The AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation wrapped up its annual two-part fundraising event this past week, bringing in more than $150,000 to support surgical services and nursing programs at two local hospital campuses. The money will go toward a cutting-edge robotic surgery system and efforts to earn a national nursing excellence designation.
The Events
The fundraising was split across two events. The Gala Golf Classic was held on February 27, followed by the Moonlit Gala dinner on March 1. Together, the events drew more than 275 attendees. All proceeds benefit AdventHealth Palm Coast and AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway.
Funding a Robotic Surgery System
A significant portion of the funds raised will contribute to the hospital’s $2.5 million campaign to support the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system. The system was introduced at AdventHealth Palm Coast last year and is designed to expand access to minimally invasive surgery for patients in the area. Minimally invasive surgery typically results in smaller incisions, less pain, and faster recovery times compared to traditional open surgery. The philanthropic campaign is intended to help strengthen and grow the program as it develops.
Denyse Bales-Chubb, president and CEO for AdventHealth Palm Coast and the Flagler/St. Johns market, spoke to the significance of community giving in making advanced medical tools available locally. “Our community helps bring the best tools in medicine to Palm Coast,” she said. “But just as important, these gifts strengthen the caregivers who walk alongside patients every day. Technology matters and so does the team using it.”
Supporting Nursing Excellence
A portion of the funds will also support the hospital’s bid to earn the Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This national designation is awarded to healthcare organizations that demonstrate a commitment to supporting nurses and creating a positive work environment. The investment includes nurse development programs and resources aimed at improving the day-to-day conditions in which nurses provide care.
John Subers, executive director of the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation, emphasized the direct connection between nurse support and the patient experience. “When nurses have the resources and support they need, patients feel the difference,” Subers said. “This is about strengthening the environment where care happens.”
A Long History of Community Giving
The Moonlit Gala has been held annually since 2010. Over the past 16 years, the event has raised more than $1.85 million in total for hospital initiatives, including technology upgrades and expanded clinical programs. The 2026 event marks another milestone in what has become one of the Flagler County area’s most consistent healthcare fundraising traditions.
The Foundation has already announced the next Moonlit Gala, scheduled for February 28, 2027. More information about the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation and its programs can be found at www.adventhealth.com/hospital/adventhealth-palm-coast. Information about the Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center is available at www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/pathway.
This article is based on a press release issued by AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation on March 4, 2026.
