Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. – The BallenIsles Charities Foundation, made up of members and residents of BallenIsles Country Club, recently announced that 52 not-for-profit and civic organizations serving the local Palm Beach Gardens community were recipients of 53 financial grants and four Impact Grants totaling a record $1,236,000.
“The record-setting amount brings the cumulative grants awarded to $7 million since the Foundation was formed in 2011 with the mission of ‘Making a Difference’ in the local community,” said BallenIsles Charities Foundation President Mark Freeman.
Each of the organizations selected to receive a financial grant undertake extraordinary local community programs and were carefully vetted. The record funds raised are a credit to the generosity of BallenIsles residents, local businesses and corporate sponsors, contributions from volunteers, as well as BallenIsles club management and the community association.
This year’s grants also include four Impact Grants to the following:
- Palm Beach Gardens Police & Fire Rescue Foundation for funding of the Emergency Financial Assistance Fund for first responders and their families.
- The Reef Institute for material support for growing baby corals to save Florida’s dying coral reefs.
- Children’s Home Society, Safe Harbor Shelter to remodel a wing to add 12 additional beds to the shelter.
- Palm Beach Gardens Police Department for ballistic level body armor plates to protect officers from high powered rifle rounds.
In addition, the BallenIsles Community Service Committee engaged with more than 100 residents to help many grant recipient organizations with their programs.
For more information on The BallenIsles Charities Foundation, visit www.BallenIslesCharitiesFoundation.org. For more information on BallenIsles Country Club, visit www.BallenIsles.org.
About BallenIsles Country Club
In 1963 legendary Florida developer John D. MacArthur and the PGA of America teamed up with golf course architects Dick Wilson and Joe Lee to design a championship-caliber golf facility. Over the next ten years, BallenIsles, then called PGA National Golf Club, hosted numerous major tournaments like the PGA Championship and PGA Seniors Championship and was home for the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. The Club was also the host site for the original PGA TOUR Qualifying School and held the inaugural PGA Merchandise Show. When the MacArthur/PGA of America agreement expired in 1973, the Club was renamed the JDM Country Club for John D. MacArthur. For the next 15 years, the prestigious local country club hosted many celebrities and professional golfers and staged many events on the three golf courses on the property. In 1988, the three golf courses and surrounding property were sold by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and renamed BallenIsles Country Club. A multi-year and multimillion dollar plan to develop a private country club community was unveiled. Since the early 2000’s, BallenIsles Country Club has been consistently ranked as one of the Top 100 Clubs in America.
A $35 million clubhouse renovation was completed in November 2018, featuring 115,000 square feet of luxurious space; three championship courses with 54 holes of golf; a world-class 21-court tennis and 9-court pickleball complex; and a state-of-the-art Sports Complex with a full-service Cosmo & Company salon and spa, fitness center, Pilates & group exercise studios and resort-style swimming pool.
The recent $9.3 million golf enhancements to the East Course by Nicklaus Design, practice grounds and ‘71 Golf Learning Center follow the construction of a $1.3 million pickleball complex in 2021; and the 2020 redesign of BallenIsles’ South Course by famed golf course architect Rees Jones. The Club also recently announced a $19 million renovation and expansion project of the Club’s existing Sports Complex. Construction is expected to begin on the phased project in late 2023, with project completion slated by the end of 2024.
For more information visit www.BallenIsles.org
The 2023 Designated Beneficiaries of BallenIsles Charities Foundation and the specific programs being supported include:
- 211 PALM BEACH/TREASURE COAST -Suicide Prevention Helpline
- ADOPT A FAMILY OF THE PALM BEACHES, INC. – School Readiness Kits for Homeless Children and Youth
- ALZHEIMER’S COMMUNITY CARE – Family Nurse Navigator and ID Locator Services
- AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CARRGIVING YOUTH – Respite Support and Tutoring for Students who are the Primary Caregiver for a Chronically ill or Disabled Family Member
- BEST FOOT FORWARD FOUNDATION, INC. – Academic and SAT/ACT Tutors for Foster Youth Students
- BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF PALM BEACH & MARTIN COUNTIES, INC. – Hired Bust Transport for Youth in the Business Mentoring/Job Training Program
- BIG DOG RANCH RESCUE – Emotional/Companion Dog Training for Veterans in Need
- BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, INC. – Jr. Staff Youth Employment
- BUSCH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY – Building Materials for the New Wildlife Hospital
- CANCER ALLIANCE OF HELP & HOPE – Comfort Items for Low Income Cancer Patients
- CARIDAD CENTER, INC. – Pediatric Dental Services for Children of the Working Poor
- CARSON SCHOLARS FUND – Provide a Furnished Reading Room in a Title 1 Elementary School
- CENTER FOR CHILD COUNSELING – Therapy for Low Income Children Who Suffer From Trauma
- CENTER FOR TRAUMA COUNSELING – Clinical Mental Health Services for Children of Low Income Families
- CHASIN A DREAM FOUNDATION – Backpacks filled with Comfort Items for Children Newly Diagnosed with a Life-Threatening Illness
- CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY OF FLORIDA – Safe Harbor Shelter and Counseling Services for at Risk Youth
- CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS – BallenIsles Performance Series at Veterans Plaza
- CLINICS CAN HELP – Cribs for Babies for Low Income Families
- CONNECTIONS EDUCATION CENTER OF THE PALM BEACHES – Computers and Software for the Education of Students on the Autism Spectrum
- EL SOL – Health Training for the El Sol Community in Need
- FEED THE HUNGRY FOOD PANTRY, PBC, INC. – Feeding the Hungry in Palm Beach County
- FIRST TEE OF THE PALM BEACHES – Special Needs Children and Veteran Programs
- FLORIDA OUTREACH CENTER FOR THE BLIND, INC. – Independent Living Technology to Advance Services for the Blind
- GENESIS ASSISTANCE DOGS, INC. – Assistance Dog Training Program for Mobility Independence
- GRANDMA’S PLACE – Emergency Shelter for Children who have Suffered Abuse or Neglect
- GRANDMA’S PLACE – Respite Care for Underserved Parents/Guardians of Physically and Mentally Disabled Children
- HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, INC. – Veteran Home Build Construction Material
- HACER MINISTRY CORP. – La Casita Food Pantry for Food Insecure Families
- HEATHY AQUATICS MARINE INSTITUTE/THE REEF INSTITUTE – Coral Veterinarian Program Support
- HEALTHY MOTHERS, HEALTHY BABIES COALITION OF PBC, INC. – Basics4Babies – Emergency Pantry for Infants
- HOMESAFE – Basketball Court for Homeless Youth Living at the Shelter
- INSIGHT THROUGH EDUCATION – ShadowLight Hope for Humanity Holocaust Education
- JACK THE BIKE MAN – Refurbished Bikes for Title 1 Elementary School Children
- NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN PALM BEACH SECTION – Replenishment of School Clothing in Kids Community Closets in Title 1 Elementary Schools
- PALM BEACH COUNTY FOOD BANK – Weekend Food for Hungry Children and their Families
- PALM BEACH COUNTY SHERIFF’S FOUNDATION – Higher Education Scholarships to Low Income High School Seniors
- PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE RESCUE – High Technology Manikins with CPR Feedback to Train Palm Beach Garden Residents in Bystander CPR
- PAWS 4 LIBERTY- Service Dog Training for Disabled Veterans
- SWEET DREAM MAKERS – A Bed of My Own for Children and Families of the Working Poor
- SYMPHONIC BAND OF THE PALM BEACHES – New and Refurbished Musical Instruments for Underserved Students
- THE ARC OF PALM BEACH COUNTY – Music and Art Therapy for Children and Adults with Severe Developmental Disabilities
- THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF WEST PALM BEACH – Healthcare to Poverty Stricken and the Underserved
- THE HOMELESS COALITION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY – Meals for homeless residents at The Lewis Center and The Shelter for The Homeless
- THE JACOB S. ZWEIG FOUNDATION – New Shoes for Children and Youth in Need
- THE LEARNING ACADEMY AT THE ELS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE – Vocational Job Training for High School Students on the Autism Spectrum
- THE LEARNING CENTER AT THE ELS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE – Educational Curriculum Materials for K-8 Students on the Autism Spectrum
- THE LORD’S PLACE – Housing and Services for Single, Unsheltered Homeless Women
- URBAN YOUTH IMPACT – Literacy Support for Kids at Risk
- VITA NOVA, INC. – Homeless Transitional Housing for Youth Who Age Out of Foster Care
- WATSON B. DUNCAN MIDDLE SCHOOL – Technology Support for Students in Test Prep and Language Arts
- WEST JUPITER COMMUNITY GROUP – Food Forest Support at the Edna Runner Tutorial Center
Listing of Corporate Sponsors:
Diamond Level:
First Republic Bank/Barry Berg, Hedrick Brothers Construction, Ideal Installation, Interiors by Marsha, Mercedes-Benz of North Palm Beach, Merrill/The Gurien Group, Metros Wood, The Weisberg Group/Rhonda & Lee Weisberg and Jillian Benson, Troon, Visiting Angels of Palm Beaches
Golden Level:
Bank of America, Club Car, Garabar, Hulett Environmental Services, Illustrated Properties/Laura Cole & Tana Gaskill, Legacy Contracting Solutions, Leibowitz Realty Group/Andrew & Michael Leibowitz and Joanne Feldman, Seth Honowitz, Leo Roofing and Construction, Mathison Whittles, LLP, North County Cooling, Prime Painting
Silver Level:
Bonded Home Watch, Doane and Doane PA, Kaufman Dolowich Voluck LLP, Elegant landscaping & Design, Frank, Koenig & Neuwelt, Gulfshore Insurance, Lotzco, Inc, Montenegro Brothers Landscaping, Stifel/Murphy Wealth Management Team, Sullivan Electric-Pump
Media Contact:
Becky Collison
BallenIsles Country Club
Director of Marketing & Communication
561.249.5818
bcollison@ballenisles.org
