Media Coverage

The Palm Beach Post – click image to view

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. March 1 – A fully automated stretcher that will be retrofitted into a Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue (EMS) Emergency Rescue Transport Vehicle is among the many benefits to the local community made possible by the 2013 “Helping to Make a Difference” financial grants by the BallenIsles Charities Foundation (BICF).

The Stryker Power-Load Cot Fastener System is fully automatic and will lift the weight of both stretcher and patient into the ambulance, enhancing both patient and EMS personnel safety.

BallenIsles Charities Foundation Board Member Richard Cuccioli volunteers for a demonstration with Palm Beach Gardens EMS Responders Jill Willis and Kim Fox. The fully automated stretcher lifts the weight of both stretcher and patient into an ambulance, enhancing both patient and EMS personnel safety.

19 area charities with extraordinary local community programs were awarded financial grants totaling $160,700 at BallenIsles on Wednesday, February 27th as the 2013 “Helping to Make a Difference” beneficiaries of the BallenIsles Charities Foundation.

“There are many worthwhile organizations in Palm Beach County that accomplish great things on very limited resources. The kind generosity of BallenIsles residents and local businesses working together as a community has made it possible for us to help those who are helping others so unselfishly,” said BallenIsles Charities Foundation President Fred Corrado.

The grants include support for the purchase of oxygen concentrators for lung and cardiac patients at Clinics Can Help, which collects and re-distributes surplus medical equipment and supplies to over 1200 financially insecure patients.

Feeding South Florida’s child centered hunger-relief program at a Palm Beach Gardens elementary school also received a financial grant. The program provides an effective, discrete way of giving food-insecure school children 3 meals a day at weekends, by placing food in their backpacks on Fridays.

BallenIsles Charities Foundation 2013 Grant Awards Presentaion. Chief Peter Bergel, PBG Fire Rescue with BallenIsles Charities Foundation Board Member Ben Kovalsky (center) and Keith Bryer, PBG Division Chief EMS.

The full list or local organizations receiving the BICF 2013 Financial Grants are:

• Allamanda Elementary School
• Alzheimer’s Community Care 
• Clinics Can Help  
• Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School 
• Feeding South Florida
• First Tee of the Palm Beaches
• Gratitude House
• Kids & Police Tennis Association
• Loggerhead Marine Life Center
• Palm Beach Gardens City Hall
• Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Department (EMS)
• Palm Beach Gardens High School
• Palm Beach State College
• Renaissance Learning Academy
• Renaissance Learning Center
• Scripps Florida
• Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches
• The Arc of Palm Beach County
• West Palm Beach Waterfront Warriors

The BallenIsles Charities Foundation www.BallenIslesCharitiesFoundation.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission of “Helping to Make a Difference” in the community. It renders financial and in-kind support to area organizations providing civic, educational programs, health and human services and support for the environment.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mark Hopkinson, NewsMark Public Relations
561-852-5767 mhopkinson@newsmarkpr.com
photos courtesy Jack Robbins Photography