Grants

Grant Recipient

The San Diego Foundation

Awarded: November 2024 Awarded Amount: $5,000

Larger Community Foundations (LCF) members have contracted with the Brookings Institution to conduct a federal funding research project.

Grant Recipient

United States Curling Association

Awarded: November 2024 Awarded Amount: $150,000

USA Curling is the National Governing Body for the Olympic sport of Curling and the Paralympic sport of Wheelchair Curling. In addition to these responsibilities, we are focused on introducing more people to the sport as a recreational, community-building activity. The social nature of our sport turns curling facilities into places where people gather regularly—72% of participants cite socialization as a key reason why they curl. Our goal as a national organization is be programmatic in our outreach to people that have not been introduced to the sport, expanding overall participation and making curling facilities places that bring communities together in ways that few sports can. That outreach will require working closely with our Member Clubs to fund and facilitiate. While we have many new facilities, we also need to support infrastructure work at some of our aging locations to ensure they remain vital parts of the communities they serve.

Grant Recipient

EQUAL HOPE

Awarded: November 2024 Awarded Amount: $100,000

The proposed research project by Equal Hope aims to determine emergency department utilization for women of reproductive age, to better understand the barriers and facilitators of a pipeline of care and connection to appropriate care with a primary care provider or specialized care with a gynecologist. Emergency Department (ED) visits have grown over the past few decades and often serve as a place of primary care. In 2017, the total cost for emergency department visits was $76.3 billion and 55% of visits were for females accounting for about $46.2 billion. In Chicago, the average primary care provider rate is 82% but in some predominantly minority communities, less than 70% say they have at least one person they think of as their personal doctor or provider. These same communities also have uninsured rates that are almost two times the average rate of Chicago. The lack of providers and access to insurance may be a reason for higher ED visits among African Americans and Hispanic women who accounted for almost 70% of visits for gynecological issues from 2009-2022. Emergency department visits along the reproductive continuum of care for women whether during prepregnancy, postpartum, or 6 months prior to a cancer diagnosis is associated with negative health outcomes and even risk of death. The primary objective of this research project is to determine the underlying factors for increased utilization of emergency department for women of reproductive age so that we can identify the barriers and facilitators for connecting women to proper care with a primary care provider or gynecologist. To achieve this goal, Equal Hope will utilize a mixed methods approach capturing data from diverse sources. We will complete community surveying to better understand emergency department and cervical cancer screening utilization among those who are most disconnected from the health care system. We will analyze electronic health record or administrative data to determine emergency department usage among women in Chicago. We will evaluate the scope of the problem by estimating the lack of prior primary care service (a cervical cancer screen) or follow-up (subsequent cervical cancer screen or well-woman visit) among those who used an emergency department for care. Lastly, we will conduct qualitative interviews with women who are using the emergency department as a source of care to develop salient themes regarding barriers to subsequent follow-up primary or gynecologic care. This comprehensive data collection and methodology will enable Equal Hope to provide insights for the challenges faced by women who are trying to seek the appropriate primary and gynecologic care after visiting the emergency department. Identification of the facilitators and barriers will inform Equal Hope in the development of evidence-based interventions and policies to enhance women’s access to appropriate, timely and high-quality gynecologic care. This research aligns with current efforts to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities among women of reproductive age, which is a key focus in obstetrics. By examining the gaps in care for reproductive cancers and preventative services, we're contributing to the broader goal of enhancing women's health across the reproductive continuum. Equal Hope aims to improve health and well-being of women through better coordination of care and ultimately reducing nonemergent visits to the emergency department for women of reproductive age. Equal Hope is committed to advancing health equity, and this research project aligns perfectly with their mission. With their expertise in health equity and commitment to improving the health outcomes of historically marginalized communities, Equal Hope is well-positioned to make significant contributions in this field. By addressing the current gaps in care and advocating for comprehensive gynecological services, Equal Hope seeks to create a more equitable healthcare system that ensures every woman receives the appropriate care she needs to maintain her health, well-being, and possible future pregnancy. Overall, the proposed grant project will provide crucial insights into the nonemergent use of emergency rooms for women of reproductive age. Through comprehensive research methodologies and a commitment to health equity, Equal Hope aims to drive positive change, reduce health inequities, and improve the lives and health outcomes of women.

Grant Recipient

CHICAGOLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION

Awarded: November 2024 Awarded Amount: $5,000

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce will host the 33rd Annual Daniel H. Burnham Award Dinner to honor President of Cambium LLC, Michelle Collins with the Award for Distinguished Leadership.

Grant Recipient

Surge Institute

Awarded: November 2024 Awarded Amount: $5,000

This event celebrates a decade of empowering leaders of color, transforming education, and making a lasting impact.

Grant Recipient

Community Foundation of Will County

Awarded: November 2024 Awarded Amount: $50,000

Grant Recipient

Illinois Transplant Fund

Awarded: November 2024 Awarded Amount: $19,000

The Illinois Transplant Fund (ITF) is a not-for-profit organization that provides grants to individuals in need of an organ transplant. These grants must specifically be used to cover medical insurance premiums, a requirement for patients in poverty to get onto the transplant list. The ITF is driven by a powerful principle: that organ transplantation should be accessible to all community members. Over 875,000 noncitizen residents in Illinois lack access to subsidized healthcare, with nearly half unable to afford expensive private insurance premiums. Because transplant recipients must demonstrate an ability to obtain lifetime access to post transplant medications and care, these individuals have been unjustly denied life-saving transplantation. Since 2015, when ITF was founded, over 575 patients have received lifesaving transplants. Through our work, we have not only saved lives but also ignited hope and equity within our community. ITF's impact is a testament to our unwavering commitment to ensuring fair and accessible transplantation for all, regardless of immigration status or income. The organ donation and transplant system is based on the altruism of all members of a community. Fairness is of paramount importance in maintaining this system for the entire community.