Helping others is deeply rooted in the Bovenizer family—a passion passed down through generations.
After wintering for several years on Florida’s East Coast, George and Lynn Bovenizer became Jupiter residents in 2002. “We thought about where we might go for medical care if it were required,” shares Lynn. The obvious choice was Jupiter Medical Center—and George jumped right in, serving as a member of the JMC Foundation’s Board of Trustees for eight years.
Their private family foundation, the Bov Foundation, has been a corporate sponsor for JMC’s popular and long-running Charity Golf Classic for several years. In August 2025, the foundation was the presenting sponsor for the inaugural Sporting Clays Classic, a form of clay pigeon shooting that George enjoys. In 2025, The Bov Foundation provided a generous grant benefitting the Barb and Joe Charles Center for Urology.
In 1996—even before relocating to Jupiter—the Bovenizers made their first donation to JMC through the Shepherd Foundation, established by Lynn’s father, Charles “Charlie” V. Schaefer. The first in his family to go to college and put himself through engineering school following the Great Depression, Schaeffer became a successful manufacturing entrepreneur in New Jersey.
After he passed away, George and Lynn were the administrators of the Shepherd Foundation, then established the Bov Foundation in 2020 with their son, Mark C. Bovenizer, who serves as the foundation’s president and trustee.
The Bov Foundation’s core areas of support are youth initiatives, sports and education; first responders and emergency services; the environment/wildlife; and hospitals and specialized medical foundations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Florida. “In the past six years we have made about 40 donations per year, totaling $3 million,” Mark reports. Typically, he adds, “we target smaller nonprofits, where a small donation can make a big difference.”
GENERATIONAL GIVING
Lynn, who previously served on the board of directors of her father’s Shepherd Foundation, credits him with setting a strong example of helping others in need. Her children, Beth and Mark, and grandchildren are continuing the tradition.
Beth gives back in her own way day-in and day-out as a physical therapist focused on getting optimal outcomes for her patients. Mark lost college friends and a golf buddy in the 9/11 attacks and began serving as a volunteer firefighter with the Hopewell Fire Department in 2006. His 19-year-old daughter, Paige, holds her national emergency medical technician and firefighter certifications, is active in her local department with her father, and is studying to become a registered nurse. “She enjoys giving back through a service-oriented career,” says Lynn, a proud grandparent. Mark’s eldest daughter, Beth, is a physical therapist. And his 17-year-old daughter, Avery, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, started the Invisible Disease Awareness Club, volunteering manpower to those in need of physical assistance.
The Bovenizers have enjoyed helping JMC enhance its services for the community through the past three decades—and watching as it continues to expand its campus and develop world-class expertise.
The family is an excellent example of the importance of generational giving. Today, a remarkable intergenerational phenomenon is playing out in communities across the nation as baby boomers, the wealthiest generation in American history, pass their legacies to their children and grandchildren to continue. In March, the Jupiter Medical Center Foundation announced a landmark $500 million Generational Health campaign, aimed at shaping the future of care across Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
Still in good health, the family regularly recommends JMC to friends for specialized help and top-notch doctors and service, Lynn says. Last year, JMC was recognized again by Newsweek as one of the “World’s Best Hospitals” and as a Grade “A” Hospital for Patient Safety by The Leapfrog Group
“We take a close look at the causes and give to those organizations where the maximum amount of money goes directly to the need,” Mark says. By supporting JMC, the Bov Foundation is doing exactly what the family stands for: continuing to help the world become a better place, one generation at a time.