Grant Awards to Serve Community Needs

Grant partnerships make it possible for Rush-Copley to live its promise of providing extraordinary patient service each and every time.  This promise is one that cannot be achieved without the involvement of numerous stakeholders who share in a common ideology that “together, we can make a difference.” 

Rush-Copley Foundation gratefully acknowledges the many different grant partners who have intentionally chosen to invest in projects, programs, and initiatives that are elevating, enhancing, and transforming the health and wellness of the communities Rush-Copley is privileged to serve.  What follows are examples of the wonderful way in which, “together, we can make a difference,” is being realized. 

Community Safety Programs  |   Facility Enhancements   |   Healthcare for the Underserved   |   Medical Education   |   Nursing Practice   |   Pediatric Health   |   Women's Health

Community Safety Programs: Protecting Precious Cargo

Illinois Department of Transportation

In September 2009, Rush-Copley Foundation received a one-year grant award of $119,842 from Illinois Department of Transportation.  Grant funding support will be used to coordinate the Regional Occupant Protection Resource Center.  The Center oversees and manages car seat safety outreach, awareness, and education to children and their families throughout the community.  Goals of the Center are to increase safety belt usage among adults and teens and increase proper installation of child passenger seats. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facility Enhancements: Creating the Optimal Healing Environment

NICOR Gas

On May 26, 2009, Rush-Copley Medical Center and Rush-Copley Foundation accepted a $5,000 grant award from Nicor Gas.  Grant funding will support Rush-Copley’s new Courtyard Garden project.  The 10,000 square foot Courtyard Gardens is prominently located and includes landscape vegetation, water elements, stone benches, trees, pavers, and sculpture elements.  This aesthetically inviting outside area offers patients and their families, employees, physicians, and the general public a natural environment to relax, reflect, and seek solace.

Pictured from left to right:  Barbara A. Graham, Executive Director, Rush-Copley Foundation; Barry C. Finn, President and CEO, Rush-Copley Medical Center; Thomas J. Kallay, Senior Community Relations Director, NICOR Gas; Terri L. Horton-O’Connell, Grants Officer, Rush-Copley Foundation

Bersted Foundation

In December 2008, Rush-Copley Foundation received a grant award of $35,000 from the Bersted Foundation to support the creation of a Family Room/Consult Area within Rush-Copley’s new and modernized Intensive Care Unit.  The space will provide respite, overnight accommodations, and private consult areas for families holding vigil for critically ill loved ones.

Healthcare for the Underserved: Building Bridges to Ensure Equal Access to High-Quality Healthcare

Blowitz-Ridgeway

In March 2010, Rush-Copley Foundation received a $14,875 grant from Blowitz-Ridgeway to continue to expand the Rush-Copley Diabetes Education Program, Moving on to Health.  An initial grant in June 2008 of $14,799 from the Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation supported the implementation of this valuable program which provides education, outreach, and support services to uninsured patients managing diabetes.

Illinois Department of Public Health

In January 2007, Rush-Copley Foundation received a three-year grant award of $231,450 to support the Rush-Copley Family Medicine Residency CommUnity healthcare project.  The project allows family medicine residents to practice primary care in community settings to broaden their professional boundaries and promote access to medical care to underserved populations to reduce healthcare disparities and improve health outcomes.

Medical Education: Ensuring a Highly Skilled Healthcare Workforce

Dunham Fund

In July 2009, Rush-Copley Foundation received a two-year grant award of $750,000 from the Dunham Fund to support implementation of the Dunham Nursing Scholars:  Advancing Nursing in Aurora education program.  The program involves the collaborative partnership of academic and healthcare organizations that include Aurora University, Waubonsee Community College, Alden of Waterford, Dreyer Medical Clinic, Kane County Health Department, Provena Mercy, Rush-Copley Foundation, and Rush-Copley Medical Center.  The purpose of the Dunham Nursing Scholars—Advancing Nursing in Aurora program is to offer 121 merit-based scholarships to highly motivated students and nurses whose primary residence or place of employment is the greater Aurora area to pursue and achieve their academic and professional goals in healthcare.  The Nursing Scholarship Program provides two-year scholarships to qualified individuals pursuing an associate degree in nursing, a baccalaureate in nursing, or a graduate degree in nursing at Waubonsee Community College or Aurora University.

One of the educational goals of the Nursing Scholarship Program is to develop the critical thinking skills of nurses and enhance their ability to identify patient needs to prevent complications and provide high-quality outcomes in diverse healthcare environments.

Dunham Fund

In October 2008, Rush-Copley Foundation received a one-year grant award of $100,000 from the Dunham Fund to support the Rush-Copley Family Medicine Residency Program.  The grant provides medical residents with education and training on evidence-based practices in the treatment of chronic conditions to promote improved health and wellness.

Nursing Practice: The Heart and Soul of Healthcare

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

In January 2007, Rush-Copley Foundation received an 18-month grant award in the amount of $74,790 to advance Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s “Wisdom at Work:  Retaining Experienced Nurses,” initiative.  One of 13 hospitals and health systems across the country, the grant enables Rush-Copley to evaluate tactics aimed at retaining experienced nurses in hospitals to address the growing nursing shortage crisis.

Pediatric Health: Investing in our Future

The Dunham Fund

In March 2009, Rush-Copley Foundation received $15,000 as a third place recipient of the Dunham Fund’s Challenge for Change grant competition.  Funding will be used to support school-based enhancements of the Rush-Copley Family Medicine Binary Health Integration Project (B-HIP). 

Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation

In December 2008, Rush-Copley Foundation received a two-year grant award of $450,865 for implementation of Be Happy, Involved and Positive (BHIP) within Rush-Copley’s Family Medicine Residency Program.  Funding support will be used to integrate mental health into the continuum of services offered to children and families seeking treatment in a primary care setting.  The project involves the collaboration of clinical and industry leaders with specialty in primary care, behavioral health, psychiatry, education, human services, research, and policy.  The grant award offers project leaders the opportunity to work collaboratively to streamline the delivery of mental health treatment and support services for children and adolescents.  The goal of the grant award is to promote the effective identification, coordination, and treatment of pediatric mental health problems to help children achieve an optimal state of physical and emotional well-being because It’s Hip To Be Healthy in Body and Mind. 

Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Area

In August 2006, Rush-Copley Foundation received a one-year grant award of $25,000 for the purchase of state-of-the-art cardiorespiratory monitoring equipment for infants requiring specialized care in the medical center’s Level III-designated neonatal intensive care unit.  The equipment enabled Rush-Copley to continue offering the highest quality care to the tiniest and most critically ill infants.

Women's Health: Caring for Grandmothers, Mothers, Daughters, and Sisters

Illinois Department of Public Health

In August 2009, Rush-Copley Foundation received a one-year grant award of $25,000 from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Office of Women’s Health.  Grant funding will be used to support implementation of the Heart Smart for Women education program. Goals of the Heart Smart for Women program are to identify women at risk for cardiovascular disease and educate them on risk factors to promote healthy preventive behaviors. 

RC-BEAT

In June 2008, Rush-Copley Foundation received a two-year grant award of $150,000 from the Avon Foundation to support implementation of the RC-BEAT (Rush-Copley Breast Education and Awareness Training).  The project extends the reach of patient navigation by providing outreach and education to underserved Latina women in environments where they live, work, and worship.  Goals of the RC-BEAT are to increase breast health awareness and facilitate increased access to early detection screening and diagnostic services to reduce the occurrence of late-stage breast cancer.  To date, more than 600 Latina women have joined in the RC-BEAT in an effort to defeat breast cancer. 

Cardinal Health Foundation

In November 2008, Rush-Copley Foundation received a one-year grant award of $10,000 from Cardinal Health Foundation to support, Latina Talks, a community service health promotion project for Latina women and their families.  The vision of Latina Talks is to activate and empower the Latina women of Aurora to take chare of the physical and emotional well-being to optimize lifelong health and wellness.