Wyoming-based charity donates $250,000 to Palm Beach Friends of Recreation

A $250,000 gift from a Wyoming-based charity will help enhance recreational and wellness enrichment within the town.

The Pamela and Wayne Garrison Family Foundation made the donation to the nonprofit Friends of Recreation, Inc., whose mission is to promote education, health, wellness and community building on the island.

“Giving back to a community that enriches our lives daily holds great significance for us,” said Alexandra Garrison, a Palm Beach resident who serves as a director of the foundation. “Our affection for the Mandel Recreation Center, its diverse programming, the delightful playground, and everything the Friends of Recreation embodies, truly inspires our commitment to this vibrant community.”

The donation from the Garrison Family Foundation will be used to expand scholarship programs for children of town employees; support key projects such as building shade structures at the Mandel Recreation Center and enhancing community spaces; and strengthen community bonds through events such as Parents Night Out and the center’s annual birthday bash, the recreation center said in a release announcing the donation.

“This significant donation empowers us to increase our annual support for the myriad of wonderful recreational programs in Palm Beach,” Friends of Recreation Chair Matthew Smith said. “It’s a catalyst for supporting key projects and cultivating a community where wellness is recognized as an integral part of our wellbeing.”

The donation, added Friends of Recreation Vice Chair Michael Ainslie, will push the organization’s total endowment past $1.2 million.

“This generous gift from the Garrison Family Foundation is not just a financial boon,” Ainslie said. “It’s a pivotal milestone for our organization.”

For information on the Friends of Recreation, visit pbreccenter.org.

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.