McCormick Foundation and Chicago Tribune Support Stronger Families and Better Parenting Through Chicago Tribune Charities

CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Robert R. McCormick Foundation and the Chicago Tribune have announced $850,000 in funding through Chicago Tribune Charities, a McCormick Foundation Fund, which will help 30 local agencies provide a broad range of parenting programs to reduce the risk of child abuse, and treatment programs that improve the social and emotional functioning of children and youth impacted by abuse and family violence.

"Chicago Tribune Charities believes all children deserve a positive, supportive and caring environment. By supporting programs that strive to improve parenting skills and provide counseling services to parents and children, we can make a difference," said Tony Hunter, CEO of Tribune Publishing, Publisher and CEO of Chicago Tribune. "A strong support system is fundamental in helping families succeed."

"The family is the center of a child's universe, and should be a source of love and nurturing.  Unfortunately, for too many kids the family setting threatens violence and abuse," said David Hiller, president and CEO of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.  "The agencies supported by this Chicago Tribune Charities program help families succeed in providing the home environment all our children have a right to."

Since 1990, over 4,600 grants totaling more than $98 million has been granted through Chicago Tribune Charities to nonprofit organizations providing support to those in need across Chicagoland. The McCormick Foundation matches all gifts at 50 cents on the dollar, increasing the impact of individual contributions. The Foundation and Chicago Tribune pay all campaign and administrative costs, ensuring that 100 percent of all donations, plus the match, is granted to local nonprofit agencies with programs that improve the lives of children, families and adults across Chicagoland.

The 2011 grant recipients include:

1. Advocate Charitable Foundation will receive $25,000 for the Childhood Trauma Treatment program for low-income families, providing psychotherapy and counseling services to severely abused children, most of whom live in foster care.
2. Apna Ghar, Inc. (Our Home) will receive $25,000 for the Children's Counseling program, providing individual and family counseling for children with trauma-related issues due to domestic violence.
3. Beacon Therapeutic School, Inc. will receive $25,000 for the Family Assertive Community Treatment program, providing treatment to homeless children with emotional, behavioral and attachment disorders.
4. Between Friends will receive $20,000 for the Children's Program, which provides group, individual, and family counseling to help children who have been affected by domestic violence.
5. Bridge Youth & Family Services will receive $30,000 for the Bridge Traumatic Stress program, which provides treatment to children and their families in the immediate aftermath of trauma caused by domestic violence and/or child abuse.
6. Casa Central Social Services Corporation will receive $30,000 for the Chicago Safe Start program, which provides intensive supportive and therapeutic services and parent and community trainings on the impact of violence on young children in eight West Side neighborhoods.
7. Chicago Children's Advocacy Center will receive $25,000 for the PATHH Collaborative Project, which eliminates waiting list duplication and improves system efficiency for sexually abused children and their families.
8. Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County will receive $30,000 for the Safe from the Start program, providing coordinated therapeutic services for children who have been exposed to violence.
9. Children's Research Triangle will receive $25,000 for the Trauma Treatment program, which provides short- and long-term psychotherapy, caregiver support, and case management for children with a history of abuse and/or neglect.
10. Crisis Center For South Suburbia will receive $40,000 for the Children's Services program, which includes individual and family counseling, parent-child groups, and intense trauma treatment for child victims of domestic violence.
11. Easter Seals Joliet Region, Inc. will receive $30,000 for the Family Center for Autism Resources program, which provides support, counseling and referral resources for children and families affected by autism.
12. Family Focus, Inc. will receive a total of $50,000 for the Right From the Start ($30,000) and the Mission Men Fathers' Support Group ($20,000) programs, which provide parenting support to reduce the risk for abusive parenting attitudes and practices.
13. Family Shelter Service, Inc. will receive $25,000 for the Children's Counseling program, providing individual, family, and play therapy for children and youth impacted by domestic violence.
14. Hektoen Institute for Medical Research, LLC will receive $20,000 for Child Trauma Capacity Building Project Training program, which increases the number of trauma-informed trainings and consultations available to staff at local domestic violence, housing and mental health agencies.
15. House of the Good Shepherd will receive $20,000 for the Children & Family Services program, which provides support to families to end the cycle of domestic violence. The program offers comprehensive residential, children's and aftercare programs.
16. Housing Opportunity For Women will receive $15,000 for the Partners for Rogers Park Education and Wellness Committee, which will coordinate and build appropriate services that break down the system barriers preventing Rogers Park children and families access to wrap around services in their community.
17. Jewish Child and Family Services will receive $15,000 for the Price Group Home Parent Education and Support program, which provides prenatal and parenting support, mental health services, and independent living skills to teen mothers who are wards of the state.
18. Juvenile Protective Association will receive $30,000 for Parent-Infant Services program offering mental health services for families at risk for child abuse and/or neglect.
19. La Rabida Children's Hospital and Research Center will receive $30,000 for Chicago Child Trauma Center program, which provides counseling to children who have experienced multiple forms of trauma, including abuse, domestic violence, and loss through violent death.
20. Lydia Home Association will receive $20,000 for Safe Families Parent Child Interaction Therapy program, which provides families at risk of abuse and/or neglect with temporary homes for children, individual and family counseling, and parenting training for young mothers.
21. Metropolitan Family Services will receive $35,000 for Healthy Families program, which provides home-visits and group counseling for underserved young mothers.
22. Near North Health Service Corporation will receive $25,000 for Healthy Families program, providing parenting instruction and program referrals for young mothers with multiple risk factors associated with child abuse/neglect.
23. Nicasa, NFP will receive $20,000 for the Parent Empowerment program, which provides adult clients of the agency's substance abuse treatment program with group therapy, home visits, and individualized plans to improve parenting skills.
24. Parenthesis, Inc. will receive $30,000 for Parenteen, Parenting on Our Own, and Family Wrap programs, serving parenting teens, single parents, and women affected by postpartum depression.
25. Pillars Community Services will receive $30,000 for Children's Therapeutic Services of the Domestic and Sexual Violence program, which provides assessments, counseling, intensive therapy, and parenting training and support to children and families severely affected by abuse and domestic violence.
26. Sarah's Inn will receive $20,000 for Children and Teens Supportive Services program, which provides individual advocacy and therapeutic counseling and art/play therapy services.
27. Turning Point, Inc. will receive $15,000 for Children's program, which offers comprehensive support services for children affected by domestic violence.  
28. Voices for Illinois Children will receive $60,000 for support of Chicago-area children's mental health advocacy and training programs
29. Women's Treatment Center will receive $45,000 for Parenting Education and Prevention program, which provides residential trauma-informed treatment, parenting groups and therapeutic counseling for women in recovery, and their children.
30. Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center will receive $40,000 for Children's Counseling program, which provides individual therapy and support groups for children, ages 3 to 17, who have been sexually abused.

About the Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Robert R. McCormick Foundation is committed to fostering communities of educated, informed and engaged citizens. Through philanthropic programs, Cantigny Park and museums, the Foundation helps develop citizen leaders and works to make life better in our communities. The Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The McCormick Foundation is one of the nation's largest foundations, with more than $1 billion in assets.

The McCormick Foundation continues McCormick's legacy by partnering with media outlets, such as the Chicago Tribune, sports teams and philanthropic organizations across the country, to encourage local giving, inspire civic involvement and address human needs. To learn more about the McCormick Foundation visit www.McCormickFoundation.org.  

SOURCE McCormick Foundation