Heartfelt Giving Brings Unexpected Rewards
There’s a certain serendipity to Jack and Mary Weisbaum’s association with Cleveland Clinic Florida.
The relationship began in 2013 when Jack joined the Indian River Hospital Board of Directors. He had just retired from BDO USA, a large accounting and consulting firm, where he’d served most recently as its CEO. Jack worked tirelessly on the hospital board of directors for six years, primarily as treasurer, ending his term as the medical center became a full member of the Cleveland Clinic in 2019. Jack served on the selection committee responsible for the union.
Since 2008, Jack and his wife, Mary, also were actively involved in the Indian River Medical Center Foundation’s Eagle Society. Established almost 40 years ago, the Eagle Society recognizes donors who give more than $10,000 to the Foundation, which supports the hospital, locally.
“Prior to that time, I didn’t know much about the hospital,” admits Jack. “I was, thankfully, in good health and didn’t worry too much about needing a hospital.” He adds: “What I did hear about the hospital at that time, unfortunately, was negative. A lot of people just did not have a good view of it.” He did his own homework and observed that while a lot of positive things were occurring, community members were unaware of them.
In an effort to improve communication and the community’s perception of the hospital – and recruit more donors – Jack and other “Eagles” reached out to neighbors to share hospital strengths and needs. They also encouraged people to participate in hospital tours, health lectures, and social events with medical staff.
“It was just a neighborly thing ... a way to get to know people and learn more.” Jack recalls thinking at the time, “We were making an investment in our own future.” But he couldn’t have predicted that the hospital he believed in so strongly would save his wife’s life – and arguably his own life, too.
Three of the hospital’s earliest and most significant innovations are the Scully-Welsh Cancer Center; the Welsh Heart Center, featuring a novel lifesaving stroke treatment; and the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and Indian River Hospital Scully Endoscopy Center. The couple chose to focus much of their giving in these areas, in addition to supporting other capital and programmatic needs across the hospital.
“It’s gratifying for us to see all these improvements benefiting community members,” Jack says. Never, however, did he or Mary expect to benefit so personally or in such life-altering ways.
It was the gastroenterology team that quickly diagnosed and treated Mary in 2018 when she arrived by ambulance to the ER presenting ischemic colitis, an inflammation in the colon that begins in the circulatory system. “They saved my life,” she maintains. “I was in excruciating pain, unable to breathe and very scared.” Remarkably, notes Jack, the medical team was able to stabilize Mary, cure an infection and treat her condition without surgery.
Three years later, Jack was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. “When I was admitted to the hospital, I was 5’9” and weighed 178 pounds,” he says. “When I came out, I was just about 5’6” and weighed 120 pounds. It wasn’t good.”
Jack is especially appreciative of and impressed by the seamless interaction between all the members of his medical team, both within and outside of Indian River Hospital. He started receiving infusions at the Scully-Welsh Cancer Center about four years ago, while continuing to also receive oncology care elsewhere. “The people are absolutely fantastic,” he gushes. To show his appreciation, he treats the Scully-Welsh caregivers to pizza parties every so often. It means a great deal to him and other cancer patients to get the treatments they need, close to home.
The Weisbaum’s fortuitous story doesn’t end there. During the course of Jack’s cancer treatments, he also would benefit from an aortic valve replacement and pacemaker implant. “The results are great,” Jack says. “I’m still here and I’m strong.” At 85, he’s back up to 150 pounds and works out three to five days a week.
“The advancements Cleveland Clinic has made are absolutely amazing. They have a great staff,” Jack says. He believes communication has improved considerably, crediting the hospital, foundation and hospital district leadership teams. “But there is no better report card I can give than what they did for Mary and me, personally.”
Meeting People Where They Are
Sundrea Wilcox, MA, has spent nearly 20 years serving her community with compassion, integrity and purpose. As a leader in Community Health at Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital, she has seen firsthand how social determinants of health — like food insecurity, housing instability and limited access to technology — can affect some of our most vulnerable patients.
Determined to do more, Sundrea turned insight into action. With the support of a Catalyst Grant, she and her colleagues opened the Community Resource Center at Euclid Hospital, which now helps to bridge medical care and essential social support.
“Patients view this hospital as a safe haven,” says Sundrea. “I don’t want people leaving in the same despair they arrived in. We are fully closing the loop and making sure everyone leaves knowing Euclid Hospital took care of them.”
Patients are screened during registration, and those in need are connected to vital resources before they leave: nonperishable food, fresh clothes, hygiene items and critical connections to social services. The center also includes a computer lab, where patients can log into MyChart, schedule follow-up appointments and participate in digital literacy classes, which is especially important because some people do not have internet access at home.
“This project is about meeting people where they are — not assuming that just because we offer support, they have access to it,” says Sundrea. “We’re trying to transform lives by being preventative, making sure patients leave with what they need and know that if they ever have to come back, we’ll be here for them again.”
Catalyst Grants are funded annually by thousands of gifts of all sizes from donors. The competitive grants are awarded to caregivers with ideas to improve the lives of Cleveland Clinic patients, the organization and communities around the world. Sundrea was awarded about $34,000.
“I literally screamed when I got the Catalyst Grant,” says Sundrea. “It was amazing, and I’m so grateful to have brought this to the community. This is for everyone, even caregivers. We’re one community. It’s about building sustainable, meaningful programs with our partners, like the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, that truly reflect change.”
Sundrea feels she’s living her purpose, and she’s energized for what comes next. With the Community Resource Center now thriving, she’s focused on expanding its reach, deepening partnerships and continuing to remove barriers to healing.
A Sneak Peek at the Cleveland Clinic Palm Beach Ball
Taking place at The Breakers Palm Beach on Feb. 21, 2026, Cleveland Clinic's highly anticipated Palm Beach Ball features a special fireside chat with international Tennis Hall-of-Famer and 18-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert. She will join Cleveland Clinic CEO Tom Mihaljevic, MD, onstage to share the story of her personal cancer journey and the lifesaving care she received at Cleveland Clinic’s Weston Hospital.
Evert was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in late 2021, two years after losing her sister Jeanne to the same disease. She underwent genetic testing and was notified by the hospital that she had a genetic mutation that elevated her risk for developing ovarian cancer. Surgical intervention revealed she had early-stage ovarian cancer and she underwent robotic surgery and chemotherapy under the care of Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital specialists. Her early diagnosis and successful treatment have since inspired her advocacy for cancer prevention, genetic testing and early detection.
“It was unbelievable to me that they kept track, even when my sister had passed away, of the gene mutation she had,” said Evert. “The care I received was excellent.I encourage people to know their family history and get genetic testing.Be your own advocate and be aware of your body and any signs or signals of something changing.”
In addition to Evert’s discussion, the Palm Beach Ball will feature a welcome reception, followed by a four-course dinner and live entertainment. Chairing the annual benefit are Monica and Mike Maroone. The Grand Honorary Chairmen are long-time Cleveland Clinic supporters Kathryn and Leo Vecellio. The host committee includes Lynn Connelly and Stephen Ross, Beth and Sean Lang, Marie and Andy Unanue and Andrea and Steve Wynn.
Proceeds from the Palm Beach Ball will directly support the development of a state-of-the-art hospital and an expansive outpatient and ambulatory surgery center in West Palm Beach. The planned hospital on Australian Avenue will feature approximately 200 inpatient beds and an emergency department with state-of-the-art technologies and treatments. In addition, a new facility at 15 CityPlace will quadruple Cleveland Clinic’s current outpatient square footage and place the outpatient facility within blocks of the new inpatient hospital for a seamless, integrated patient experience.
Cleveland Clinic launched a capital campaign in February 2025 to fund the projects bringing a comprehensive healthcare solution to the residents of Palm Beach and will break ground on the new hospital when $500 million is raised.
Cleveland Clinic in Florida is a nonprofit, multi-specialty healthcare provider that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic’s Florida market includes Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Martin North and South Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital and numerous outpatient centers in Palm Beach, Broward, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties.
Learn more about the Palm Beach Ball here or contact Dee Eaton at 772.530.0630.
