Palm Health Foundation's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Palm Health Foundation • April 6, 2020

Palm Health Foundation is leveraging our role as collaborator, convener and leader of innovative solutions for better health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation is working with local partners to organize relief and response efforts for our community. Our work is ongoing; this page will be updated as we continue to provide assistance to our neighbors.

Establishing the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund at Palm Health Foundation

Our lives have all been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but some of us are struggling much more than others in this “new normal.” Those of us who are still able to keep our jobs, pay our bills, access food and shelter safely at home, might be wondering what we can do to help those who don’t have these securities -- without putting ourselves, or the community, at risk.


Palm Health Foundation has established The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund to help our neighbors in need, in exactly the way they need it. This fund will put small grants directly in the hands of Palm Beach County residents so they can recover, rebuild and plan for the future.


For every dollar you contribute to the fund, Palm Health Foundation will match it. That means that for every dollar you donate, two dollars will go into the hands of residents in need.

Click Here to Donate to The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund

Ricky Petty, Healthier Boynton Beach project director, and the Tomlin Family, recipients of a vehicle donation through The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund at Palm Health Foundation


Click to READ MORE about The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund at Palm Health Foundation. 


Thank you to those who have donated to The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund at Palm Health Foundation: 

 

Anonymous

Stacey Amodio

Ellen Andel

Kirk Bell

Seth Bernstein

Katrina Blackmon

Denise Bober

Suzanne Brenner

Carrie Browne

Lillian Castellano

Castle Wealth Management

Julie F. Cummings

Donna Davis

Bill DelGrosso 

Margaret Donnelley

Kirk and Paula Dorhout

Susan Feldman

Marsha Fishbane

Frances and Jeffrey Fisher

Abby and Chad Goodwin

Linda LaRocca-Green

Kenneth and Summer Groves 

Julia Harris-Smith

Barbara James

Philippe Jeck

Phyllis Jepson

Janice Johnson

Christina Kramer

Jessie Lavelanet

Dr. Daniel Lichtstein

Anthony Lofaso

Sandra Mari

Cathy Marshall

Milton Martyny

Pat and Ana McNamara

Carmen Palacios

Chrissie and Scott Perron

Greg and Julie Quattlebaum

Pascale Reid

Barbara Richardson

Mark Rubenstein

Philip Reagan

Paul and Ruth Schwarzkopf

Andrea Stephenson-Royster

Lynn Strayer

Marilynn Seits

Ilene Solomon Silber and Louis Silber

Mark Stein

Marge Sullivan

The David & Sondra Mack Foundation, Inc.

David and Shawn Wisehaupt

Ramona Young

Zaloom Foundation

 

Palm Health Foundation is utilizing our Healthier Together networks to identify and assist our neighbors in need. If you are in need of immediate assistance, please view a list of local resources here: https://211palmbeach.org/coronavirus


Supporting United Way of Palm Beach County's COVID-19 Response Fund

Palm Health Foundation is supporting United Way of Palm Beach County's COVID-19 Response Fund, established to help our neighbors with food and financial assistance, through a generous grant provided by Alice and Chris Holbrook, advisors to The Alice Busch Gronewaldt Foundation Fund at Palm Health Foundation.

Activating a Health Equity Network Response

Palm Health Foundation believes that the pervasive nature of this pandemic calls for both traditional crisis response and more adaptive mechanisms. The foundation's Healthier Together community-based networks and BeWellPBC’s county-wide networks are driving virtual connections and outreach to ensure residents have a voice and a role in developing solutions that are responsive to their needs.


Connecting Neighbors and Collecting Stories

Through tools like Facebook Live and Zoom, the Healthier Together communities and BeWellPBC are linking people to one another—particularly those with the greatest health disparities—to cultivate social connectedness and counteract stress, social isolation and concern about the future. Click here to read more about these efforts. 

Palm Health Foundation is inviting residents to share their experiences during this time of uncertainty through SenseMaker, an online storytelling collection tool. Feedback is anonymous and will be analyzed to inform how Palm Health Foundation and BeWellPBC will provide future assistance to the community.

 

Click here to share your story.


Solving "Last Mile" Issues and Addressing Brain Health

In partnership with the Hunger Relief Coalition, Palm Health Foundation's Healthier Together communities are helping to solve "last mile" issues in food distribution for their most vulnerable neighbors. 


The foundation is also working with several partners to address the growing brain health needs of our residents, given the stress produced by the pandemic. Palm Health Foundation is exploring opportunities for making significant systemic improvements on our community's behavioral health safety net, including advances in telehealth and the implementation of an integrated network solution. 


Extending the Let's Move Physical Activity Challenge

Palm Health Foundation has extended the month-long Let's Move: Commit to Change Physical Activity Challenge beyond its original end date of March 31, 2020 to emphasize the importance of exercise for good physical and mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak. The foundation encourages Palm Beach County residents to set a goal of at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day, every day and to log minutes on the Let's Move website: www.LetsMovePBC.org. 


Click here to read more about the extension of the Let's Move challenge. 

Healthier Boynton Beach Honors 130 Family Caregivers at 9th Annual Recognition Luncheon

January 27, 2026
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.

Palm Health Foundation Grant Brings Day of Wellness to School Behavioral Health Professionals at Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens

January 27, 2026
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.

Christina Worley Joins Our Finance Committee

December 9, 2025

The Healthier PBC Endowment Fund

November 26, 2025
The Palm Health Foundation Endowment Fund provides the financial foundation for long-term strategic action.

Healthier Glades Celebration

November 21, 2025
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.

Meet Our New Fellow: Amy Ferguson

November 21, 2025

Train the Brain Campaign Connects All Ages and Communities

November 21, 2025
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.

Cultivating Compassionate Leaders: PHF's Scholarship Reception

November 21, 2025
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.

Palm Health Foundation to Launch “Brain Health Across the Lifespan” During October’s Train the Brain Month

August 27, 2025
Community campaign to highlight brain health at every stage of life, aiming to boost resilience and prevent neurological issues. 

Healthier Glades Launches Free Five-Week Mini Grant Workshop Series

August 21, 2025
Applicants must attend at least one workshop to be eligible for Healthier Glades 2026 mini grants.