FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. – 32 area organizations with extraordinary local community programs were awarded financial Grants totaling a record $285,000 by the BallenIsles Charities Foundation last month during a charity reception at BallenIsles Country Club. The “Helping to Make a Difference” financial Grant awards brings the Foundation’s total charitable contributions to more than half-a-million dollars since its formation in 2011 by residents and members of BallenIsles Country Club.

“There are many worthwhile organizations in Palm Beach County that accomplish great things on very limited resources. The kind generosity of BallenIsles residents and local businesses, working together as a community, continues to make it possible for us to help those who are helping others so unselfishly,” said BallenIsles Charities Foundation President Fred Corrado.

The Grants include support for the purchase by Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue of their first-ever Pediatric Simulator Manikin. The device will dramatically enhance training for paramedics responding during critical emergency calls involving children. Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Chief, Keith Bryer accepted the financial Grant and oversaw a demonstration of the device. In addition to being used by Palm Beach Gardens EMTs, the extraordinary device will also be made available for training emergency staff in other neighboring towns as well.

The BallenIsles Charities Foundation financial Grants also support the purchase of Robotic Equipment that will further enhance the math and science program at Suncoast High School. Performance in these academic programs has helped this local public Magnet school gain national recognition as one of the Best High Schools in America.

A number of organizations were receiving Grants for their second or third year from the BallenIsles Charities Foundation.

Oxygen concentrators for lung and cardiac patients at Clinics Can Help were again supported by a financial award from the Foundation. The non-profit collects and re-distributes surplus medical equipment and supplies to over 1200 financially insecure patients.

At Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, the Foundation’s Grant will provide school supplies, uniforms and personal hygiene kits for 200 children whose families are in crisis at the West Palm Beach Homeless Resource Center.

Allamanda Elementary School received a Grant from the Foundation that funds 500 books for a school-wide Book of the Month Program using award winning books to foster literacy, learning and dialogue across a diverse set of topics.

Also supported by a Foundation Grant Award was Alzheimer’s Community Care which will use it to provide financial support for the Family Nurse Consultant program for a month. The program allows highly trained professionals to make home visits to help Alzheimer patients and caregivers make informed care plans for their individual situations.

The Foundation’s financial Grant to the Be A Star Foundation will provide 47 children undergoing chemotherapy a play therapy tool, called a Chemo Duck, to help educate both the child and their families about the various treatments the children will receive.

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, the local wildlife refuge dedicated to the protection and conservation of Florida’s wildlife and natural resources, will use the Grant it received from BallenIsles Charities Foundation to provide, throughout the year, 100 educational programs to visitors of the sanctuary. The largest free dental clinic in Palm Beach County, Caridad Center will use its Grant from the Foundation to provide comprehensive dental care to 20 uninsured or underinsured children of low-income residents.

The Grant to Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School will continue to support the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) program through the purchase of DVDs and books to teach American Sign Language (ASL). Feeding South Florida’s BackPack Program at Grove Park Elementary School will continue to be supported by the Grant for 150 students for 13 weeks during the normal school year providing 6 lbs of food for the weekend. At First Tee of the Palm Beaches, The Foundation’s Grant supports 9 After-School teaching and mentoring sessions for 200 local children. Also receiving a Grant Award was Grandma’s Place which will use it to fund items on the “wish list” for this local 24/7 shelter for abused children; all items will directly aid the care and comfort of these young children. The Foundation’s Grant again provides 1.5 months of support for the Mothers and Infants in Treatment Together program, helping mothers assure their babies are born free of drugs.

At Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County, the Foundation’s Grant will partially support the construction costs for 150 students at Seminole Ridge Academy to build a Habitat house during school year 2014-2015. At Hospice of Palm Beach County, the Grant funds 20 children at Hospice’s Camp SeaStar, a bereavement program for children who have lost a loved one. Loggerhead Marinelife Center received a Grant which funds 1 Microscope and Camera Adapter for the Center’s hospital dedicated to the rehabilitation and care of endangered marine species. The Foundation’s Grant to National Alliance on Mental Illness of Palm Beach County allows the Mental Health support and advocacy organization to produce and distribute 2000 copies of their Resource Guide to Mental Health Services in Palm Beach County to schools; hospitals; providers; and health fairs.

The Foundation’s Grant to the Palm Beach County Food Bank supports 10-pound nutrition BackPacks for 40 students for a 9 week summer program in 2014. The financial Grant to Palm Beach Gardens City Hall supports the City once again in 2015 to host the BallenIsles Performance series at Veterans Plaza with 2 free entertainment programs available to all Palm Beach Gardens residents.

At Palm Beach Gardens Elementary School, the Foundation’s Grant supports the purchase of 10 iPad Minis and 15 iPods that supports 80 children as part of a Lunch Bunch Book Club program. The students will focus on improving their reading and comprehension skills using both visual and audio tools.

At the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department, the BallenIsles Charities Foundation Grant funds 1 Portable Forensic Light Source for Crime Scene Investigators to use at crime sites to find and collect evidence for later use is solving crimes and providing courtroom materials for prosecutors.

The Grant to Palm Beach State College supports tuition for 2 students in the 2014 Summer Math Science Institute program. Grants were also made by the BallenIsles Charities Foundation to Renaissance Learning Academy, a High School, and Renaissance Learning Center, an Elementary School.  Both charter schools support children with autism spectrum disorder.

The elementary school Grant supports students by funding new classroom iPads and computers to make the technology environment up-to-date and as easy to use as possible; while the Foundation’s high school Grant funds new lab equipment for the school’s Job Training programs to help students find and maintain employment when they graduate.

At the Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches, an Instrument Donation Program helps financially needy students in the Palm Beach County School District who would like to learn to play an instrument. The Foundation’s Grant funds 25 instruments for students at local Title 1 schools.

The Foundation’s Grant to TEAM First-PAL, formerly known as KAPTA, funds 20 children for a 36 school year program of tennis instruction and mentoring at the Cabana Colony.

The Grant to The Arc of Palm Beach County will once again fund a Music and Art program for 35 children with severe physical challenges.

At Urban Youth Impact, the Leadership Academy provides after school activities for children in one of the highest crime rate sections of West Palm Beach. The BallenIsles Charities Foundation Grant will provide financial support for 2 children to fully participate in all the program’s activities for a full year.

The BallenIsles Charities Foundation Grant to the West Palm Beach Library Foundation funds 600 book sets for the Let’s Read program which supports inner city Title 1 elementary schools’ efforts to improve students’ reading skills and instill a lifelong love of reading.

The Foundation’s Grant to the West Palm Beach Waterfront Warriors again supported 6 military personnel along with 6 family members to have a long weekend getaway in the Palm Beaches in April 2014; these Wounded Warriors are in multi-year rehab at Fort Belvoir, VA.

At Wilkes Honors College of FAU, the BallenIsles Charities Foundation Grant provides 2 student internships with tuition, room and board in the Neuroscience Program of the College; the internship will also include research at either Max Planck or Scripps Florida.

The BallenIsles Charities Foundation www.BallenIslesCharitiesFoundation.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission of “Helping to Make a Difference” in the community. It renders financial and in-kind support to area organizations providing civic, educational programs, health and human services and support for the environment. The Foundation’s 2014 Grant Giving of $275,000 surpasses monies previously raised and awarded in the two years since their formation. The Foundation previously awarded $125,650 in 2012; $160,700 in 2013.

“When we began this journey over two years ago we really set out to try to make a difference with financial Grants for these kinds of valuable local programs in the neighboring towns where we live, volunteer and use services. We’re delighted that we’ve been able to get everyone on board in the BallenIsles community and with the kind support we’ve drawn from our neighborhood businesses and supporters as well. It’s testimony that together we can make a difference and that means a lot to us.” BallenIsles Charities Foundation President, Fred Corrado.

 

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