Cancer is a devastating diagnosis, but it is particularly challenging for children and their families. Each year, almost 16,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S., hundreds of them here in Florida, according to the American Childhood Cancer Organization. South Florida philanthropists Helen and Jacob Shaham, founders of The Palace Group, a family-owned and operated business focused on providing luxury living for seniors across the region, recently gave $15 million to Nicklaus Children’s. They made the generous gift with the hope of advancing the treatment of cancer and hematologic diseases in kids across the region. In their honor, the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute at Nicklaus Children's Hospital now bears their name.
The Institute is transforming pediatric cancer care to make sure no child has to leave Florida for leading-edge cancer treatment. At Nicklaus Children’s, specialists provide state-of-the-art medical and surgical care for more pediatric cancer patients than any other facility in South Florida, leading the way in groundbreaking research focused on new cures, treatments. and diagnostic procedures. The Shahams know what it means to fight cancer: “My father-in-law died from cancer. My identical twin brother died from cancer two years ago. It's close to us. Now, for the last 45 years, we did everything for our elderly residents; now, it's time to start to do something for our youngest residents," said Jacob Shaham at the naming gift ceremony in early April 2024.
In 1980, the Shahams founded The Palace Group and today their work is nationally and internationally recognized. They are dedicated to serving families who entrust them with caring for their beloved older family members. Originally from Israel, the Shahams moved to the U.S. in 1980 to open their first senior living community in South Florida. In 2000, their sons Zack and Haim joined The Palace team, further reinforcing the company’s true family spirit. Since then, the company has grown to 1,100 employees and multiple nationally-recognized and award-winning communities, serving more than 1,500 residents in the U.S. and Israel.
With their generous naming gift to Nicklaus Children’s, the Shahams have expanded their passion and support to caring for the youngest in our community – the children of South Florida.
To learn more about the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org/cancer
About Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Where Your Child Matters Most ™ (2025)
For 75 years, Nicklaus Children's has stood as a beacon of hope for children and families across the state of Florida and beyond. Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's #1 nonprofit, freestanding specialty licensed hospital exclusively for children serving close to 70 percent of children in the Miami metropolitan community. In addition, Nicklaus Children's offers care within NCH North Hospital in Naples, Jupiter Medical Center's De George Pediatric Unit and select Baptist Health Hospital pediatric emergency units. The hospital and its network of more of nearly 35 outpatient care locations offer lifesaving care in in Miami-Dade, Broward, Martin, and Palm Beach counties. These outpatient locations include an array of urgent care, pediatric primary care, and subspecialty care centers and are either hospital-based or outpatient locations under Nicklaus Children's Pediatric Specialists, LLC (NCPS). Providing a pipeline of future physicians and groundbreaking research, Nicklaus Children's is an academic and clinical affiliate of Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Nicklaus Children's is home to centers of excellence including the Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, the Nicklaus Children's Orthopedic, Sports Medicine and Spine Institute, Nicklaus Children's Neuroscience Institute and Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute. The 325-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, with many programs routinely ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. Nicklaus Children's also includes a nonprofit physician practice subsidiary with over 40 specialties, and an ambulatory surgery center.