History of Jupiter Medical Center Foundation

The Jupiter Medical Center Foundation was incorporated in 1989 to promote philanthropic support of Jupiter Medical Center. The Foundation Board of Trustees was chaired by Fred H. Ahlbin D.H.L. until 2004. Thomas Pledger, chaired the Foundation Board from 2004 until January 2008. Peter O. Crisp is the current Chair. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised over $50 million through generous gifts from the local community, as well as secured over $40 million in endowment for future initiatives.

Destined by location and circumstances, Jupiter Medical Center has become the premier healthcare facility in the area. People from all areas of the country call Jupiter home with a quality of life second to none. Healthcare is a central focus of a community's structure and philanthropy to JMC enhances that quality of life for all to benefit.  

The Cornerstone of the Foundation is the Annual Fund "Friends of the Foundation". The Foundation created special amenities for members of the Presidents Club ($1,000 and above) and Chairmans Club ($5,000 and above) when admitted into the hospital as a way to recognize their generosity and express appreciation to these individuals who support JMC annually. 

Contributions from individual donors continue to be the primary source of funding for the Foundation, whether generated from a giving club, a major gift, planned gift or as a result of a fund raising special event such as the annual Pro-Am Charity Golf Classic, The Pink and White Ball, or one of the many Ambassadors Events.     

Early benefactors to the Foundation were the Foshay Family. The Ella Milbank Foshay Cancer Center was established by the Dunlevy Milbank Foundation in 1986. This permanent memorial to a much-loved woman was created and funded in gratitude for the quality care she received at Jupiter Medical Center. Today, Katharine Foshay Plum serves with distinction on the Foundation Board of Trustees.

In 1996, Jupiter Medical Center Foundation initiated the first community-wide capital campaign, raising nearly $10 million to complete the construction of a 71,000 sq. foot hospital expansion and renovation of the existing 40,000 sq. foot facility. It included redesigned surgical suites, expanded emergency department, an imaging center, the John and Margaret Clarke Patient Registration Center and the Edmona L. and Frank L. Mansell Cardiopulmonary Diagnostic Center was established at that time. 

In November 30, 1999, The Bright Beginnings Birthing Suites - a 12-bed obstetrics unit was opened on the 3rd floor, to reflect the changing demographics of Jupiter. Funded in large part through philanthropic support, over 760 babies were born during its first year of operation and today more than 1,000 babies per year are delivered at JMC!

Another Foundation success story is the Cancer 2000 Initiative. Through the leadership of two Foundation Board members who co-chaired the Initiative, the Foundation committed $6 million to purchase state-of-the-art cancer treatment equipment - most notably, a dual energy multi-leaf collimation linear accelerator at a cost of $1.5 million, continuing its commitment to invest in leading edge technology.

Another important part of the Foshay Cancer Center is the Daniel C. Searle Clinical Access Trials Program, which provides more than 60 clinical trials to greatly improve patient survival rates at Jupiter Medical Center. To increase patient access to clinical trials, Jupiter Medical Center continues working closely with the National Cancer Institute through its affiliation with Mount Sinai Community Clinical Oncology Program. Most recently, another philanthropic milestone was realized with the installation of an Image-Guided Radiation Therapy System (IGRT), funded in part by The Searle Family Trust. 

Many special gifts to Jupiter Medical Center have come as a result of exemplary care. Such was the case with Mrs. Frank (Pearl) Perloff, long-time friend of the Foundation. Upon the tragic death of her beloved daughter, Bonnie Fowler, Pearl decided to become an advocate against colon cancer. The Perloff-Fowler Fund for the Prevention of Cancer at Jupiter Medical Center was established. The Operating Fund provides colonoscopies - a life saving diagnostic procedure - for individuals unable to pay for this costly service due to a lack of insurance. 

A Capital Expansion was completed with close to $10 million raised for the Emergency Department Expansion and 8-bed Jackson & Anna Goss Progressive Care Unit.

Future funding projects include the Dominick & Shirley Raso Education Center for ongoing training for health professionals, patients and families, a parking pavilion and the expanded medical surgical beds to meet the growing needs of the community.

Throughout the decades, Jupiter Medical Center has strived to remain focused on excellence and in meeting the ever-changing health care needs of the community.  The Jupiter Medical Center Foundation, its Board of Trustees, staff and supporters are integral to the viability and commitment that Jupiter Medical Center remain a community-owned, not-for-profit hospital, with the financial resources to insure we serve the community by providing the highest quality patient-centered healthcare in a cost-effective and compassionate manner.

For more information about the Jupiter Medical Center Foundation, please call 561-745-5728, or fax 561-744-4493.