Lundbeck US Charitable Fund Donates $1 Million to Two Chicagoland Organizations Improving Community Access to Health Care

CommunityHealth and BUILD will use the funding to expand health care access, including mental and behavioral health care, for low-income adults and vulnerable youth

DEERFIELD, Ill., October 25, 2023 – The Lundbeck US Charitable Fund announced today that it is providing two grants for a combined $1 million to organizations focused on improving health care access for people in the Chicagoland community. CommunityHealth and BUILD will use the funding to expand programs aimed at removing access barriers and coordinating quality health care, and in particular, mental and behavioral health care services.

The Lundbeck US Charitable Fund proudly supports organizations in Chicagoland advancing patient care. Through the support of community-led interventions, the Fund looks to make a measurable impact on community health within this large and diverse community, particularly among communities with significant unmet needs.

“We are proud to partner with organizations that are changing lives every day through localized outreach, interventions and connections to health care for some of our most at-risk communities,” said Molly Poarch, President of the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund. “CommunityHealth and BUILD are incredible organizations advocating for vulnerable adults and young people within the Chicagoland community. Their efforts to improve access to mental and behavioral health care for Chicago residents is admirable.” 

CommunityHealth

CommunityHealth is dedicated to offering essential health care at no charge to low-income Chicagoans. The organization has recently added two microsite clinics in vulnerable neighborhoods to improve health care access for low-income adults. The grant from the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund will go toward expanding their vital in-person and telehealth services into these new neighborhood locations, improving access to mental and behavioral health care through additional sites of care, outreach, and foreign language programs, and increasing their ability to coordinate patient care. The funding will also help support the expansion of the organization’s facilities to better serve patients.

“Our clinics offer critical services to low-income, uninsured and under-insured adults. This population typically faces significant obstacles to health, including economic instability, housing issues, neighborhood safety challenges, language barriers, pollution, and racism – which are all factors associated with mental and behavioral health challenges, as well,” said Stephanie D. Willding, Chief Executive Officer of CommunityHealth. “With the support of the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund, we will be able to expand three critical pillars of our care model – addressing critical mental and behavioral health needs in the community, increasing our care coordination capacity, and physically expanding our facilities.” 

BUILD

BUILD is a comprehensive youth services organization that engages vulnerable and traumatized young people with integrated mentoring and support. One of the organization’s largest efforts is led by their “Clinical and Community Wellness (CCW)” team, a department that combines mental health care with basic life support and case management. BUILD recognizes that it is difficult for young people to make any progress in mental health therapy while also struggling with more basic needs like hunger, safety or legal issues, so BUILD’s clinical team works closely with their case management team to meet these distinct but deeply connected needs at the same time. The grant from the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund will support a new program that helps youth continue managing their mental health after being discharged from in-patient services. The funding will also provide flexible funds to cover small but urgent expenses that arise suddenly in the lives of struggling youth and families – unpaid utility bills, expired IDs, home repairs, clothing, housing, or licensing fees – any of which can end up derailing an entire path of recovery.

“Youth in our BUILD Chicago community have witnessed violence, experienced housing instability, faced abusive home environments, lived through traumatic experiences and dealt with a variety of challenges that can have an impact on their mental health and ability to thrive,” said Durrell Sheppard, Director of Clinical and Community Wellness, BUILD. “Because of the partnership from the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund, we will be able to expand our support of these young people and ensure they can access the resources and care they need.” 

About CommunityHealth

CommunityHealth was founded on the belief that no one should go without essential health care. Since 1993, CommunityHealth has offered this essential care at no charge to thousands of low-income Chicagoans. At their three locations – and with the support of more than 1,000 volunteers, CommunityHealth offers primary and specialty care, as well as dentistry, behavioral health, health education, and a fully-licensed onsite pharmacy. These services are offered six days a week, in-person and via telehealth. 

About BUILD (Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development) Chicago

BUILD is a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention and youth services organization based on Chicago’s West Side. Since 1969, the organization has worked to save lives and mentor young people who live in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. BUILD’s mission is to engage youth in the schools and on the streets so they can realize their educational and career potential and contribute to the stability, safety, and well-being of boys and young men of color. BUILD has launched a general helpline to connect families with diverse resources across the West and South Sides – from technology to food to mental health care. 

About the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund

The Lundbeck US Charitable Fund is an independently managed nonprofit 501(c)(3) committed to responsibly and appropriately supporting organizations and programs that share our dedication to restoring brain health. The Lundbeck US Charitable Fund is wholly owned by H. Lundbeck A/S, a global pharmaceutical company specialized in brain diseases. For more than 70 years, Lundbeck has been at the forefront of neuroscience research, tirelessly dedicated to restoring brain health so every person can be their best.