Who We Are

Our Mission
Our History
Board of Directors
Committee Chairs
Volunteers & Committee Members

Our Mission

The mission of BallenIsles Charities Foundation is to render financial and in-kind support to civic and not-for-profit organizations within Palm Beach County that provide programs and services in the following broad categories – Civic, Health & Human Services, Environment, and Education – designed to assist, encourage and promote the well-being of the residents and the communities in which they are located.

Our History

BallenIsles Charities Foundation

The BallenIsles Charities Foundation was established in 2011 with the goal of Making a Difference to local not-for-profit organizations in areas surrounding our residential community located in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The launch of the Foundation underscored a commitment to those civic and tax-exempt organizations that make such a difference, not only to our own residents, but to so many of our neighbors in the surrounding cities, towns and communities within Palm Beach County. Our donors recognized that by working together they could make a significant positive impact providing financial and in-kind support in the following broad categories: Civic, Health & Human Services, Environment, and Education. In our first eleven years, the BallenIsles Charities Foundation, Inc. has awarded over $5.7 million to 91 local area organizations.

Through the years the Foundation has been fortunate to attract a growing number of donors and volunteers. That has provided us the opportunity for Making a Difference in new ways. In 2019 we made our first impact grant and provided the funding for the purchase of a 40-foot refrigerated truck which was acquired by one of our local food pantries. In a typical year, the truck will rescue well over one million pounds of food to be provided to locals experiencing food scarcity. In 2020 we established a Community Service Committee which promotes increased awareness of, and opportunities for, community service and charity volunteerism within Palm Beach County by members of BallenIsles.

BallenIsles Country Club

BallenIsles is highly regarded as a unique, private residential golf and tennis community with a distinguished history and home to some of the world’s top professional athletes. Located in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, BallenIsles was originally the h

ome of the PGA National Club from 1964-1973. It played a major role in golf history as it was the home of PGA of America. During that time, its golf courses were used for many major tournaments including the PGA Championship and the PGA Seniors’ Championship. In 1973, the Club was renamed JDM Country Club. So it remained until 1988 when the Club’s name was changed to BallenIsles Country Club and a multi-year plan was instituted to develop a private country club community. With over 1300 acres of magnificent landscaping, 3 golf courses, 23 tennis courts (including a 500-seat stadium court), 4 pickleball courts and a state-of-the-art Fitness Center and Spa, BallenIsles is currently home to over 1,500 families with more than half of the residents residing year-round in Florida. To learn more about BallenIsles, please go to either our Country Club website at (www.BallenIsles.org) or our Community Association website at (www.BallenIslesCommunity.com).

Board of Directors

Our BallenIsles Charities Foundation Board of Directors sets the overall focus and guidelines for all grants awarded by the Foundation and selects the organizations to receive Foundation grants. The Board also establishes the timing and overall agenda for all fundraising events. The Board has 8 Directors including one representative each from boards of the BallenIsles Country Club (BICC) and the BallenIsles Community Association (BICA).

Mark Freeman, President
Ken Horner, Vice President/Treasurer
Jody Passov, Vice President
Chere Goldstein, Vice President
Carl Ekstein, Secretary
Allen Hirsch, Director
Diane Brill, Director (BICA)
Linda Greenhouse, Director (BICC)

Committee Chairs

The BallenIsles Charities Foundation has 7 standing committees: Communications, Community Reception, Community Service, Corporate Development, Governance, Grants and Resident Development. This volunteer team of residents works together with the Board year-round to manage the ongoing work of our Foundation.

Chere Goldstein, Communications & Residential Development
Allen Hirsch, Community Service
Ken Horner, Governance
Jody Passov, Grants
Joel Schlesinger, Corporate Development

Volunteers & Committee Members

We couldn’t have done it without you! Since we began more than 10 years ago, over 200 BallenIsles residents have volunteered to help plan, coordinate and staff all the various activities of the BallenIsles Charities Foundation. And with the development of our Community Service program, dozens more have given their time and effort to bring BallenIsles Charities Foundation Helping Hands directly where they are needed. You’re the best!

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