Palm Health Foundation Celebrates 56 Health Professions Scholars
Reception unites nursing, mental health, and behavioral health students
with the donors and fundholders investing in their education
Palm Health Foundation’s Scholarship Reception on September 29, 2026, brought together scholars pursuing careers in nursing, mental health, and behavioral health with their supporters for an inspiring evening at The Center for Philanthropy in West Palm Beach, FL. More than 100 guests gathered in the center’s tropical courtyard to celebrate 56 scholarship recipients, with musical entertainment provided by orchestra students from Grace Notes Music Foundation, a Palm Health Foundation grantee. Together with donors and fundholders, Palm Health Foundation has awarded more than $4.8 million in health professions scholarships since 2001.
Scholarship fund holders, including Palm Health Foundation Board Chair Dr. Christine Koehn, delighted in meeting their students.
“My husband, Rich, and I established our family fund as a way to create a lasting legacy of health and healing in our community,” Dr. Koehn told guests. She thanked fellow scholarship fund holders, commenting, “Your generosity opens doors for students to pursue their education, follow their calling, and become the healthcare professionals our community needs.”
Allison Jimenez, LMHC, thinks about how far the investment in her education from the Frances Fisher Scholarship Fund at Palm Health Foundation has traveled. Speaking to current scholars at the reception, she reflected on how the foundation’s support for her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling led her to become a licensed mental health counselor, an addiction professional, a professor, the CEO of a nonprofit behavioral health organization, and now, preparing to pursue her doctorate at Johns Hopkins University as a first-generation scholar.
“Their scholarship investment didn’t end when I graduated,” Jimenez said. “It followed me into therapy rooms, classrooms, and community meetings. It became part of every opportunity I’ve had to advocate for individuals and families who deserve access to compassionate, quality behavioral health care. That is the power of investing in someone’s education.”
“Palm Health Foundation seeks scholars like Allison who have the ability to bridge languages, cultures, and experiences, and help ensure that more people can access care that is not only high-quality, but also understanding and responsive to individual and community needs,” said Palm Health Foundation President and CEO Patrick McNamara.
McNamara closed the event by encouraging guests to support the foundation’s scholarship fund match programs. Palm Health Foundation has committed $50,000 to match contributions to its Mental Health Professions Scholarship Fund. Through Oct. 31, 2026, each gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000 per donation, while matching funds remain available. To give to the Mental Health Professions Scholarship Fund or learn more about the other participating match opportunities, please visit PalmHealthFoundation.org/scholarship-match.
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 $98 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001. For more information about Palm Health Foundation,
visit palmhealthfoundation.org or call (561) 833-6333.
Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc., dba Palm Health Foundation, is a Florida nonprofit corporation and a 501(c)(3) public charity. EIN: 59-2391119. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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