Palm Beach State College President Ava Parker and Stephen Ross with participants in the Emerging Scholars Program Early College Summer Academy.
Stephen Ross And Palm Beach State College Investing In The Future
Today’s Palm Beach State College graduate is tomorrow’s Palm Beach County professional.
STORY BY DEAN GLORIOSO | PHOTOS BY CAROL MCDONALD
There is a popular expression in today’s educational culture that tells us to “Think Globally, Act Locally.” Visionary developer Stephen M. Ross is doing just that through philanthropy, mixeduse development and initiatives for innovative education. In 2013, Ross, chairman of Related Ross, pledged to give more than half of his estate to philanthropic causes and charitable organizations through the Giving Pledge, a long-term worldwide initiative created by Warren Buffett
and Bill and Melinda Gates that aims to inspire deeper engagement in philanthropy and increase charitable giving globally. In Palm Beach County, Ross has made a generous commitment of more than $8 million in scholarship funding to Palm Beach State College through the Stephen M. Ross Emerging Scholars Program. This transformational gift comes to the Foundation for Palm Beach State College with the concurrent launch of Related Ross’ nonprofit Related Togeth-
er, a private grant-making foundation. Funding projects that foster change and economic growth, Related Together is driving economic mobility in West Palm Beach’s northwest neighborhoods, including Historic Northwest, Pleasant City and Coleman Park. Moreover, Emerging Scholars is the nonprofit’s first educational initiative and complements the RISE Coleman Park initiative, addressing the housing, education, employment and health needs of individuals and families since 2021. WELLINGTON THE MAGAZINE | August 2025 23