Howard Brown Health Center's Youth Services Program has received major funding from the United Way in Chicago, the Polk Bros. Foundation, the Galter Foundation and the Siragusa Foundation. This will make their youth outreach among the largest in the U.S.
HBHC hosted a press announcement Sunday during their Garden Party, an annual event that recognizes donors who have made significant financial contributions to HBHC.
Funding will be used to dramatically expand HBHC's Youth Services Program to provide comprehensive healthcare and social services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth
'Howard Brown Health Center is very appreciative of the wonderful support that we have received from the United Way in Chicago, the Polk Bros. Foundation, the Galter Foundation and the Siragusa Foundation,' said Keith Waterbrook, executive director of Howard Brown Health Center.
'Thanks to each organization's generous support we will be able to provide LGBT youth with some of the most extensive and well-needed services in the community. HBHC is uniquely positioned to provide our youth with healthcare and social services ranging from health promotion, advocacy and research,' he said.
Among the new programs that will be added to HBHC's Youth Services Program is an expansion of an existing Drop-In Center, a place where youth can socialize with their peers while receiving healthcare and social services. New services may also include mentoring and health promotion programs, support groups and other programming specific to the needs of lesbian and transgender youth.
'Our clients and staff are extremely excited about the new services that we'll be able to provide the community as a result of the funding,' said Rob Garofalo, M.D., M.Ph., director of HBHC's youth program.
'LGBT youth will greatly benefit from our ability to take the program to the next level providing 'one-stop shopping' to our clients. This is critical considering that 69% of our clients who are 18-24 years of age don't have any type of health insurance to address their healthcare needs.'
Over the last year Howard Brown Health Center's Youth Services has also received financial support from the Public Welfare Foundation, the Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation, John D. and Leslie Henner Burns Family Foundation and the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation.
