities face.
This deep connection to the community is something I relate to as an attorney dedicated to serving our Palm Beach County neighbors. I work with families daily to ensure that they are protected in as many ways as possible. By partnering with Palm Health Foundation, a local hospital conversion foundation and Palm Beach County’s only community foundation for health, I’ve discovered a world of other ways that I can continue to help the community. I choose to partner with organizations like Palm Health Foundation because they are an extension of the work I, and professionals like me, do to help our neighbors.
To advance local health causes, we must recognize that our neighbors’ lived experiences shape their health outcomes. Just as I center listening to my clients and prioritizing their voice and experiences in shaping solutions to their problems, our philanthropic partners must center resident voices when seeking community health solutions. Palm Health Foundation is a ready partner in this, prioritizing resident voices in their fundraising and grantmaking efforts. Though the foundation was born out of a healthcare system, people are the priority.
Poised to Advance Innovation
Through community collaboration, Palm Health Foundation has invested more than $93 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001, focusing on building a culture of health, advancing brain health, and strengthening our local health professions. In addition to funding innovative health programming and initiatives, the foundation has awarded more than $4.6 million in scholarships, helping more than 1,000 graduates enter the healthcare workforce, addressing critical shortages and improving care in Palm Beach County.
Palm Health Foundation’s investment in scholarships echoes back to its hospital roots, but its unique position today allows the support of cutting-edge health innovation. In the foundation’s brain health advancement work, it convenes local brain science institutions, philanthropists, clinicians, artists, researchers, and residents to advance our understanding of the brain and develop new treatments for brain health conditions.
Palm Beach County is home to leading brain science and research institutions, attracting talent from around the world to study and develop new technologies and treatments right here in our backyard. This hospital conversion foundation bridges scientific study with community, poising Palm Beach County to become a national leader in brain health advancement.
Strategic Philanthropy
Your philanthropic interests don’t need to be in any one specific area to find meaningful partnership with your local hospital conversion foundation. These foundations can partner with you in advancing the health cause you – or your client - care about most. In the world of philanthropy, professional advisors, whether they are estate planners, financial planners, or legal professionals, play an essential role in helping clients make informed decisions about their charitable giving.
Whether your clients are interested in supporting immediate health needs or establishing a long-term legacy, health conversion foundations offer a range of giving options that allow donors to tailor their philanthropy and provide potential tax advantages. From tax-efficient donor-advised funds to planned giving strategies, these foundations work with advisors to create personalized plans that align with clients' financial and charitable goals, build a legacy, and make lasting impact.
Because of Palm Health Foundation’s deep roots in the community, their dedicated staff can act as an extension of any advisor or estate attorney working to protect and support Palm Beach County families and can help guide clients who are particularly interested in leaving a legacy for a thriving community. Palm Health Foundation offers a variety of avenues, including one-time donations, legacy planning, cryptocurrency contributions, and donor advised and endowed funds, to give meaningful support of our local health landscape. These opportunities allow donors to tailor their philanthropy to both immediate and long-term health improvements in our community.
Connected and Collaborative
Through strategic philanthropy, community collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to addressing local needs, hospital conversion foundations build healthier, more resilient communities. In Palm Beach County, the ongoing work of Palm Health Foundation is a testament to the enduring value of health conversion foundations.
Your support through thoughtful, strategic philanthropy has the power to make lasting, generational change. By partnering with foundations like Palm Health Foundation and leveraging the expertise of professional advisors, donors can create a legacy of health and well-being that will benefit Palm Beach County for generations to come.
Healthier Boynton Beach, a Palm Health Foundation initiative, recently celebrated the unwavering dedication of family caregivers at its 9th Annual Caregivers Recognition Luncheon at Benvenuto Restaurant in Boynton Beach. More than 150 guests gathered for an afternoon of appreciation, connection, and joy. "Caring Hearts & Strong Hands – Celebrating the Love and Dedication of Family Caregivers," honored 130 family caregivers during a celebration that featured laughter, music, and meaningful moments, giving caregivers a well-deserved respite from their daily responsibilities. Montre Bennett opened the program with a mindfulness moment, followed by Boynton Beach Mayor Rebecca Shelton’s heartfelt welcome and personal caregiving story. Vice Mayor Woodrow Hay delivered the invocation before lunch, then handed the microphone to event host Rod-Z, who entertained guests with comedy, songs, and dancing. The JSharp Band provided outstanding live music that had caregivers on their feet throughout the afternoon. Highlights of the event included keynote speaker Charlotte Wright’s moving message acknowledging the challenges and profound rewards of family caregivers’ service, and the presentation of the prestigious Caregiver Award to Angela T. Williams of Delray Beach, recognizing her extraordinary dedication and selfless service to her husband.
Thanks to a grant from Palm Health Foundation , The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens (ANSG) in West Palm Beach recently hosted a Day of Wellness for Palm Beach County School District Behavioral Health Professionals, who dedicate their lives to providing behavioral and mental health services to students. Seventy frontline mental health staff enjoyed a day of reflection, relaxation, rejuvenation, self-care, and professional development. The Day of Wellness was created in recognition of professionals’ deep commitment to the county’s youth and the emotional toll of the high-impact services they provide as challenges among school-age children continue to rise. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health , between 2016 and 2023, the prevalence of diagnosed depression among 12–17-year-olds increased by 45 percent, and diagnosed anxiety increased by 61 percent. Set amidst ANSG’s beautiful and peaceful landscape of the sculpture gardens and the historic, inspirational Artist Studio, the program featured a series of therapeutic experiences led by local expert facilitators, including Creating a Garden of Gratitude and Hope, a therapeutic experience blending visual arts with personal reflections by Tiffany Mitchell and Amy Case of Rhythms of Hope, and Music for Mindfulness and Intention led by Bree Lukosavich. Participants also enjoyed creating a watercolor mindscape with art therapist Alicia Ballestas, exploring self-care with Shabrae Jackson, joining in a pollinator planting activity with ANSG Master Gardener CJ McCartney, and closing the day with a drumming circle led by Abasi Hanif.
The Palm Health Foundation Endowment Fund provides the financial foundation for long-term strategic action.
This fall, Healthier Glades , a Palm Health Foundation Healthier Together initiative , hosted a celebration event with community and partners to honor the resident-led work accomplished over the years of the initiative’s existence. In addition to food and fellowship, attendees shared aspirations for the initiative’s future and reflected on highlights, such as: The impact of Healthier Glades’ mini grants offerings Reduction of youth violence through collaborations with the “Dads on Duty” initiative The air quality initiative spearheaded in partnership with PHF Trustee Dr. Lisa Wiese The Safety Walk – an effort to identify unsafe areas on children’s walk-to-school routes, leading to the establishment of flashing lights in critical areas Resident connection to Mental Health First Aid training , strengthening the recognition that mental health is health Palm Health Foundation is honored to be part of the work that continues to advance health in the Glades communities.
Palm Health Foundation ’s October 2025 Train the Brain community health campaign, themed “Brain Health Across the Lifespan,” offered opportunities all month long, drawing nearly 300 community members to connect with local brain health champions, access practical, science-backed information, and take meaningful steps to support brain health for themselves, their families, and their neighbors – at every age and stage of life. Train the Brain inspired local organizational collaborations from Belle Glade to Boynton Beach to offer a range of community programs to help residents of all ages recognize that taking care of the brain is just as important as taking care of the body. At “Arts on the Muck,” Glades community elders engaged in arts activities, memory boosting games, music, and movement during a football-themed afternoon. The Schoolhouse Children’s Museum joined with The Center for Child Counseling to bring the brain-boosting benefits of yoga, art making, and music to children, while their parents and caregivers learned practical, science-based tips to support brain health and emotional well-being at home. “Collaborations such as these create partnership opportunities though which we can further strengthen our communities,” said Ljubica Ciric, Senior Director of Strategic Impact, Center for Child Counseling.
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.
Community campaign to highlight brain health at every stage of life, aiming to boost resilience and prevent neurological issues.
Applicants must attend at least one workshop to be eligible for Healthier Glades 2026 mini grants.
