Thank You
11th ANNUAL FOUNDERS LUNCHEON
FEBRUARY 28,
2024
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Hope for Early Education
Celebrating the powerful philanthropic and nonprofit partners making a difference locally
About the Event
The Community Foundation leads philanthropy locally, connecting donors to its network of trusted nonprofit partners on the front lines of our area’s greatest challenges. From housing to mental health, early childhood to education, our grants and scholarships can transform the causes closest to your heart.
With about half of Palm Beach and Martin County third graders reading below grade level, the Community Foundation presented
Hope for Early Education at the Founders Luncheon alongside our donors, nonprofit partners, and community members
who have been working to turn the page on children’s literacy.
Event Speakers & Hosts
Co-host
Jeffrey A. Stoops
Board Chair
Mr. Stoops is Chair of the Board of Directors at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
Co-host
Danita R. DeHaney
President & CEO
Ms. DeHaney is President & CEO of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. She joined the helm in 2021 after serving as Florida Atlantic University’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement and CEO of the FAU Foundation.
Keynote Speaker
Holly Lane, Ph.D.
Director, UF Literacy Institute
Dr. Lane is the Director of the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) and an associate professor of special education. She is also the Irving and Rose Fien Endowed Professor of Education and the director of the James Patterson Literacy Challenge.
Guest of Honor
McIntosh Award Recipient
When George Elmore moved to Florida in 1947, I-95 didn’t exist. Neither did the Turnpike. He remembers the area was quiet, modest, and — most importantly — possessed promise.

An entrepreneur at heart, he founded Hardrives of Delray, Inc. in 1953 and soon began to pave the arteries that would move millions around sunny South Florida. As Palm Beach County grew, so did its needs. Inspired by leading local families like the Flaglers, Kenans, and MacArthurs, he began planting philanthropic seeds of his own.
“The most successful people you see in America are the most involved in the community, helping out,” said Elmore. “Over the years, I’ve felt it’s better to share my success, and help develop it for others. You give, and you get. Philanthropy pays dividends, too.”
Motivated to do more, Elmore joined the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors in its early days at a friend’s request, serving alongside its first president, Shannon Sadler Hull, to steer the still-nascent organization. He volunteered for a second stint in the 2010s.
The Community Foundation was hardly the only area organization to benefit from his support and stewardship; when he celebrated his 90th birthday three years ago, his sweetheart Marti LaTour pulled together a list of over 50 local nonprofits to whom he has given or volunteered.
“It’s really George who has opened my own eyes to the power of philanthropy more than anything,” said LaTour. “I’ve never seen any situation where any one person has impacted that many organizations. He’s a model for how to reinvest in a community that helped make his business a success.”
Inspired, LaTour joined the Community Foundation as a volunteer, too, advising on its Investment Committee, which oversees $244+ in assets. The committee is made up of a high-caliber group of investment professionals like LaTour who know the business, and she says everyone “should know that their money is thoughtfully cared for at the Foundation.”
Together, the couple is thinking about ways to support the community’s needs in perpetuity. Long ago, Elmore included the Foundation in his estate plans.

“It’s easier and smarter to partner with the Foundation — I can say, ‘These are the causes I want to continue taking care of forever,’ and I trust they’ll spread my support around the community,” said Elmore. “It’s important to keep giving even after I’m gone because all that I have done for others has enriched my life, too. And when you give, it opens doors that I couldn’t have opened by myself.”
Thank you, Sponsors
Leading Sponsors
Partner Sponsors
Community Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
Table Sponsors
Media Sponsors
Watch This Year'sHighlights
Save the Date
February 26, 2025
Join us next year for our 12th Annual Founders Luncheon!
