Connecting and giving back to women and girls in our community are at the heart of everything we do at Executive Women of the Palm Beaches. With over four decades of providing meaningful programming, providing scholarships to female students attending our local colleges, universities and vocational schools and assisting local nonprofits; EWPBF gives members and the community access to the leaders across Palm Beach County from a variety of sectors. To date we have provided over $1,000,000 to local nonprofits through our Lois C. Kwasman Community Outreach Grant and college scholarships.
Kwasman Grant applications are available in the early fall each year. College scholarships are awarded each year at the annual Holiday Luncheon. For more information email info@ewpb.org.
Scholarships and Grants
Kwasman Program for Community Impact
The purpose of the Lois Kwasman Program is to provide support for programs that assist girls and young women who need help to develop life skills to gain self-confidence, become resourceful and self-sufficient, and position themselves to have a successful life.
The Lois Kwasman grant accepts applications each fall for a program or project that assists girls and young women between the ages of 8 and 24 who reside in Palm Beach County, Florida. The program or project should offer services that assist girls and young women who need help to develop life skills to gain self-confidence, become resourceful and self-sufficient, and position themselves to have a successful life.
Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation Scholarship Program
Each year Executive Women of the Palm Beaches awards numerous scholarships to deserving young women in the community. EWPB works with area colleges and universities including Florida Atlantic University, Palm Beach State, Keiser University and Palm Beach Atlantic University. Applications open in late summer/early fall each year.
For more information on scholarships email info@ewpb.org.
Harreen Bertisch EWPBF Pathfinder’s Scholarship
In 2023 longtime EWPBF member Harreen Bertisch passed away suddenly. To honor her legacy we renamed the annual Pathfinder’s Scholarship in her name. Harreen Lich Bertisch was born on June 21, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York. While attending Brooklyn College studying for her B.A. in child psychology, she met her husband Robert “Bob” Bertish. In 1980 they moved to Palm Beach County.
Her passion was creating innovative, informative and imaginative experiences for children. Whether it was the Jewish Community Center in Miami where she ran the day camp, to the Kaplan Jewish Community Center in West Palm Beach, where Harreen developed programs for children to thrive, and learn and be inspired.
In 1994, Harreen started volunteering at the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, where during her 28-year tenure there, she and her team raised over $20 million to support free legal services programs for children, victims of domestic violence, victims of elder abuse, the homeless and many more.
In 1997, Harreen became a member of Executive Women of the Palm Beaches and embraced its mission to inspire women personally and professionally for the betterment of business and our community. She was instrumental in advancing the Lois Kwasman Initiative to fund programs specifically to assist young women 11 – 21, serving as chairwoman of the committee for many years.
The Pathfinder High School Scholarship Awards are presented each year to those high school seniors in Palm Beach and Martin counties who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in 18 academic, vocational and athletic categories, for more information visit https://pathfinderawards.org.
