DuPage Medical Group Charitable Fund takes community caring to next level

Since its inception, DuPage Medical Group (DMG) has prided itself on a strong commitment to caring for the communities it serves through its myriad health care services and deep commitment to philanthropy. DMG elected to take its philanthropy to the next level in 2010 by streamlining the efforts of its physicians, care providers and staff into a single force and establishing the DuPage Medical Group Charitable Fund in partnership with the DuPage Foundation.

The DuPage Medical Group Charitable Fund, which operates as a donor-advised fund under the umbrella of the DuPage Foundation's status as a 501(c)(3) public charity, seeks to make a significant impact within the communities DMG serves by combining impactful financial support with hands-on volunteerism.

"We developed the DMG Charitable Fund as a means to lend our time, talents and resources for the benefit of those less fortunate," said Peri Todd, DMG's director of clinical research. "It provides us with a highly-effective systemic approach for our company and more than 3,000 employees to give back together."

Since there are no DMG staff dedicated to the Charitable Fund except Todd, who also serves as its part-time director, she and the Fund's advisory board, which consists of 12 DMG physicians and community members, draw on the DuPage Foundation's broad knowledge and understanding of the local landscape to help focus the Charitable Fund's grantmaking objectives, vet prospective grantees, and inform its overall strategic direction.

"The DuPage Foundation has been an invaluable partner," said Todd. "It's assistance in providing financial management and stewardship for the Fund has helped give us the freedom to focus largely on making the impact we desire and less on administrative hassles and process."

Since the Charitable Fund's inception, it has awarded more than $1 million to area not-for-profits throughout DuPage County and beyond.

"Historically, we've focused on addressing three of the greatest needs in DuPage: hunger; shelter; and health care, ranging from traditional care to mental health services, education and empowerment programs," said Todd. "However, as DMG's footprint has expanded into Joliet, Tinley Park and Blue Island, we have begun increasing our charitable footprint as well."

Todd, along with Dr. Salman Waheed, a DMG oncologist in Joliet, recently helped present two $10,000 grants for cancer support services on behalf of the Fund: one to the Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center to help grow its services on the west side of Joliet, and another to the Community Foundation of Will County to support the Cancer Support Center at Aunt Martha's in Joliet.

The Charitable Fund has also focused on magnifying its impact through in-kind donations and volunteer service - efforts which have not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year DMG was honored with the Governor's Volunteer Service Award for Outstanding Business Volunteer Engagement for its work with People's Resource Center and DuPage Habitat for Humanity.

This year, the Charitable Fund's volunteer efforts are focused on the DMG Kids Care program - an initiative designed to introduce the youngest members of DMG's family to the importance of giving back.

The program is tailored to allow parents and their children to volunteer together through such activities as sorting food items, making holiday food bags, and putting together coloring books and colored pencils for cancer patients. The projects provide families time to bond while teaching kids such valuable skills as empathy and kindness for others.

"The DMG Charitable Fund is the cornerstone of how DMG gives back," said DMG CEO Mike Kasper. "I am very proud that we have been able to grant more than $1 million dollars through the Fund to worthy charities throughout our area. What makes me even more proud is that it provides an opportunity for hundreds of our civic-minded team members to collectively volunteer their time."

To learn more about the DuPage Medical Group Charitable Fund, please visit dmgcharitablefund.org. To learn about the Fund's host, the DuPage Foundation, please visit dupagefoundation.org.