Service to Others

“We will serve those in need with humility, grace, and gratitude. Service is the essence of the Palm Garden Culture.”

Palm Garden of Gainesville celebrates the life story of each person entrusted to our care. Our mission is to enrich the lives of those we humbly serve. We apply our core value “Service to Others” to the community we serve. The act of service knows no walls, no property lines, and no geography.

Throughout the years, Palm Garden of Gainesville has been proud to support the following events that help the community through service to others:

Annual Tailgate Party – This family-fun event with games, wing-eating, raffle prizes and a rocking DJ brings together people from various Gainesville locations, and the proceeds benefit JDRF, a national non-profit organization that works to cure type 1 diabetes. This year marks the second year it will be held on the grounds of Palm Garden of Gainesville and is co-hosted with Home by Choice, a locally owned in-home healthcare company serving the needs of the elderly in Gainesville.

Something New in Orange and Blue Fashion Show – ElderCare of Alachua County hosts the fashion show to those in Gainesville, home of the University of Florida. To get ready for the sports season, the show highlights local designer’s stores and boutique fashions with local celebrities strutting the stage at the Senior Recreation Center. With more than 7500 members, the Senior Recreation Center receives the net proceeds from the show and is a safe place for seniors to gather and participate in activities that promote health, education, fitness and fun.

Affair to Remember – This event was conceived by Dr. Robert Slaton, a local internal medicine physician, and others to recognize those who take care of the elder population in Gainesville. It is an annual event to educate, honor and recognize those people who care for persons with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Each year a professional is recognized for an outstanding contribution, a family caregiver who exemplifies loving care and a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) who is exemplary in Alzheimer’s care. Last year the CNA winner was Debbie Rivers, a long-standing CNA from Palm Garden of Gainesville.

Moonlight & Martinis – This annual event takes place at the local Mercedes Benz dealership, where many area restaurants provide delectable food and entertainment to those attending to provide support for Al’z Place, the Elder Care of Alachua County care program for adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Artwork by the Al’z Place participants is auctioned and it is a local favorite event. Palm Garden of Gainesville sponsors this event each year.

Ride to Remember Cycling Event – Dr. Rafael Cott, a local geriatric physician who cares for Palm Garden of Gainesville residents, created this event more than 10 years ago to help those with Alzheimer’s disease. The 100-mile path allows riders to participate in as much or as little as wanted. Family-fun games and food are provided, and Palm Garden of Gainesville has been a sponsor since the event’s inception.

Christmas Tree Donations – Senior Healthcare of Crown Pointe organizes and hosts a table-top Christmas tree donation to benefit the Gainesville Fisher House (assistance to out-of-town families of US veterans in the VA Medical Center) and Ronald McDonald House (assistance to out-of-town families of seriously ill children) families who are in Gainesville at Christmas time. The event is a contest among the donors for the best-looking tree, and there are approximately 70 trees to be given away each year. Palm Garden has been a donor every year since its inception.

Pine Grove Apartments – Six months of the year, a Palm Garden representative is a speaker at Pine Grove Apartments, an affordable housing complex with 96 apartments and approximately 100 elderly/low-income residents. Through a contract with HUD, Volunteers of America owns and manages the building and its activities for residents. The activity calendar shows Palm Garden has an event every other month when the speaker presents topics on general health guidelines, rehabilitation and injury-prevention measures.

…it’s our pleasure