Quantum Foundation funds projects from public fitness zones to a mobile food pantry to improve PBC’s health
(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla) —The board of Quantum Foundation, under the chairmanship of local businessman and philanthropist William A. Meyer, approved ten new grants totaling $1,718,287 at its recent board meeting. The private health care foundation based in West Palm Beach funds projects that tackle health problems in fresh and innovative ways. Every dollar the foundation grants, about $7.5 million every year, stays in Palm Beach County to benefit local communities.
Grant recipients included HomeSafe ($40,000), Palm BeachAtlanticUniversity ($30,744 and $250,000), University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine ($83,250), Palm Beach County Food Bank ($100,000), Community Foundation for Palm Beach & MartinCounties ($50,000), CaridadMedicalCenter ($500,000), T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society ($150,000), Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County ($379,293) and the Trust for PublicLand ($135,000).
Quantum Foundation is a private grantmaking organization that funds approved charities and certain government agencies serving Palm Beach County, Fla. The foundation has assets of approximately $140 million and since its inception in 1997 has awarded over $100 million to hundreds of grantees in Palm Beach County.
“As West Palm Beach’s largest health-related grantmaking organization with 100% of funding dollars staying in the county,” said Meyer, “it is Quantum’s mission to inspire and fund bold initiatives that improve the health of Palm BeachCounty. Our 12-member board unanimously approved this recent cycle of grants which will provide much needed services directly aligned with the foundation’s mission. “
Two of this grant cycle’s funded projects show innovative approaches to solving health-related issues, from access to exercise opportunities to the provision of good nutrition for better health.
- The Trust for PublicLand’s Fitness Zones for Palm Beach County project incorporates exercise equipment into public parks. Since 1972, the Trust for PublicLand has focused on reinvigorating cities in a variety of ways, including increasing community access to outdoor exercise equipment, especially for residents of low-income neighborhoods. These fitness zones consist of 9 to 17 pieces of durable easy-to-use gym equipment in accessible public areas. The two proposed sites for this grant are located in Boynton Beach and LakePark. The project aligns with Quantum Foundation’s mission to help nurture healthy communities in innovative ways.
- The Palm Beach County Food Bank’s Nutrition Xpress Mobile Food Pantry project will deliver fresh food directly to underserved neighborhoods in Palm BeachCounty using a newly-acquired specialized truck. By increasing the accessibility of fresh food, along with nutrition education, this projects aims to reduce childhood obesity and diabetes rates and improve the health profile of needy communities.
Quantum Foundation’s President Eric M. Kelly said: “Each grant application we receive is carefully vetted to ensure we use our funds to benefit the health of Palm BeachCounty. There are many facets to creating a vibrant, healthy community and we look for grantees who seek bold ways to resolve health issues and make our county a happy and healthy place to call home.”
Quantum Foundation welcomes letters of inquiry/grant applications from non-profit organizations working directly within its focus areas. For more information, please visit the organization’s website at www.quantumfnd.org
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