Quantum Foundation will give $1 million for Public Health Institute in Palm Beach County
Quantum's donation will pay salaries of county nonprofit
By Patty Pensa | South Florida Sun-Sentinel | Posted June 19 2007
The Quantum Foundation is awarding roughly $1 million — one of its largest grants this year — to the Florida Public Health Institute, officials announced Monday.
Formed in October, the nonprofit health institute is part of the overall redevelopment of A.G. Holley State Hospital in Lantana, the country's last free-standing tuberculosis sanatorium.
The money will be used to pay salaries for three years for four main employees: Executive Director Dr. Earl Fox, a deputy, consultant and administrative assistant.
Fox said he expects its budget to be several million dollars a year. Quantum's contribution helps jump-start the institute's work to effect change in health care in Palm Beach County. The institute will partner with the County Commission, county Health Department and the Health Care District on public health issues.
Its priorities include strengthening the medical work force and improving access to care by encouraging new federally funded centers.
"We believe [the institute] has the potential to do some significant things to advance the cause of public health in Palm Beach County," said Paul Gionfriddo, Quantum executive director.
Gionfriddo said the foundation decided to give the grant to salaries because "without the core staff for the public health institute, there is no public health institute."
Money for the institute will not be used to renovate A.G. Holley, which was built in 1950 with 400 beds and could be whittled down to 55 or 100. The renovation and converting the remaining 150 acres into a medical research complex is estimated to cost $150 million.
The institute also has received $100,000 from the National Network of Public Health Institutes over two years, another $100,000 in matching money from the Brumback Fund in Palm Beach County. The University of Miami's medical school is giving $100,000.
Patty Pensa can be reached at ppensa@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6609.