Northwestern Medicine serves patients across Illinois and has created a grant initiative to address disparities highlighted in local Community Health Needs Assessments. This year, over 300 organizations have received Northwestern Medicine grants, totaling more than $16.3 million.
“Our goal is to collaborate and support local agencies to address healthcare disparities across all socioeconomic backgrounds,” said Posh Charles, senior vice president of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. “We sought out organizations who are truly making a difference by removing barriers to better health.”
On July 31, Northwestern Medicine hosted an event to recognize the grant recipients. Organization leaders gathered to brainstorm with other community groups on how to better support community needs.
Northwestern Medicine recently awarded more than $4.6 million to 152 organizations that applied for competitive grants. The grants were given to groups offering services such as housing, nutritional needs, transportation, childcare, and access to mental health and primary care.
“Northwestern Medicine is committed to supporting our community partners that work tirelessly to serve those in need,” said Charles. “The number of organizations awarded competitive grants has more than tripled since this initiative launched just three years ago, and we are pleased to continue our support for these local groups across the Chicagoland area.”
Beneficiaries of the competitive grants range from The Grace Network, which supports Chicago students facing hygiene insecurity, to Pathlights, which assists older adults and people with disabilities in living independently.
The Grace Network's funding will allow it to expand into Lake County due to significant student needs for basic hygiene supplies. “Data shows close to 15% of all Chicago Public School students will experience homelessness at some point in their education,” said Sarah Airola, president and founder of The Grace Network. “If we want equity and diversity within our universities and workplaces, we need to start supporting students facing adversity at the most basic level.”
Chad Pedigo, vice president of development at DuPage Pads—a group assisting unsheltered individuals—spoke about their mission and introduced Illinois' first hotel-to-interim housing conversion initiative. “Seeing how closely aligned housing is with healthcare makes our partnership with Northwestern Medicine more important than ever before,” said Pedigo.
In addition to grant funding, Northwestern Medicine employees contribute through volunteer service under the Team NM initiative by engaging in activities such as sorting food at the Northern Illinois Food Bank or assembling care packages for Tri-City Health Partnership patients.
For more information, please visit www.nm.org.
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