Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties Hosts 12th Annual Founders Luncheon

Event Held on February 26, 2025 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach

Boca Raton, FL – The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, a not-for-profit organization that leads partnerships with donors, nonprofits and community members to solve the region’s chronic and emerging issues, hosted its 12^th Annual Founders Luncheon on February 26, 2025. The event, which was held at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts’ Cohen Pavilion in West Palm Beach, was attended by a record breaking 600-plus guests. This year’s theme centered on the power of scholarships to propel the economic mobility of our area’s aspiring college students and celebrated the 40^th Anniversary of the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Program. Co-hosts of the event were Jeffrey A. Stoops, Chair of the Board of Directors at the Community Foundation, and Danita R. DeHaney, President & CEO of the Community Foundation.

Ava Parker, Danita DeHaney, Francine Walker

The Community Foundation has distributed nearly $18 million through 3,200 scholarships to deserving students since it launched the Scholarship Program in 1985. Its mission is to unlock opportunities for motivated students in Palm Beach and Martin Counties and empower them to pursue their dreams free from the weight of financial barriers. Three past scholarship – Dodlee Mosilme, Emma Fariello and Jazmin Lopez – recipients spoke at this year’s Founders Luncheon and shared their personal and unique experiences.

Sherry and Tom Barrat of Singer Island were the featured Guests of Honor at the event and are the recipients of the 2025 McIntosh Award. The prestigious award, which is named after Winsome and Michael McIntosh, who founded the Community Foundation in 1972, is presented annually to an individual or organization who has made significant contributions to the community. Long-time supporters of local nonprofits, the Barrats developed a particular interest in scholarships in recent years, inspired by the encouragement of their grandchildren. In 2022, the couple formally set up the Barrat Scholarship Fund with the Community Foundation, focusing on local students majoring in computer science, artificial intelligence, and/or applied data science.

Learn more at www.YourCommunityFoundation.org.

Anne Messer Jack Lighton Gabrielle McGee Beth Neuhoff Ray Graziotto Monique Brechter Bill Brocker Susan Dahlberg Brocker Bob Zaccheo Kevin Powers Chip DiPaula Susan Stautberg Antony Underwood Lore Dodge Susan Waterfall Jonathan Cameron Hayes Danita DeHaney Tom Barrat Sherry Barrat Jeff Stoops Dodlee Mosilme Emma Fariello Jazmin Lopez Don Chester Sally Chester Iggy Edith Friedheim James Toomey Eileen Berman Devin Krauss Jeff Stoops Aggie Stoops Danita DeHaney Mayor Keith James Lorna James Kristin Calder Denise Rivas Gil Rivas Meredith Trim Pam Rauch Standing Dave Lawrence, Ken West, Jack Weir, Sean Smith, William Meyer; Seated Verdenia Baker, Anson Beard, Victoria Smith Standing- Katherine Wandoff – Susan Brockway – Peter Brockway – Charles Bender; Seated- Joe Robinson – Bill Donnell – Mary Donnell Margie Betten – Katherine Parr – Kristin Snyder – Christine Sylvain Mayor Maria Marino Timothy Burke Rena Blades Alyssa Freeman