History and Purpose

In 2006, Advocate Health Care established the Advocate Bethany Hospital Community Health Fund.  This Fund will provide $1 million per year for 14 years, from 2007 through 2020, to benefit health initiatives in communities served by Bethany Hospital. This fund was created as part of Advocate's ongoing commitment to support existing community organizations as they build, promote and sustain healthy communities on the West Side of Chicago. The mission of the Fund is:

To fulfill the unique health needs of the Advocate Bethany Hospital community by funding programs that promote health and wellness and reduce health disparities and their determinants.

This mission will be carried out by not-for-profit organizations that share the Fund's care values of dignity, community investment, family, and spirituality, and demonstrate a commitment to utilizing community assets to promote positive community development.

Following the creation of the Fund, Advocate Health Care assembled the Advocate Bethany Hospital Community Health Fund Advisory Council, including representatives from local government, community and public health organizations, schools and churches. Together, they explored health challenges, available health care resources, gaps in services, and health disparities between the target communities and the City of Chicago. Their efforts culminated in the selection of seven key areas including school dropout; HIV/AIDS; diabetes; homicide; infant mortality; unemployment; and teen pregnancy. These priorities, along with the focus of serving the Fund Communities, have guided initial funding efforts.

Grants are awarded through the Bethany Community Health Fund Board, which includes eight community members and seven representatives from Advocate Health Care. For more information regarding the Bethany Community Health Fund, please contact:

Ina N. Owens
Director, Advocate Bethany Hospital Community Health Fund
Advocate Bethany Hospital
3435 W. Van Buren Chicago, IL 60624
ina.owens@advocatehealth.com
773.265.4307