Palm Health Foundation’s Scholarship Reception on September 29, 2026, brought together scholars pursuing careers in nursing, mental health, and behavioral health with their supporters for an inspiring evening at The Center for Philanthropy in West Palm Beach, FL. More than 100 guests gathered in the center’s tropical courtyard to celebrate 56 scholarship recipients, with musical
entertainment provided by orchestra students from Grace Notes Music Foundation, a Palm Health Foundation grantee. Together with donors and fundholders, Palm Health Foundation has awarded more than $4.8 million in health professions scholarships since 2001.
Scholarship fund holders, including Palm Health Foundation Board Chair Dr. Christine Koehn, delighted in meeting their students.
“My husband, Rich, and I established our family fund as a way to create a lasting legacy of health and healing in our community,” Dr. Koehn told guests. She thanked fellow scholarship fund holders, commenting, “Your generosity opens doors for students to pursue their education, follow their calling, and become the healthcare professionals our community needs.”
Allison Jimenez, LMHC, thinks about how far the investment in her education from the Frances Fisher Scholarship Fund at Palm Health Foundation has traveled. Speaking to current scholars at the reception, she reflected on how the foundation’s support for her Master’s Degree in ClinicalMental Health Counseling led her to become a licensed mental health counselor, an addiction professional, a professor, the CEO of a nonprofit behavioral health organization, and now, preparing to pursue her doctorate at Johns Hopkins University as a first-generation scholar.
“Their scholarship investment didn’t end when I graduated,” Jimenez said. “It followed me into therapy rooms, classrooms, and community meetings. It became part of every opportunity I’ve had to advocate for individuals and families who deserve access to compassionate, quality behavioral health care. That is the power of investing in someone’s education.”
“Palm Health Foundation seeks scholars like Allison who have the ability to bridge languages, cultures, and experiences, and help ensure that more people can access care that is not only high-quality, but also understanding and responsive to individual and community needs,” said Palm Health Foundation President and CEO Patrick McNamara.
McNamara closed the event by encouraging guests to support the foundation’s scholarship fund match
