Isabel May Board of Directors Miami Jewish Home and Hospital
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Isabel May had a long, productive career as a social worker for the New York City Department of Welfare. After retiring she lent her leadership expertise and passion for helping others to numerous organizations in the New York metropolitan area. When Isabel and her husband, Samuel, moved to South Florida, they quickly earned a reputation for large-hearted giving within the local philanthropic community.
The history of the Mays financial support of the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital at Douglas Gardens is a long and substantial one. In 1985 they endowed the May Visitors Center, which serves as the main entrance and reception area for the Home. In 1993, the Mays funded the Sam and Isabel May Institute for Therapeutic Programs at Douglas Gardens, providing an array of innovative services and programs for seniors with Alzheimers disease and related conditions. When Samuel May passed away in 1998, Isabel continued his legacy of philanthropic support for the Home. In that year she underwrote the May Biofeedback Laboratory and, in 2003, the May Learning Center was dedicated to recruit and train geriatric certified nursing assistants and recreational therapists. In addition to her substantial financial support of the Miami Jewish Home, Isabel May is a grand benefactor and prominent supporter of Mt. Sinai Medical Center.
Mays relationship with the Miami Jewish Home goes far beyond simply providing important funding, however. In addition to her generous financial support, May supports the Home with her considerable leadership skills as well. She sits on the Homes Board of Directors, is a member of the Founders Board of Directors, serving as the Million Dollar Club co-chairperson, and she is a constant presence at almost all of the Homes events. As if all that werent enough, May is also the first female life member of the Homes Mens Club, recently being honored as the Clubs Mensch of the Year.”
A “hands-on” board member, May keeps up-to-date on the progress of the programs she supports and she regularly offers ideas and opinions on how to improve them. She is ready to lend her personal time and talent to help the Home whenever needed. “Im well aware of whats going on in all the programs, she assures you. “If there were problems in any area, I would say so and step in.”
Mays tireless efforts as a board member of the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital and her other wide-ranging charitable work exemplifies the finest traditional Jewish values encapsulated in the phrase tikkun olam perfecting the world. For all those who know her, and the many people whose lives she has improved, Isabel May epitomizes personal caring and enlightened social commitment.
Isabel May
