image_pdfimage_print
 
Rev. Willie Lawrence, C. Veree Jenkins, Mr. and Mrs. Stephanor Coriolon 
 
Funding inspires residents and nonprofit agencies in western communities to realize their dreams for helping their fellow residents.
 
December 19 2019  – Healthier Glades, a Palm Health Foundation Healthier Together initiative focused on supporting the behavioral health and well-being of Glades residents, hosted its first-ever Mini-Grant Awards Celebration on November 21, 2019 at the Drawbridge Cafe in Belle Glade, Florida. Seventy community members attended the event where ten Glades residents and nonprofit agencies received grants from $2,500 to $3,000, totaling $28,500 in funding to support grassroots behavioral health programs in the region.
 
Funding will be invested in a range of projects, impacting veterans, caregivers, young children and teens and the homeless.  Resident-led initiatives include:
The Pahokee Healthy Living Project. Funding provided to Afghanistan War veteran Kareem Murray to build a community garden to help residents with mental health issues. Murray was encouraged to seek funding for his project because of the relief he found for his PTSD from gardening and the desire to share its positive effects with others.
Leaders of Tomorrow.  Omia Murray received funding to create a safe space for teens to decompress from life stressors and reduce anxiety using animal-assisted therapy.
Woosa Caregiver Retreat. Stephanie Williams received funding to host a full-day caregivers retreat for those caring for special needs children or disabled adults.
Coalition of Man PBC.  Charles Gilbert will use awarded funds to host a literacy festival with activities that focus on reading for young boys pre-k to 5th grade.
Neighborhood Watch. Richard Sears received funding to reduce crime in his neighborhood and increase resident engagement in his community on the neighborhood watch program.
One Love – One Community.  Derrek Moore will purchase supplies for personal hygiene kits to distribute to homeless persons and foster children who either age out of the system or transitioning to a new placement.
The Train to Ball Initiative. Gertavian Blake will work with young athletes to help them cultivate an interest in other activities outside of sports through youth leadership.  
The following nonprofit organizations received funding from Healthier Glades:
Male Mental Health Awareness the Glades Edition. Funding will support "Cooking with Trindy,” a 6-week program for young males that focus on educating males on the what they eat and how it affects the body.  
Diabetic Foundation in Belle Glade. Funding will be used to host a diabetes awareness event to educate residents on the impact of diabetes both physically and emotionally.
Future Global Leaders Club. The funds will be used to implement a group that focuses on leadership development for Pahokee High School students.
 
Annie Ifill, recently appointed to the position of project director for Healthier Glades, oversaw the awarding of grants as one of her first leadership opportunities and was inspired by the initiative and passion Glades community members have for helping others. 
 
“Our motto for Healthier Glades is ‘unlocking our community strengths,” said Ifill.  “These residents and agencies have so much to offer their fellow community members—they just need a little bit of help to take their ideas from dream to fruition. I know we will see a meaningful return on our investment by believing in their capabilities to create positive change.”  
 
About the Healthier Together Initiative
Healthier Together is a resident-led, community-driven, grantmaking approach developed by Palm Health Foundation, Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. This strategic initiative convenes residents to address a variety of social, economic and environmental factors that affect health outcomes. Healthier Together empowers residents to create their own solutions to make positive, healthy changes in the neighborhoods where they live, work and play.
 
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.