we believe the antidote for communities in crisis are access and investment
Since 2000, the Loretto Hospital Foundation has successfully implemented health and wellness programs to increase the community’s access to care, including: the opening of a community cupboard food pantry, the launch of a physician's recruitment program, facility and equipment upgrades, and the opening of the Women's Wellness Center. In Fall 2025, the foundation will partner with the hospital to open a free community grocery store, the first of its kind in the state of Illinois. Established in 1923, we are proud of Loretto Hospital’s 100+ year legacy of healthcare and community service. Focused on the future and expansion, we will continue to provide comprehensive care that promotes healthier residents and Chicago communities.
did you know…
Life expectancy for residents in the Austin community is more than 10 years less than life expectancy rates of surrounding Chicago neighborhoods
More than 14% of residents in Loretto Hospital's service area are uninsured
Residents of Austin and adjacent communities have lower health insurance rates than residents in other Chicago neighborhoods
1 in 5 Chicago households are experiencing food insecurity
Loretto Hospital’s deconstructed food pantry distributes approximately 1,000 individual, ready-to-eat bags of food each month to community residents
Black women are the predominate heads of household in the Austin community, and face disproportionate barriers to accessing quality healthcare, leading to higher rates of chronic health conditions