CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF IMPACT:
EXECUTIVE WOMEN OF THE PALM BEACHES FOUNDATION HONORS PAST LEADERS, AWARDS ANNUAL 2022 KWASMAN GRANT TO HOLY GROUND
Jupiter, Fla. – (December 17, 2022) – Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation, Inc. (EWPBF) rang in the holiday season with gifts of grants, recognition and scholarships at its 2022 Holiday Event.
Selected from among three finalists, Holy Ground (https://holygroundpbc.org/) was named the winner of the 2022 Lois Kwasman Program for Community Impact grant. Holy Ground President Jan Kranich accepted the $5,000 check on behalf of the nonprofit, which is dedicated to sheltering and mentoring homeless, pregnant or parenting young women, and their children, living in Palm Beach County.
Held Dec. 9 at The Club at Admirals Cove in Jupiter, the Holiday Event also honored EWPBF’s past presidents and 2022 scholarship winners.
The Kwasman Program was established in 2004, in memory of EWPBF Board Member Lois Cohn Kwasman. The program enables EWPBF to make an impact in Palm Beach County through grants that support programs designed to assist under-served women and girls.
“We started our program helping one 17-year-old pregnant mother, who was sharing a room with her mother. When both became homeless, we stepped in to find them housing and resources for the baby,” said Kranich. “We’ve since grown to two campuses and have countless stories of young women who have graduated college, earned certificates and are able to live their lives with pride and dignity.”
The luncheon was a festive addition to a year in which EWPBF commemorates 40 years of changing the lives of women in Palm Beach County. The nonprofit organization was founded in 1982 to provide a place and voice to the professional women who make up the local business community. Leaders who shepherded EWPBF through its growth were given a rousing round of applause and orchids. Past presidents in attendance were Minx Boren, Amy Brand, Trudy Crowetz, Joyce Elden, Michele Gurto, Dorothy Jacks, Cynthia Jackson, Pamela Payne, Virginia Spencer, Denise Valz, and Trixy Walker, along with current President Katie Klause-Newitt.
The 2023 EWPBF scholarship recipients were presented with their academic awards. This year, scholarships, in the following amounts, were earned by:
– Emmonnie Lahai, $2,000, Florida Atlantic University
– Ashley Perry, $2,000, Florida Atlantic University
– Anjali Talwar, $2,000, Palm Beach Atlantic University
– Ruby Warner, $2,500, Palm Beach Atlantic University
– Ivelis Hernandez, $2,000, Keiser University
– Laurell Smith, $2,000, Keiser University
– Bycherlie Fieurand, $2,000, Palm Beach State College
– Dounia Cambas, $2,000, Palm Beach State College
– Trystin Schmick, $2,000, Keiser University
“A scholarship changed my life, so I know how important these programs are,” said Lindsey White, Chief Development Officer for luncheon sponsor Hanley Foundation. “I attended school out-of-state, and without the scholarship, my path would have been very different.”
Mark your calendar for these upcoming EWPBF events:
First week of January 2023
Nominations Open for 2023 Annual Women in Leadership Awards
The highly distinguished Women in Leadership Awards are presented annually by Executive Women of the Palm Beaches in recognition of local women who have sustained outstanding accomplishments and displayed generosity of spirit, commitment to integrity and diversity, and genuine connectedness with others in the community. Women will be honored for their outstanding accomplishments within the realms of volunteer, private, non-profit and public sector service, and an Emerging Leader will also be recognized.
January 24, 2023
5:30 p.m.
University of Florida Dean of Arts and Letters Onye P. Ozuzu
Mounts Botanical Gardens
April 19, 2023
10:30 a.m. VIP reception; 12 p.m. Lunch
Annual Women in Leadership Awards
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Empowering women to succeed and lead, the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit professional association that inspires integrity, equality and leadership in the workplace and community. To learn more, visit www.ewpb.org.