Palm Health Foundation, Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health, is now accepting undergraduate and graduate nursing scholarship applications for the 2027 academic cycle. Administered by the George Snow Scholarship Fund, the application window opened Nov. 1, 2026, and closes Feb. 1, 2027 at 11:59 PM. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and reside in Palm Beach County, with an exception for 2026 scholarship recipients applying for renewal. Full criteria and applications are available at scholarship.org/scholarships/#PHFScholarships.

Why it matters: Florida faces a projected shortage of nearly 60,000 nurses by 2035, while Palm Beach County continues to navigate nine federally designated primary care health shortage areas. At the same time, more than a third (34%) of residents speak a language other than English at home, primarily Spanish and Haitian Creole. Studies show that developing culturally responsive environments and providing care with a greater awareness and sensitivity to a patient’s unique and inherent characteristics, improve health outcomes, patient satisfaction, and the overall quality of care.

Palm Health Foundation cultivates donor investment in local nursing scholarships to directly address these clinical and cultural gaps:

• Growing Local Health Professions Pathways: Targeted nursing scholarships reduce the steep financial barriers of higher education, clearing a direct path for local scholars to enter the profession and immediately fill critical staffing needs within Palm Beach County’s community clinics and hospital networks.
• Culturally Responsive Care: Many of the foundation’s scholars come from diverse backgrounds and bring their lived experience caring for individuals and families to their professions. The foundation’s scholarships effectively translate donor generosity into culturally competent, community-based care that directly improves local clinical outcomes and patient trust and satisfaction.

By the numbers: Palm Health Foundation scholarships are made possible by connecting philanthropists with opportunities to invest in local scholars through donor advised funds or by donating to the  Nursing Professions Scholarship Fund.

• $4.8+ million: Health professions scholarships awarded by Palm Health Foundation and its fundholders since 2001.
• 2:1 match: Starting Dec. 1, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2027, a matching gift campaign will allow donors to double their contributions to the Nursing Professions Scholarship Fund.
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“Donors trust us to support the health of our Palm Beach County community,” said Palm Health Foundation President and CEO Patrick McNamara. “We look for nursing scholars with diverse backgrounds and lived experience who will go on to become compassionate, dedicated professionals and nursing leaders. Our scholarship donors and fund holders know their support transforms the lives of students and in turn the lives of the patients and families they care for.”

How to apply or support:

• Apply for a scholarship: Visit scholarship.org/scholarships/#PHFScholarships. For support, contact Leslie Cornwell ( lcornwell@scholarship.org ) or Austin Havass ( ahavass@scholarship.org ) at (561) 347-6799, ext. 102.
• Support nursing scholars : To make a gift, double your contribution during the match campaign, or establish a named scholarship fund in honor or memory of a loved one, contact Carrie Browne, Director of Stewardship & Strategic Partnerships, at carrieb@phfpbc.org or (561) 837-2281.

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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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