Young Philanthropists of Baptist Health have a message for you. If your mission to make a difference feels too big to accomplish on your own, join our team.
In the midst of busy lives, careers and growing children, Young Philanthropists of Baptist Health use the power of teamwork and its nearly 100 members to make big contributions that impact the future of healthcare in South Florida.
Members are committed to improving the health and well-being of our community; particularly, the underserved. Through giving, community service and education, they invest time and resources in care and prevention, while connecting people in underserved communities to the services they need and deserve.
Young Philanthropists focus on an annual project – important health and wellness initiatives, specialized services and new technology -- and raise funds to make it a reality, rotating their efforts among Baptist Health hospitals. Members partner with extraordinary staff as they get to know the needs of each facility.
GROW2HEAL Community Garden
Addressing the national epidemic of obesity and related diseases impacting children and adults, Young Philanthropists this year are partnering with Homestead Hospital to focus on wellness and prevention.
The current project, Homestead Hospital’s GROW2Heal Community Garden, is a large-scale prevention and education program aimed particularly at children grades K-12 from low-income families across South Florida’s Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. The centerpiece of the project is a 10-acre community garden developed adjacent to the hospital, where organic vegetables, fruits and herbs are grown. Used as an interactive learning experience and a food source, the homegrown bounty is shared with school children, hospital staff and our patients.
The Learning Center is the educational hub of the initiative, featuring activities including gardening and healthy eating workshops, cooking demonstrations and GROW Your Lunch field trips. Field trips for students will give most children (even in farm rich Homestead) their first hands-on experience with a working farm, experiencing how food is produced. Children explore the process of planting, harvesting, preparation and eating fresh food.
The culmination of the program is an interactive cooking experience where students use fresh ingredients from the garden to assist and learn how to make a delicious, healthy meal. Invested in the growing and preparation of the meal, students are given the unique experience of enjoying food they have worked to create.
Passionate about GROW2Heal, Young Philanthropists are working to raise funds for the Learning Center – including construction, outdoor kitchen supplies, picnic tables and educational tools – and “Grow Your Lunch” classroom sponsorships.
Young Philanthropists Giving Levels
- Golden Circle: $2,500 age 45-49
- $1,000 age 30-44
- $500 age 21-29
Yearly contributions of $2,500 and $1,000 may be paid in annual, semi-annual or quarterly installments. Yearly gifts of $500 may be paid annually or semi-annually. All gifts are per individual or couple.
In addition to the camaraderie of working together to improve care in South Florida, members also enjoy membership benefits including:
- Networking opportunities
- Access to lifestyle education programs
- Invitations to hospital and Foundation special events
- Preferred rate at Executive Health physicals
- Preferred parking at select Baptist Health facilities
For more information, contact Kate Valois, Manager of Annual Giving and Young Philanthropists,
at 786-467-5400 or KateV@BaptistHealth.net.