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United Way briefed Royal Palm Beach council on countywide tax, hunger, mentoring and veteran services
Summary
Dr. Seth Bernstein of United Way of Palm Beach County outlined the nonprofit’s local programs — including volunteer tax assistance at the village rec center, hunger-relief and weekend backpack programs, mentoring and a special-needs equipment fund — and invited further coordination with village staff.
Dr. Seth Bernstein, executive vice president of community investments at United Way of Palm Beach County, gave a presentation to the Village of Royal Palm Beach council in February 2025 describing the United Way’s countywide services and local programs.
Bernstein told the council the organization funds about "a 100 initiatives and programs throughout Palm Beach County," and described several areas of local impact that touch Royal Palm Beach residents, including free tax-preparation help, hunger-relief and weekend food backpacks, youth mentoring, services for people with special needs, a veterans initiative and disaster-relief funding.
United Way’s volunteer income tax assistance (VITA) program has operated at the village recreation center for roughly 20 years, Bernstein said. He said the local site typically completes 700–800 returns per year; countywide, he said United Way-affiliated sites prepare more than 8,500 returns that bring back about $10.5 million to the local community. "When businesses or individuals want to give, they're giving to programs like Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies ... but they're also giving to areas in housing and homelessness, in hunger," Bernstein said.
Bernstein said the organization’s 10-year hunger-relief plan coordinates roughly 200 partner organizations, three food banks and about 150 food pantries across the county. He described a weekend backpack program that provides weekend meals to about 9,500 children and said the school district is a major partner.
On youth services, Bernstein said United Way funds about 30 mentoring programs countywide and that about 5,600 young people receive mentoring through school- or community-based programs. He also described a special-needs equipment fund that has helped roughly 600 young people obtain durable medical equipment, and a countywide veterans initiative, Mission United, that the mayor helps chair.
Bernstein concluded by offering to meet with village staff to discuss local coordination and follow-up. Mayor Jeff Emer thanked Bernstein and said, "following up with the staff is an excellent idea." Bernstein also reminded the council that United Way serves as the county’s Emergency Support Function 15 for disaster relief, which has included one-time cash assistance after recent tornado damage.
The presentation did not include formal requests for village funding or votes; Bernstein invited staff follow-up to discuss partnership or program details.
