July 13, 2021 – Back to school will take on new meaning this year, as students return to the classroom, some for the first time in more than a year. Families will adapt, but for parents of children with special healthcare needs, this time of year is particularly stressful.  
 
To ease the financial burden for those families, Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) hosts its 2021 Back to School Supply Drive from now through August 11 to collect and fill 800 backpacks for children in their care. 
 
 
CDTC care coordinators will invite families to a special on-site backpack brigade distribution on Thursday, August 12. During the outdoor brigade, where more than 500 families will be socially distanced, each child will personally choose their backpack that will be filled with supplies.  
 
Supplies are needed for students from pre-school through high school. The CDTC wish list includes all of the basics, including backpacks for all ages, paper, pencils, pens, crayons, markers, folders and notebooks.  
The annual Back to School Drive has become a tradition at CDTC, offering families an easy way to prepare their children for the classroom. With the backpack brigade, CDTC also reduces the added financial burden that, in 2020, averaged more than $130 for school supplies per child. 
 
“Thankfully, students and teachers in Broward County Public Schools will be back in the classroom, but this also means parents and students have to transition from remote learning tools to basic school supplies,” said Ana Calderon Randazzo, Ph.D., executive director of Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center. “We do everything in our power to help the families we serve and that includes helping them prepare for returning to the classroom. We are so grateful to the community that helps us make preparations for the new school year a little easier for these amazing and dedicated families.” 
 
The public and local businesses can collect and drop off school supplies or gift cards at CDTC, 1401. S. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. before August 11. To view CDTC’s back to school drive wish list or make a donation, please visit childrensdiagnostic.com/back-to-school/ 
 
 
About CDTC                                                                                                                            
Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) is a not-for-profit serving nearly 11,000 clients with special healthcare needs in Broward County annually. As a facility of Broward Health, CDTC’s mission is to promote the optimal health and well-being of children with special healthcare needs by providing comprehensive prevention, intervention, and treatment services. CDTC is a recognized National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) offering a unique system of care for infants, children, youth and women with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and developmental delays. For more information, visit ChildrensDiagnostic.org. 


July 13, 2021 – James “Jim” Moffett has been named president of the Holy Cross Medical Group, a multi-specialty physician employed group of more than 160 physicians providing services throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties. Moffett also will serve on the Holy Cross Health Senior Leadership Team.
 
“We are so happy to have Jim on our team. His leadership, experience and strong operational background will help position Holy Cross Health for continued growth and success,” said Mark Doyle, CEO of Holy Cross Health. “Throughout his notable career, Jim has developed winning formulas for improving business performance in rapidly evolving value driven, consumer focused healthcare markets.”
 
Most recently Moffett served as president and CEO of AdventHealth Medical Group’s Central Florida Division, where he was previously chief operating officer. During his time there, Moffett launched a team-care model resulting in improved documentation, access, quality, patient, physician and staff satisfaction, as well as reached top quartile primary care performance in diabetes, hypertension and preventive care. 
 
“I am focused on helping people succeed and driving Holy Cross Health to achieve rapid and sustained results, all while having fun,” said Moffett, who has a proven track record of building and revitalizing integrated medical groups. 
 
A strong advocate for community programs, Moffett has held leadership and fundraising roles for non-profit organizations such as American Diabetes Association, YMCA and local sports leagues. 
Moffett earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Geneva College in Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University of Scranton. He is a resident of Lighthouse Point. 
 
 
 
About Holy Cross Health:
A member of Trinity Health, Fort Lauderdale-based Holy Cross Hospital, dba Holy Cross Health, is a full-service, non-profit, Catholic, teaching hospital operating in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy. Holy Cross has been named one of the top 10 hospitals in the Miami metro area and among the top 30 in the state in U.S. News and World Report’s 2020-2021 Best Hospital rankings. Through strategic collaborations and a commitment to being a person-centered, transforming, healing presence, the 557-bed hospital offers progressive inpatient, outpatient and community outreach services and clinical research trials to serve as our community’s trusted health partner for life. Holy Cross Health also encompasses Holy Cross HealthPlex outpatient facility, urgent care centers and more than 50 Holy Cross Medical Group physician practices. To learn more about Holy Cross Health, visit holy-cross.com. Connect @holycrossfl. 
 


Grant recipients working to create a healthier Palm Beach County 
 
July 13 2021- Under the leadership of Dr. Gerald O’Connor, chairman for the board of trustees of Quantum Foundation, members recently approved 16 new grants totaling nearly $1.5 million to Palm Beach County-based nonprofits.
 
 
Quantum Foundation is a health foundation that was formed with $135 million in proceeds from the sale of JFK Medical Center. Now in its third decade of community investment, the foundation has assets of approximately $170 million. Since its inception, Quantum Foundation has awarded more than $150 million to hundreds of Palm Beach County nonprofit grantees. Every dollar the foundation grants stays in the county to benefit local communities. 
 
“Our foundation has evolved to become a valued strategic partner in grantmaking to Palm Beach County initiatives that improve access to health services, improve health systems, expand health education, and focus on whole-health initiatives,” said Eric Kelly, president of Quantum Foundation. “On behalf of our dedicated staff and our distinguished board of trustees, we extend gratitude to these 16 grant recipients, all working to make Palm Beach County a healthier home for all of us.”
 
Of the grants allocated for the first and second quarters of 2021, the largest was made to FoundCare, a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center with locations throughout Palm Beach County. Their mission is to fulfill unmet healthcare and social service needs of local individuals and families. Their services include pediatric and adult primary care, chronic disease management, behavioral health services, dentistry, laboratory services, x-rays, on-site pharmacy, and women’s health services (including screening mammography).
 
FoundCare will apply the Quantum Foundation funding toward construction of a new, in-house pharmacy at its newest location in West Palm Beach on Okeechobee Blvd. The site is projected to serve 10,000 unique patients per year, for approximately 25,000 visits. The Quantum Foundation Pharmacy at FoundCare will provide affordable prescription medications to established FoundCare patients. 
 
“We are deeply grateful for the generous support we have received from our friends at Quantum Foundation,” said Yolette Bonnet, CEO of FoundCare. “This funding for our ongoing capital campaign will enable us to serve more patients at our new soon-to-open location, regardless of their ability to pay for services. The new Quantum Foundation Pharmacy will be a convenient addition to the health center because it allows patients to pick up their prescribed medications while on-site. Quantum Foundation’s support enables us to continue to expand our vital healthcare offerings during this unprecedented and critical time.”
 
Targeted to open in early fall, FoundCare’s new 10,000-square-foot-facility will serve as a one-stop healthcare medical home to all. 
Groups funded by Quantum Foundation must meet strict grant criteria and must be classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All grants must benefit the people of Palm Beach County. For information about Quantum Foundation, or to learn about applying for grants, please visit http://www.quantumfnd.org/ or call 561-832-7497.
 
Other grants in the early 2021 funding cycles include:
The Women’s Breast & Heart Initiative- Breaking Down Barriers: $25,000
The Women’s Breast & Heart Initiative (WBHI) is a nonprofit outreach organization piloting whole communities toward lifesaving, preventive self-care. With Quantum funding, WBHI will impart lifesaving educational information about breast cancer and heart disease risk factors, recommended screenings, physical activity, and the importance of leading disease deterrent lifestyles as well as provide 90 participants with mammograms, preventive screening for hypertension, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels through their long-standing partnerships with local health providers. Additionally, WBHI will expand the enrollment and reach of the WBHI Breast Cancer and Heart Disease Virtual Advocate Program.
 
Center for Family Services- Seeking Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence: $50,000
Since 1961, Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County (CFS) has been serving families and children in Palm Beach County with a goal of helping children and adults recover from trauma and protect them and future generations from the damage of psychological distress. With Quantum funding, CFS will revise a comprehensive evidence-based curriculum for their Domestic Violence Group program and will train seven therapists on the application of the revised program. 
 
Children’s Bereavement Center- Palm Beach Grief Services for Children, Teens & Adults: $50,000
Children’s Bereavement Center (CBC) has been in the field of grief support and education for over 20 years. Across their 10 locations throughout South Florida, CBC provides free support groups for children, young adults, and adult caregivers after the death of a loved one. With Quantum funding, CBC will provide bereavement support to 100 participants and grief training to 150 Palm Beach County professionals to promote resiliency and healing from trauma occurred through loss of parents and loved ones.
 
Helping Our Wounded (HOW) Foundation- Operation Phoenix: $35,000 
HOW Foundation is a local nonprofit organization that focuses on rehabilitating and serving veterans from our U.S. military and improving their overall quality of life post-war. With Quantum funding, HOW Foundation, in collaboration with Grey Team, will help to restore 30 veterans’ brains and bodies, optimizing their physical and emotional health and well-being through hyperbaric oxygen therapy, personalized workout and nutrition programs, and camaraderie building activities. 
 
Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County- Creating Housing Opportunities: $50,000
Formed in 1986, Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County serves as a catalyst for community collaboration to end homelessness in Palm Beach County. The Homeless Coalition works in collaboration with local partners to offer programs and to produce the Community Plan to End Homelessness in Palm Beach County, which intends to create and support a local response system that will end homelessness. 
With Quantum funding, Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County will provide financial resources for rapid re-housing services to 10 families experiencing homelessness.  
 
Meals on Wheels- Meals for Vets- Reaching More Vets: $100,000
Recognizing the unmet needs of the homebound seniors in the community, Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches, Inc. (MOWPB) began as part of the solution to address those needs. With Quantum funding, MOWPB will offer approximately 25,000 free/subsidized meals to at least 100 current meal recipients in their Meals for Vets Program and an additional 10,000 meals to at least 35 new clients that are identified as veterans.
 
TeleHealth Access for Seniors- South Florida Telehealth Access: $7,500
TeleHealth Access for Seniors is working to support patients who lack the resources and knowledge to participate in telemedicine. With Quantum funding, TeleHealth Access for Seniors will partner with health clinics across Palm Beach County to provide tablets to 150 low-income, veteran, and elderly patients so they can virtually connect with their practitioners and families amidst the pandemic. Additionally, TeleHealth Access for Seniors will provide technology guides and free virtual tech support so patients can understand their device and take advantage of telehealth opportunities.
 
Education Foundation of Palm Beach County- Behavioral Health Career Pipeline: $50,000
As the philanthropic partner to The School District of Palm Beach County since 1984, the Education Foundation now invests $1.2 million annually in programs focused on college and career readiness, academic and graduation improvement, teacher professional development and recognition, direct to classroom grants, K-3rd grade literacy, STEM and career education initiatives, and targeted support for low-performing students and schools. With Quantum funding, The School District, in collaboration with the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County and other community organizations, will develop a behavioral health technician curriculum to be submitted and approved by the State of Florida which will become one of the certifications available in the medical academies.  
 
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies- Stronger Together: Black Doula Project: $119,600
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (HMHB) is seen as the "gateway" to prenatal care in Palm Beach County through the Healthy Beginnings system of Children’s Services Council. With Quantum funding, HMHB will train eight black women to become DONA International certified doulas who will provide free maternal services to 16 women in the 33407 zip code to ensure positive perinatal and postpartum outcomes.  
 
Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County- Community Health Access Teams: $50,000
Farmworker Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County’s (FWCC) vision is "Building a better future for those who harvest America." With Quantum Foundation funding, FWCC will increase access to basic healthcare services for 150 households or 250 uninsured/underinsured individuals in Palm Beach County.
 
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind (MLB)- Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program in Palm Beach County: $25,000  
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind (MLB) provides comprehensive eye examinations with dilation and prescription eyeglasses, when required, for disadvantaged children throughout the State of Florida to help them succeed academically and improve their overall quality of life. With Quantum funding, MLB will serve 250 Palm Beach County vulnerable school children to receive a dilated eye exam, prescription glasses, and medical referral when required during the 2021-2022 school year.
 
Palm Beach County Health Department- School-based Sealant Program: $200,000
Palm Beach County Health Department (PBCHD) works to ensure public health including school health with a focus on health equity. Low income remains the greatest indicator for oral health disparities, primarily due to poor access to care. With Quantum funding, PBCHD will improve access to evidence-based preventive dental services for 2,880 second graders as well as dental education to 5,000 second graders at Title 1 schools.
 
Promise Fund of Florida- Early Detection, Screening, & Diagnostic Saves Lives: $200,000
Promise Fund of Florida is a nonprofit organization that seeks to reduce and prevent the progression of breast and cervical cancer in Palm Beach County. With Quantum funding, Promise Fund of Florida will provide evidence-based navigation services and increase access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services for up to 200 women increasing the likelihood of an earlier stage breast and cervical cancer diagnosis with increased survivorship.
 
T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society- General Operating Support: $45,000
T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society (TLJMS) primarily serves underserved, low- to moderate-income minority populations, including African Americans and Hispanics, in Palm Beach County. With Quantum funding, TLJMS will continue their work to improve the career opportunities for underserved students, improve the quality of life of underserved populations, and continue to support testing and vaccination initiatives in Palm Beach County. 
 
Northend RISE- Staff Funding: $216,654  
Northend RISE follows the Purpose Built Communities’ plan to restore forgotten neighborhoods by helping to establish: cradle-to-career educational opportunities; local availability of affordable health and wellness options; and increased access to resources for home improvement, homeownership, and rental affordability. With Quantum Foundation funding, Northend RISE will continue their work to engage with the residents in the target area and work with systems partners to improve the socioeconomic and health outcomes of the underserved individuals in Northend RISE.
 

 



July 13, 2021 –  Healthcare Network, a nonprofit organization working to ensure primary medical care is accessible to everyone in the community, regardless of job, income or insurance status, is pleased to announce the following executive appointments: Julie Pedretti, APR, FACHE, has been promoted to vice president of external affairs, and Martine Woolley, PHARMD, has been promoted to vice president of pharmacy. 
 
Julie Pedretti, APR, FACHE, Vice President of External Affairs
Pedretti joined Healthcare Network in 2020 as the COVID-19 community relations director. In her new role, as vice president of external affairs, she will lead initiatives that build and execute brand awareness, strengthen marketing and communications, foster strategic partnerships and expand relationships with community influencers and stakeholders to bolster support and increase awareness for the organization. 
 
Pedretti brings tremendous skill and knowledge to the role with more than 25 years of healthcare marketing, communications and administration experience including roles with Lee Health, NCH Healthcare System and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. 
 
 
Martine Woolley, PHARMD, Vice President of Pharmacy 
Joining Healthcare Network as director of pharmacy in 2015, Dr. Woolley has completely transformed the organization’s pharmacy program. From what was once a single in-house pharmacy, the multi-location clinical pharmacy program now includes not only in-house pharmacies, but multiple contract pharmacies throughout Collier County.  
 
In the newly created role of vice president of pharmacy, Dr. Woolley will lead pharmacy operations including the Federal 340B discount program and compliance to ensure excellent care for patients and families. This role is critical to supporting the growth of this essential, life-saving service line and the fulfillment of Healthcare Network’s mission. 
 
“Healthcare Network is committed to cultivating and advancing leaders from within, and we are fortunate to be able to do so. These talented and committed professionals bring expertise, vast institutional knowledge and leadership to their respective roles, and they will be key in advancing our mission and ensuring our successful growth,” said Dr. Emily Ptaszek, president, and chief executive officer of Healthcare Network. 
 
 
 
About Healthcare Network
Healthcare Network is committed to ensuring quality healthcare is accessible to everyone in our community, regardless of job, income or insurance status. Founded in 1977 to serve migrant farmworkers and their families in Immokalee, Healthcare Network now provides care to approximately 50,000 patients annually in practices throughout Collier County including the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® and the Health and Smiles Mobile units. Healthcare Network provides primary healthcare services including family care, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, senior care, and pharmacy as well as dental care and integrated behavioral health for both adults and children. The organization’s newest location, the Nichols Community Health Center, is a 51,000-square-foot primary care medical center in Golden Gate. For more information, visit www.HealthcareSWFL.org, or to schedule an appointment, please call 239-658-3000.
 
 
 
 


July 13 2021 – Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is partnering with Nuvo Suites in Sweetwater, Florida to offer a “home away from home” for families in need of overnight accommodations while receiving care at the 309-bed freestanding pediatric hospital, which is located near Coral Gables. 
 
The partnership provides up to a ten-night free stay for Nicklaus Children’s patient families who reside beyond Miami-Dade and Broward counties. This monthly hotel stay will be available to families of children who are scheduled for surgery and those requiring short stays to support attendance of physician office visits or scheduled procedures. 
 
An unveiling of the spacious “Family Suite” was held, in which leaders from Nicklaus Children’s Health System and Nuvo Suites highlighted the personalized, kid-friendly features of the space. The hotel room is decorated to align with the Nicklaus Children’s brand and includes games and fun activities, ceiling star projector, colorful accent pillows, and a Nicklaus Children’s-branded teddy bear for every visiting patient to take home!
 
“We are extremely grateful to Nuvo Suites for stepping up in a big way to help children and families in need,” said Matthew A. Love, president, and CEO of Nicklaus Children’s Health System. “We are honored to work with this wonderful organization to offer families a convenient and uplifting home away from home while their child is in our care.”
 
“Nuvo Suites is honored to offer the Family Suite at the hotel; an important resource for Nicklaus families while their children are being cared for. This home away from home initiative is a culmination of our ongoing efforts during the pandemic to give back to our local and international communities for which our hotel proudly serves,” says Jorge Venegas, Nuvo Suites General Manager. During the Pandemic, Nuvo Suites donated extended stay accommodations to area hospitals’ front-line responders and their staff, a campaign coordinated by MHCP COLAB. 
 
The first patient to stay in the Family Suite was Barbie, a positive and bright 7-year-old girl diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She and her family stayed at the hotel during Father’s Day weekend, leaving a positive impact on Barbie, who mentioned feeling better than the day she arrived. 
 
“We are very grateful for the support we have received from Nuvo Suites and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital,” said Mery, Barbie’s mother. “The attention, hospitality and the level of care from both organizations is what assures me we made the right decision for Barbie’s health and well-being.”
 
The new “Family Suite” at Nuvo Suites is a complement to Nicklaus Children’s Devonshire Apartments, which is reserved for longer-term stays when a child requires care for weeks or months at a time. Families who want to be considered for the Nuvo Hotel family suite should contact Nicklaus Children’s Family Resource Center by calling 305-663-8500. 
 
 
 
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with nearly 800 attending physicians and more than 475 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children’s Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org. 
 
About Nuvo Suites
Simplicity comes in many forms at this Miami hotel. Accredited by AAA and recognized as a 3 Diamond hotel. A sleek design with a warm feel and an extended stay experience accompanied with just the right comforts. A flexible lifestyle for your independent nature, just steps away from the City of Doral and minutes away from Miami International Airport. Nuvo Suites is conveniently located in between two major malls, International and Dolphin Mall. Home to renowned Fortune 500 companies, haven to the business traveler and savvy shopper. The hotel is independently owned with the flexibility to cater to guest’s needs. Guests can enjoy daily complimentary breakfast and the convenience of valet parking included per stay. 24-hour computer stations, meeting rooms fully equipped with fast WIFI and use of the fitness center situated directly in front of the pool are among the many amenities offered. The iconic rooftop pool and unique room amenities such as full kitchen, washer and dryer attracts guests with the Nuvo way, while you are away. Nuvo Suites has established a hotel brand in the city suitable to guests from all around the world. www.nuvosuites.com
 
About MHCP COLAB
MHCP COLAB specializes in communications, public relations with emphasis on urban and city planning services for institutional, public, and private clients.  Created in 2009, MHCP focuses on making communities better by advancing these services for our clients. www.mhcpcolab.com