West Palm Beach, Fla.– Barbara James, vice president and executive director of the Bethesda Hospital Foundation Baptist Health South Florida, and Stephen M. Zaloom, partner with the law firm of Jeck, Harris, Raynor & Jones, P.A., have been elected to the board of trustees at Palm Health Foundation, Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. James and Zaloom join a board of eighteen county leaders chaired by Denise Bober, senior vice president of human resources at The Breakers Palm Beach.

The foundation also announced trustee Frances Fisher’s election as the new chair of its philanthropy committee, where James and Zaloom will serve as well. Fisher joined the Palm Health Foundation board of trustees in 2019.

James, Zaloom and Fisher bring extraordinary philanthropic expertise to enhance resource development and fundraising in support of the foundation’s strategic priorities, including the advancement of brain health, strengthening health professions through scholarships, and supporting community based Healthier Together initiatives in six underserved communities in Palm Beach County. 

James’s responsibilities at Bethesda Hospital Foundation to encourage philanthropy in support of excellence, innovation, community wellness and leadership in healthcare are perfectly aligned with Palm Health Foundation’s mission to inspire and fund solutions for better health in Palm Beach County through community collaboration. In addition to her service to Palm Health Foundation, James is also a member of the Palm Beach County Medical Society Services Board of Directors, Impact the Palm Beaches, Impact 100, the International Women’s Forum Palm Beach, the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches.

Before becoming a trustee, Zaloom joined the foundation’s philanthropy committee in 2017. With his law practice focus on estate and trust planning, estate and trust administration, nonprofits and charitable planning, guardianship and business law, he continues to be an asset to the foundation’s planned giving efforts. His dedication to the field is demonstrated through his Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation and serving as past president of the Planned Giving Council of Palm Beach County. He also serves as secretary for the Basil J. and Marie-Therese Zaloom Foundation and is presently the vice president and programs chair for the Palm Beach County Estate Planning Council. 

Fisher’s new role as chair of the philanthropy committee will bring added exposure to the impact donors can make by partnering with the foundation in its vision for all Palm Beach County residents to have opportunities to thrive and reach their full health potential. She will also work with committee members to raise awareness of the wide range of giving options available through the foundation, including donor advised funds, scholarships and planned giving. Fisher is well-experienced in the growth and betterment of the Palm Beach community from her extensive nonprofit service, including: chairman of the board and founding chairman of the Gardens Conservancy at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens; vice president of the board of directors of Hearing Ovarian Cancer Whisper; trustee of the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium; member of the board of directors at the Palm Beach Civic Association; and an advisory board member of The Most Vulnerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

“To have community leaders of such great caliber as Barbara, Stephen and Frances leading our board and philanthropic development is a testament to the confidence our community has placed in Palm Health Foundation to advance health in Palm Beach County,” said Patrick McNamara, Palm Health Foundation president and CEO. “Their knowledge and insight will help donors understand the impact they can make when partnering with a health foundation to create positive change in a community.

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 $83 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001. For more information about Palm Health Foundation, visit palmhealthfoundation.org or call (561) 833-6333.