Birthday celebration for Ilene Solomon Silber benefits two charities
Palm Healthcare Foundation Inc. Board Trustee Ilene Solomon Silber has always had a heart for children and wellness. As an avid participant in providing educational opportunities, Silber regularly reads to the children of Northmore Elementary School as part of the Let’s Read initiative through the City of West Palm Beach and volunteers her time advocating for mental health and wellness, via Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc.’s programs.
On Monday, March 12 the Forever Friends of Ilene Solomon Silber dedicated her birthday celebration to her two passions, by making contributions to Northmore Elementary and Palm Healthcare Foundation in her honor. Her husband and family made a matching donation.
At the birthday party, she was greeted with personalized gifts made by
Northmore students. Her Forever Friends donated a special hand-painted chair based on Ilene’s favorite Dr. Seus book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go, for students and volunteers to relax in while reading. Northmore Principal Vonda Daniels, West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio and Palm Healthcare Foundation President and CEO Patrick J. McNamara joined the festivities.
“Ilene has been a strong community advocate, especially when it comes to children, connecting with the students through her love of reading. She finds time to read to them regularly, creating friendships and inspiring by doing,” McNamara said. “Through her advo- cacy with Palm Healthcare Foundation, she promotes brain fitness and mindfulness activities to help teachers and students reduce stress in their lives.”
Silber has been working on behalf of children’s issues since 1973 when she began her career as a teacher of emotionally
handicapped and learningdisabled students. She
was recruited by Parent Child Center, a mental health facility for children, in 1976 to create an education and diagnostic department and soon became the Deputy Director.
After 13 years of service, she left Parent Child and became Executive Director of Communities in Schools (CIS) of Palm Beach County, a nonprofit agency, working in partnership with the school district to help keep kids in school. In 2004, Silber joined the City of West Palm Beach to develop education partnerships and to create the Division of Neighborhood Services.
From 2006-2013, she worked as a Consultant under the umbrella of the Education Commission focused on Early Care and Education. Currently, she is doing consulting work focused on education with the City of West
Palm Beach on a special Mayor initiative. She also volunteers with United Way.
Palm Healthcare
Foundation is Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. With the support of donors and a focus on results, the foundation builds strong community partnerships, respects diverse opinions, advocates for its most vulnerable neighbors and inspires innovative solutions to lead change for better health now and for generations to come. Palm Healthcare Foundation has invested $75 million dollars in Palm Beach County health since 2001. For more information about Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc., visit palmhealthcare.org or call 561-833-6333.