A Passion for Youth and Mental Health

December 21, 2022

Your Year-End Gift Will Make Someone’s Dream Come True

There is a little known but alarming cause of death among youth with type 1 diabetes: suicide. According to the American Diabetes Association, adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes are 61% more likely to say they feel suicidal than those without diabetes, and up to 7% of deaths in individuals with type 1 diabetes are a result of suicide.


Ashley Robertson, a West Palm Beach resident who lives with type 1 diabetes, saw the toll the disease can take on youth mental health when she was a volunteer at Florida Diabetes Camp. It was where she was first inspired to pursue a nursing career combining mental health with care for chronic conditions. 


Now, with the support of a scholarship from Palm Health Foundation, she is studying for her Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health. 

“With Palm Health Foundation’s support, I am pursuing my dream to work with children and adolescents with chronic conditions to hopefully make an impact on their lives.”

 - Ashley Robertson, Palm Health Foundation Scholar

Palm Health Foundation’s scholarships in support of both nursing and mental health professions are critical, especially in South Florida, where shortages in both fields are affecting the health of our community - read more.

Support our community’s health and a scholar’s dreams. Give today. 

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100% of your donation will support a local student pursuing a career in nursing, and Palm Health Foundation will match your gift, dollar-for-dollar.

About the Match


Palm Health Foundation’s scholarships would not be possible without the support of our generous donors. Ashley’s scholarship was supported by a gift from Valley Bank.


“Valley Bank believes in empowering our communities to thrive. By supporting local scholars like Ashley, we are contributing to a strong, capable workforce to meet the health and wellness needs of our neighbors.” – Charles Keys, Vice President and Corporate Social Responsibility/CRA Officer



Charles Keys and Ashley Robertson

You can help strengthen our local health professions by giving to The Nursing Advancement Fund today. 

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About Palm Health Foundation’s Scholarships

Palm Health Foundation provides needs-based scholarships to nurses in LPN, undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs, and to behavioral health professions students seeking bachleor’s and master’s degrees in social work, psychology, clinical mental health counseling, school counseling and other focus areas.


Since 2001, the foundation has granted more than $3 million in nursing scholarships to over 1,000 nursing students for advanced education.
 

November 26, 2025
The Palm Health Foundation Endowment Fund provides the financial foundation for long-term strategic action.
November 21, 2025
This fall, Healthier Glades , a Palm Health Foundation Healthier Together initiative , hosted a celebration event with community and partners to honor the resident-led work accomplished over the years of the initiative’s existence. In addition to food and fellowship, attendees shared aspirations for the initiative’s future and reflected on highlights, such as: The impact of Healthier Glades’ mini grants offerings Reduction of youth violence through collaborations with the “Dads on Duty” initiative The air quality initiative spearheaded in partnership with PHF Trustee Dr. Lisa Wiese The Safety Walk – an effort to identify unsafe areas on children’s walk-to-school routes, leading to the establishment of flashing lights in critical areas Resident connection to Mental Health First Aid training , strengthening the recognition that mental health is health Palm Health Foundation is honored to be part of the work that continues to advance health in the Glades communities.
November 21, 2025
Palm Health Foundation ’s October 2025 Train the Brain community health campaign, themed “Brain Health Across the Lifespan,” offered opportunities all month long, drawing nearly 300 community members to connect with local brain health champions, access practical, science-backed information, and take meaningful steps to support brain health for themselves, their families, and their neighbors – at every age and stage of life. Train the Brain inspired local organizational collaborations from Belle Glade to Boynton Beach to offer a range of community programs to help residents of all ages recognize that taking care of the brain is just as important as taking care of the body. At “Arts on the Muck,” Glades community elders engaged in arts activities, memory boosting games, music, and movement during a football-themed afternoon. The Schoolhouse Children’s Museum joined with The Center for Child Counseling to bring the brain-boosting benefits of yoga, art making, and music to children, while their parents and caregivers learned practical, science-based tips to support brain health and emotional well-being at home.  “Collaborations such as these create partnership opportunities though which we can further strengthen our communities,” said Ljubica Ciric, Senior Director of Strategic Impact, Center for Child Counseling.
November 21, 2025
Palm Health Foundation ’s Scholarship Reception on October 28, 2025, brought together nursing and behavioral health scholars with their donors for an inspiring evening at The Center for Philanthropy in West Palm Beach, FL. Over 90 guests gathered in the center’s tropical courtyard to celebrate 62 scholarship recipients, with musical entertainment provided by orchestra students from Grace Notes Music Foundation . Together with donors, Palm Health Foundation has awarded more than $4.6 million in health professions scholarships since 2001.  Gratitude flowed throughout the evening as scholars met their scholarship donors—many for the first time—and two former recipients shared their personal stories of overcoming barriers to continue their education and become health professions leaders thanks to The Debra Coffman Howe Nursing Scholarship Fund at Palm Health Foundation. Dr. Alice Brumley spoke about how her scholarship supported her through the challenges of nursing during the pandemic. “More than financial support, it was knowing that someone believed in me, and my community was supporting me,” she said. Today, Dr. Brumley serves as Interim Director of the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center at FAU, leading compassionate, community-centered care for individuals and families affected by memory disorders.
August 27, 2025
Community campaign to highlight brain health at every stage of life, aiming to boost resilience and prevent neurological issues. 
August 21, 2025
Applicants must attend at least one workshop to be eligible for Healthier Glades 2026 mini grants. 
July 29, 2025
With wisdom shaped by lived experience, Clovis speaks to the power of education, caregiving, and holding fast to dreams—even in the face of adversity – in this heartfelt reflection. Clovis is a shining example of resident leadership, and Palm Health Foundation is proud to partner with her in building a stronger, healthier Palm Beach County.