About Us

Mission Statement: The mission of The Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation is to enhance the provision of health care services in the United States Virgin Islands by awarding educational scholarships for advanced degrees to those persons who commit to return to the Territories to practice in their chosen fields, and to award grants to medical, health, educational and community facilities which further the quality of health care in the United States Virgin Islands.

The Dream: Bennie and Martha Benjamin dreamed of a Virgin Islands health care system with the best facilities, the latest technology and equipment and the best trained health care professionals. That dream became embodied in the Foundation which bears their names. The Foundation was formed in 1991 pursuant to the instructions Bennie Benjamin set forth in his Will. These instructions form the basis of our Mission Statement.

What We Do: Making the Dream a Reality: Since 1992, and through 2005, the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation has supported that dream by awarding over $1,750,000.00 in scholarships and grants for medical and health equipment, educational materials and programs.

To date, the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation has funded...

SCHOLARSHIPS awarded to...

30 medical students
2 physical therapists
2 nurse midwives
1 audiologist
3 pharmacists
3 certified diabetes educators
1 public health administrator
1 senior hospital administrator
1 nurse practitioner

EQUIPMENT to support various medical services...

Emergency Medical Services
Dental Clinics
Eye Clinics
Audiological Equipment for Newborns

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Blood Mobile
Emergency Room Equipment
Surgery
Cardiac Catheterization Unit
Neonatalogy
Pediatrics
Equipment and Training for Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatrics Advanced Life Support Courses

Software for Discharge Planning

FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS...

Pharmacy

Medical Library

Student Health Centers, St. Thomas & St. Croix
Nursing School, St. Croix
Student Library, St. Croix
Computer Laboratory
Training Equipment, including mannequins, beds and nursing tools, St. Croix

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING...

Health Services Directory

Tamarind Treehouse
Bureau of Health Education Diabetes Educator Training
On-Line Community Nursing Journal Subscriptions

Educational Brochures

Nursing Library, St. Croix
Nursing Leadership Lecture Series

Portable sonogram machine

The Benjamin Medical Lecture Series

Educational brochures and radio advertisements

Materials for Occupational Therapy Projects for at-risk youngsters
Partial funding for conference:“Take Control” mental health, mental illness, service and the community

The Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation is always interested in cultivating new partnerships with other agencies in the Territories, particularly Non-Governmental Organizations (“NGOs”). We are seeking agencies which are embarking on new initiatives that are designed to improve the delivery of health care services.

The Key Players:

Officers and Members of the Board of Directors:
Jack N. Albert, President
David A. Beale, Secretary
Seymour Braun, Treasurer

Operations:
David A. Beale, Executive Director
Tina Beale, MSW, Foundation Administrator and Grant Coordinator

JACK N. ALBERT, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation is a retired attorney who during his fifty years of practice represented many people in the entertainment industry. He also had an active practice representing individuals and entities in both music and book publishing. He was recognized as an expert in the comic book industry, having represented MAD Magazine for over thirty years. Mr. Albert served Bennie Benjamin as his attorney and was instrumental in transforming Bennie’s dream into the formidable philanthropic institution it has become.

DAVID A. BEALE, Secretary and Executive Director is an attorney in private practice in Delray Beach, Florida. He is admitted to the Bar in New York and Florida. Mr. Beale has been a member of the Board and has served as Executive Director since the inception of the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation. As its Executive Director, he has worked exhaustively to create partnerships with organizations, agencies and individuals on St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John to broaden the scope of the Foundation’s philanthropic activities and promote the goals of the Foundation.

SEYMOUR BRAUN, Treasurer and Director of the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation is an attorney in private practice in New York, New York. He is admitted to the Bar in New York and Ontario. Mr. Braun has been a member of the Board and has served as Treasurer since the inception of the Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation.

The Key Partners: There are four local organizations in the Virgin Islands partnering with The Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation to award grants and scholarships:

St. Croix Benjamin Scholarship Foundation Program, Inc.
The Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation Scholarship Program (BMBFSP) is a program to assist Virgin Islanders interested in pursuing health care careers. BMBFSP scholarships provide partial support for individuals living in the Virgin Islands who have pursued degrees in nursing, midwifery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, master’s level public health and audiology.
Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation, administered through the US Virgin Islands Department of Health
In honor of Bennie and Martha Benjamin, the Virgin Islands Legislature established a scholarship program to assist employees of the Department of Health in pursuing a baccalaureate or advanced degree in areas such as nursing, midwifery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, master’s level preparation in public health, or audiology.
University of the Virgin Islands
The Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation has, since 1992, partnered with the University of the U.S. Virgin Islands to provide scholarships to graduates of the University who wish to pursue a medical degree or advanced degree in areas such as nursing, midwifery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, master’s level preparation in public health or an allied medical/health field.
St. Thomas Review Board
The St. Thomas Review Board was created to evaluate and recommend candidates for medical scholarships who are unaffiliated with the University or the Dept. of Health and who reside on St. Thomas or St. John.

ST. CROIX BENJAMIN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, INC.
Walter J. M. Pedersen, Jr., M.D., Chairman
4007 Estate Diamond Ruby
Christiansted, V.I. 00823-4421
(340) 778--6399

UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Alhassan Musah, Provost
#2 John Brewers Bay
St. Thomas, VI 00802

(340) 693-1000

VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Phyllis Wallace, PhD
Assistant Commissioner of Health
Roy L. Schneider Hospital
9048 Sugar Estate
St. Thomas, VI 00802

(340) 776-7849

The Department of Health administers the Masters Level Program pursuant to an Act passed by the Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands in 1993.

ST. THOMAS REVIEW BOARD
c/o Tina Beale, Grant Coordinator
DAVID A. BEALE, P.A.
355 NE 5th Avenue, Suite 1
Delray Beach, FL 33483

(561) 243-1477