The Julie B. Foundation will host its 2025 gala on Saturday, Sept. 27. The masquerade-themed evening will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton West Palm Beach.
The theme this year is “Unmask the Hero Within You,” demonstrating how everyone can lend a hand in the fight against cancer. The night will be filled with inspirational messages from keynote speakers, live music and performances, live and silent auctions, and a delicious, full-course dinner.
All proceeds from the gala will go toward the Julie B. Foundation’s “Gift a Warrior Project” and scholarship fund, which supports sarcoma awareness and provides support to families dealing with cancer. General admission tickets start at $150, with several additional sponsorship levels also available. Purchase tickets at www.thejuliebfoundation.org/events.
The Julie B. Foundation was founded by nurse practitioner Jaelyn Brown in honor of her mother, Juliet Brown, who passed away in April 2020 from metastasized sarcoma cancer. Sarcoma cancers arise in the connective tissues. They make up approximately one percent of all adult cancer cases. The foundation’s mission is to bring awareness to sarcoma cancers via community education and engagement.
Jaelyn tells the story of how the last two years of her mother’s illness proved to be emotionally and financially taxing.
“My mother was in and out of work after her surgery and treatment, until she was forced to retire,” Jaelyn recalled. “My father was left as the sole provider but had to take family leave to care for her. The numerous drives back and forth to Miami, along with medical copays adding up to hundreds, even thousands of dollars, placed a significant strain on my family. This is the ‘why’ behind the Julie B. Foundation. We seek to help families that may have a similar story. We seek to brighten the lives and instill hope in our battling cancer warriors.”
Jaelyn’s father, Dwayne Brown, is a deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. He has served the Wellington community since 2006 and was recently named Wellington’s “Top Cop” for 2025 for his excellent police work and community service.
Brown is extremely proud of the way his daughter is giving back.
“Back in 2016, Jaelyn was the recipient of one of the scholarships offered by the sheriff’s office, and now the foundation she runs offers three scholarships each year,” he noted.
Brown explained how the Julie B. Foundation has turned their hardships into an opportunity to help others.
“Losing Juliet was hard on the family, and especially on Jaelyn,” he said. “She turned her pain and her desire to help others, and she started a wonderful foundation that helps cancer families in need.”
Like father like daughter, Tampa General Hospital recently awarded Jaelyn Brown a Nurse of the Year award.
The Julie B. Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring awareness to sarcoma cancers via community education and engagement. It aims to connect with battling cancer warriors and their families through health promotion, expense assistance, personalized care packages and scholarships to support educational endeavors.
The Saturday, Sept. 27 masquerade gala is being held at the Hilton West Palm Beach, located at 600 Okeechobee Blvd. next to the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
To secure your tickets, or to learn more about the Julie B. Foundation, visit them online at www.thejuliebfoundation.org.
