The North Shore Health Care Foundation works to address health care gaps and needs in Cook County. We believe in the possibilities of people, organizations, businesses, and governments working together to create healthy communities for all in Cook County.
We believe health is not just the absence of illness, but that a healthy community is reflected in the health of individuals which is embodied in prevention and education regarding health; a community that maintains health through its systems of food, housing, employment, clean water, clean air, healthy exercise and social norms; and access to quality, affordable health care for all.
Our primary contributions for creating a healthy Cook County lie in our ability to provide and leverage funding, provide educational opportunities including convening community partners to address critical health issues facing the community, and by advocating with others to help us achieve a healthy community. Where gaps exist, the Foundation also develops and incubates programs to address critical needs.
We believe in the possibilities of people, organizations, businesses and governments working together to create a healthy community for all in Cook County. Our values represent what we believe in, what we stand for and how we approach everything we do at the North Shore Health Care Foundation. They provide a guideline for making decisions at all levels of our organization and include:
By giving to the Foundation, you can support a variety of valuable programs and services dedicated to health care, emergency services, education and healthy living in a single donation. Be a partner in your own health system.
The North Shore Health Care Foundation was established in 1993 by a group of committed residents dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the Cook County community. The concept for the North Shore Health Care Foundation grew out of the clinic development committee. The original six-member Foundation Board assumed a leadership role in supporting projects that have had a significant impact on the health of our rural community. The commitment to provide leadership in sustaining and improving the health of individuals and communities continues today as a core value.
Since 2004, the North Shore Health Care Foundation and co-beneficiary North House Folk School have been the recipients of the Walter N & Phyllis A Anderson Charitable Trust. Two amazing and passionate individuals, Walt and Phyllis, worked with the Foundation to establish a charitable trust, which allowed them to extend their giving legacy beyond their lifetimes in support of their favorite causes in a place that was near and dear to their hearts. The annual funding from the Anderson Trust helps the NSHCF to award grants to qualifying organizations.
In 2007, the North Shore Health Care Foundation established an Endowment Fund which is managed by the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation (SPMF). The Foundation has two funds with the SPMF, the main endowment and the Justine Kerfoot Memorial Fund.
In 2017, the North Shore Health Care Foundation began a comprehensive strategic planning process which included gathering information and extensive community input, reflection and planning. New trends in health care and how we think about health and healthy communities had changed significantly over time, and the North Shore Health Care Foundation (NSHCF) was changing to reflect that. Known mostly as a grant making organization since its inception, the Foundation was evolving to create a more integrated, holistic program model to have a greater impact on health, equitable health care and on creating a healthy community. The final Strategic Plan represents changes in the vision and mission statements, as well as strategies and goals for 2018-2020.