Franciscan Health Foundation awards $450,000 in SIPP Grants

The Franciscan Health Foundation, the fundraising affiliate of Franciscan Health, recently awarded more than $450,000 in community health improvement grants through its Social Impact Partnership Program (SIPP). Fifty-seven non-profits located throughout Franciscan Health’s south suburban Chicago and Indiana service regions were selected from 105 applications to receive funding of up to $10,000 per organization.

Recipient Organizations

Grant recipients in South Suburban Chicago are:

• Crisis Center for South Suburbia
• Harold Colbert Jones Memorial Community Center
• Respond Now
• South Suburban Family Shelter
• South Suburban PADS
• St. Coletta’s of Illinois
• The Cancer Support Center

A Collaborative Process

“We are thrilled to work with so many worthy organizations in our service area,” said Caitlin Leahy, senior vice president for Franciscan Health Foundation and Community Health Improvement. “These non-profits have demonstrated great creativity and determination in addressing pressing community health and wellness issues in their areas. We’re confident their efforts will generate some great results.”

SIPP is a community health enrichment program sponsored by Franciscan Health, which establishes, and builds upon, partnerships with non-profit health and human service agencies that provide services in at-risk communities served by Franciscan Health. The goal is to foster long-term relationships with community providers to better address significant health issues among vulnerable populations.

A committee comprised of local Franciscan healthcare leadership selected the fund recipients and amounts. The recipient organizations received funding based on program applications demonstrating their ability to address priority health needs and health equity based on Franciscan’s Community Health Needs Assessment process. Identified priority health issues are: 1) Access to Healthcare; 2) Food Insecurity; 3) Housing Stability; 4) Social Bridging; 5) Mental Health; and 6) Substance Abuse.

Recipient organizations will collaborate with Franciscan Health Foundation’s Community Health Improvement Team to ensure program effectiveness that meet the grant application’s stated goals. They must participate in program orientation and will submit progress reports at 6-month and 1-year intervals. Participation in the reporting process is required for consideration of any future funding or assistance.

Working Toward a Healthier Future

One recipient organization, Harold Colbert Jones Memorial Community Center in Chicago Heights, has important plans for its funds. Executive Director Cheryl Roop said: “This grant gives Jones Community Center an opportunity to critically assess our current food programs and to make provisions for healthier options, easier client accessibility, and food choice. We appreciate all the ways that Franciscan Health partners with us for the greater good of our community.”

Franciscan Health Foundation will announce the benchmark dates for 2022 SIPP grant applications, review and awards early next year.