March 26, 2024
EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY ANNOUNCES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS
(Boynton Beach, Fla.) – The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, which serves as a nexus between the county’s public schools, the private sector and the community, has announced that Ruth Guerra and Erica Whitfield have joined its Board of Directors during the Foundation’s 40th anniversary year.
“The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County is excited to announce two new Board members,” said James Gavrilos, President and CEO of the Education Foundation. “Guerra is an innovative self-starter with nearly 15 years of experience in communications, media affairs, government relations and public policy. Whitfield has always had a passion for the community and the health, achievement and success of children. Their wealth of experience and passion for the success of our future leaders will be invaluable to our organization’s mission as we enter this milestone year.”
Guerra is currently part of Amazon's public policy team where she leads economic policy in Canada and Latin America. Throughout her professional career, she has advised policymakers in the United States Congress and executives at Fortune 100 companies on various policy issues and high-stake matters, demonstrating skills in crafting messaging, managing crisis communications and building winning campaigns. Guerra is a bilingual spokesperson with experience on TV and radio, including MSNBC, FOX News, CNN and Univision. She graduated from Texas Christian University as an honors student with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a minor in Business. She lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband and two children.
Whitfield is a District 4 School Board Member for the School District of Palm Beach County. Prior to her service on the School Board, Whitfield worked at the Palm Beach County Health Department and the School District of Palm Beach County serving as the project coordinator for the Robert Wood Johnson “Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities” grant and a wellness coordinator for the School Food Service department. For the past several years, she has served as the Chair of the United Way’s Childhood Hunger Action Committee, Childhood Subcommittee and implemented backpack and food pantry programs throughout the District. She also served on the Board and Executive Committee of the Early Learning Coalition. Whitfield currently serves on the American Heart Association of Palm Beach County Market Board, the PBC Homeless Advisory Board, the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards, Pine Jog Board of Directors and is a member of Leadership Florida, Leadership Palm Beach County and the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. She attended the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor of Health Science degree and went on to earn a Master of Public Health degree from Emory University. Whitfield lives in Lake Worth Beach with her husband and two children.
The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, was founded in 1984. The Foundation awards grants, supports innovative programs and scholarships, and provides necessary school supplies and resources from Red Apple Supplies, the Foundation’s signature program. The Education Foundation operates over 100 programs which close achievement gaps in learning, prepare students for post-secondary success and create positive, measurable change for over 100,000 students.
For more information on the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County or to make a donation, please visit educationfoundationpbc.org or call 561-738-2931.
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(Boynton Beach, Fla.) – The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, which serves as a nexus between the county’s public schools, the private sector and the community, has announced that Ruth Guerra and Erica Whitfield have joined its Board of Directors during the Foundation’s 40th anniversary year.
“The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County is excited to announce two new Board members,” said James Gavrilos, President and CEO of the Education Foundation. “Guerra is an innovative self-starter with nearly 15 years of experience in communications, media affairs, government relations and public policy. Whitfield has always had a passion for the community and the health, achievement and success of children. Their wealth of experience and passion for the success of our future leaders will be invaluable to our organization’s mission as we enter this milestone year.”
Guerra is currently part of Amazon's public policy team where she leads economic policy in Canada and Latin America. Throughout her professional career, she has advised policymakers in the United States Congress and executives at Fortune 100 companies on various policy issues and high-stake matters, demonstrating skills in crafting messaging, managing crisis communications and building winning campaigns. Guerra is a bilingual spokesperson with experience on TV and radio, including MSNBC, FOX News, CNN and Univision. She graduated from Texas Christian University as an honors student with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a minor in Business. She lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband and two children.
Whitfield is a District 4 School Board Member for the School District of Palm Beach County. Prior to her service on the School Board, Whitfield worked at the Palm Beach County Health Department and the School District of Palm Beach County serving as the project coordinator for the Robert Wood Johnson “Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities” grant and a wellness coordinator for the School Food Service department. For the past several years, she has served as the Chair of the United Way’s Childhood Hunger Action Committee, Childhood Subcommittee and implemented backpack and food pantry programs throughout the District. She also served on the Board and Executive Committee of the Early Learning Coalition. Whitfield currently serves on the American Heart Association of Palm Beach County Market Board, the PBC Homeless Advisory Board, the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards, Pine Jog Board of Directors and is a member of Leadership Florida, Leadership Palm Beach County and the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. She attended the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor of Health Science degree and went on to earn a Master of Public Health degree from Emory University. Whitfield lives in Lake Worth Beach with her husband and two children.
The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, currently celebrating its 40th anniversary, was founded in 1984. The Foundation awards grants, supports innovative programs and scholarships, and provides necessary school supplies and resources from Red Apple Supplies, the Foundation’s signature program. The Education Foundation operates over 100 programs which close achievement gaps in learning, prepare students for post-secondary success and create positive, measurable change for over 100,000 students.
For more information on the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County or to make a donation, please visit educationfoundationpbc.org or call 561-738-2931.
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Contact:
Heather Abbruzze, PR, YP Slatkow & Husak PR
heather@slatkowhusak.com, (561) 738-2931
