The Palm Beach North Education Foundation is committed to investing in the educational future of our youth through literacy programs, teacher externships & retention incentives, and leadership awards for post-secondary education. The Foundation is a private non-profit foundation, affiliated with the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, and works specifically with schools and students in the Palm Beach North region.
Annual Impact
- In collaboration with the Stiles-Nicholson Foundation, awarded 22 teachers who received the Teacher of the Year award totaling $22,000.
- Funded $9,000 in literacy kits for kindergarten through second grade classrooms at Lake Park Elementary School.
- Awarded $29,500 in scholarship for post-secondary education, including two $10,000 scholarships!
Sponsorship Opportunities
Help us make a difference today by making a donation or selecting a sponsorship opportunity! Your contribution will support the placement of literacy intervention kits in classrooms where students require the most assistance, grant scholarships to high school seniors for continued learning post-graduation, and empower teachers enhancing their classroom experience through community collaboration.
If you would like to be a sponsor, please contact Caitlyn Bergman at caitlyn@pbnedfoundation.org or 561.748.3954.
John C. Giba Student Leadership Awards Program and Palm Beach North Education Foundation Scholarships
The Foundation was formed in 1998 to oversee the endowment established through a donation from John C. Giba, a Jupiter-Tequesta businessman who believed in the importance of student leadership through education. Over the years, The Foundation has grown to provide more scholarship opportunities in our region through donations made by Chamber members and local businesses.
Since 2010, The Foundation has awarded $206,954.91 in scholarships to 93 students.
The John C. Giba Student Leadership Awards Program aims to encourage, recognize, and award selected High School seniors who have demonstrated leadership potential through a combination of academic excellence, community service, and extra-curricular activities. The Palm Beach North Education Foundation Scholarships award high school seniors who are going onto post-secondary education who demonstrate leadership potential and have a financial need.
Applications are due Friday, February 13, 2026, by 5 p.m.
Scholarship Awards generously sponsored by:
Palm Beach North Early Readers Initiative
The Palm Beach North Early Readers Initiative is a program that strives to significantly boost third-grade literacy outcomes, paving the way for every child's future success. Without a strong foundation in reading, children are left behind at a critical stage of their educational journey and will find it increasingly more challenging to catch up and keep up. This program provides funding for literacy intervention programs to schools in Palm Beach North. In addition to the literacy intervention programs, this program will connect volunteers from the business community to schools for classroom reading sessions.
2025 Teacher of the Year Awards
The Palm Beach North Education Foundation, in collaboration with The Stiles-Nicholson Foundation, awarded all 19 Teacher of the Year Award recipients with a total of $22,000! The Teacher of the Year is a distinguished educator whose exceptional qualities set them apart from their peers. They embody a profound passion for teaching, extending far beyond the standard curriculum, and making a lasting impact on their students and the broader educational community!
2025 Principal for a Day, October 13 - 17
The Palm Beach North Chamber Principal for a Day program is a one-day commitment starting as early as greeting students in the morning through dismissal. Principal for a Day is designed to help community leaders better understand the complex role of the school principal, experience the issues that a principal faces on a daily basis, and to strengthen business-education partnerships.
If you are interested, please complete the form here by September 1.
The Impact of the Principal for a Day Program
Last fall, Max Planck Florida Institute of Neuroscience participated in the program and has shared its impact on MPFI and Palm Beach Gardens Elementary: "Since the Principal for a Day Program in late October, we have returned to Palm Beach Gardens Elementary three times. We have done experiments and/or science crafts with every 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grader in the school! We have had the opportunity to share our passion for science with 519 students and spoke with many, many more. This would not have been possible without the principal for a day program and the introduction it provided. MPFI and the future scientists at PBGE thank you for the experience! We very much hope to see it return in the next school year."
Palm Beach North School Needs
Do you or your business want to help support the needs of public schools in the Palm Beach North region? If so, please check out a list of local needs here. If any of these opportunities are something you or your business can help with, please reach out to Elle Harrigan, Co-Chair of the Education Committee, at eharrigan@gssef.org. Thank you for your interest in helping the schools in our community!
Palm Beach North Schools Programming Directory
The Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, along with its Education Committee, has a vision to work with the business community in helping all schools in the Palm Beach North region become an "A" school. We’ve created a directory that details the 2024-25 Choice Programs in the Palm Beach North region. We encourage local businesses to review the programs listed here to purposefully connect with schools that align with your industry and help make an impact today!
Business Before Hours Student Table Sponsors
The Education Committee is working to increase overall support for the schools, as well as student participation at our Business Before Hours events. As a part of those efforts, our goal is to have two (2) to three (3) student tables/schools engaged at every event! Please see below for sponsorship opportunities. For questions or additional information, please contact Brittany Cartwright, Vice President of Business Development, at brittany@pbnchamber.com.
Student Table Sponsor | $700 - $3,750 Four available per event, September - March
One Event - $700 | Three Events - $1,950 | Six Events - $3,750
- Reserved table of ten (10) which provides seating for up to eight (8) students and one (1) teacher, with one (1) ticket reserved for sponsor (value $50)
- Available high schools to host: William T. Dwyer High School, Suncoast High School, Palm Beach Gardens High School, Jupiter High School and Inlet Grove Community High School (Unavailable from the months of April - August)
- Logo on the event registration page with recognition as a Student Table Sponsor (value $1,000)
- Company logo in digital event program (provided by sponsor at least one week before event) (value $1,000)
- Company logo on screen with recognition as Student Table Sponsor (value $1,000)
- Company listed as a Student Table Sponsor on added on Digital Display/tablets placed on each table and at the registration / check-in area (value $200)
Executive Director
Dr. Colleen Iannitti
Foundation President
Katie Thompson
Board of Directors
Alex Martinez Slaton, Vice President
Noel Martinez, Treasurer
Rick Murrell
Michael Hensley
Elle Harrigan
Carrie J Combes, CFP®
Stephanie Mitrione
Virginia Spencer
Rob Taylor
Non-Discrimination Policy
The Palm Beach North Education Foundation ensures that it operates without bias in its interactions with students and teachers, refraining from discrimination based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, sexual orientation, or any other limiting classification.