In its annual celebration of businesswomen, the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce has selected Marta Batmasian as this year’s DIAMOND Award winner.
The chamber selects a woman who is Dedicated, Inspiring, Accomplished, Motivated, Outstanding, Noble, and Driven (DIAMOND); Batmasian is the co-founder of Investments Limited and a noted philanthropist.
“Since her arrival in the United States in 1970, Marta T. Batmasian has exemplified the true spirit of the American immigrant. Her journey is marked by significant achievements across education, business, politics, and community service, driven by a deep commitment to giving back,” the chamber said in its announcement.
Alongside Batmasian is the winner of the Pearl Award, presented to a young woman in business. Sabrina Greenberg, the founder of EcoLoops, will be given the award during the Diamond Award luncheon on Feb. 20.
Batmasian and her husband James, moved to Boca Raton in 1983 and founded Investments Limited, a real estate investment and management company. One of their biggest projects includes the founding of the 14-acre Royal Palm Place. The shopping and entertainment center is also the home of Boca Raton’s Walk of Recongition, with stars honoring the people and institutions that have propelled the city forward. Last year, the Boca Raton Historical Society surprised Batmasian with a star on the walk.
Beyond business, Batmasian is also known for her philanthropic spirit. She founded and funded a number of area nonprofits including Children’s Science Explorium, Tri-County Animal Rescue, League of Educational Awareness of the Holocaust (LEAH), People Reaching Out to Provide Education and Leadership (PROPEL), Garden of Humanity, Kids in New Direction (KIND), and more.
In 2023, the Batmasians donated $1 million to Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Keeping the Promise campaign. The next year, the couple celebrated their family foundations’ 50th anniversary with the Boca Community Collective, matching donations to local charities up to $150,000. The couple also recently donated $500,000 to the under-construction of the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building at Florida Atlantic University; the building will include the Marta and Jim Batmasian Memorial Pavilion in their honor.
The DIAMOND Award luncheon is Feb. 20 at The Boca Raton. For more information, visit the Boca Chamber website.
