BraveHearts provides innovative equine-assisted services activities and therapies in support of children, adults, and our military Veterans. Located in Harvard and Poplar Grove, Illinois, BraveHearts has the largest horse program in the country for military Veterans; all Veterans receive services at no cost. Veteran participants may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and other issues associated with a return from active service. Veterans learn horsemanship skills and techniques on how to gentle a horse. This grant supports BraveHearts’ Trail to Zero suicide prevention training ride at Windy Knoll Farm.

This the first year of a three-year grant supporting the hospital’s Integrative Medicine Program (IMP) and part-time massage therapist.  Offering Comer Children’s patients and their families support in pain management through various modes of distraction and relaxation, the IMP collaborates with internal teams, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, therapists and nurse practitioners.  IMP includes martial arts, massage therapy, and music therapy.

Farmers Rising faced an urgent need to replace the crumbling roof of their strawbale office and workshop space. This grant helps support the cost of roof replacement and related carpentry work. In addition, grant funds support the organization’s Pathways to Healing overnight camp activities.

Farmers Rising fosters long-term food systems change in Northern Illinois through farmland access, farmer training, and educational programming. Participants interact with farm animals, do chores, learn about sustainable farming, eat locally grown food and traverse diverse farmscape (hiking trails, forest, oak savanna, farmland and Kinnikinnick Creek). This grant supports the services of Bluestem Ecological Services (forestry mowing, prescribed burn) and reseeding of the site.

Following the Vietnam War and the Laotian Civil War, Hmoob began seeking asylum in the United States as political refugees. Groundswell Conservancy has partnered with the Southeast Asian Healing center to support the population of HMoob (Hmong) elders in their community who are living with PTSD by providing access to gardening, a therapeutic antidote to PTSD,depression, and dementia. Gardening as a group reduces social isolation. Being able to feed the family contributes to a sense of worth and gets people out in nature. The Conservancy is hosting 12 HMoob elders growing on 1 1/2 acres of land. They are providing a shade structure, a porta potty, two picnic tables, taxi transportation, water access, land, springland preparation, hand tools and gardening supplies, and safety supervision during program operation at Westport Farm. This grant specifically supports transportation costs.

Following the Vietnam War and the Laotian Civil War, Hmoob began seeking asylum in the United States as political refugees. Groundswell Conservancy has partnered with the Southeast Asian Healing center to support the population of HMoob (Hmong) elders in their community who are living with PTSD by providing access to gardening, a therapeutic antidote to PTSD, depression, and dementia. Gardening as a group reduces social isolation. Being able to feed the family contributes to a sense of worth and gets people out in nature. The Conservancy is hosting 12 HMoob elders growing on 1 1/2 acres of land. They are providing a shade structure, a porta potty, two picnic tables, taxi transportation, water access, land, springland preparation, hand tools and gardening supplies, and safety supervision during program operation at Westport Farm.

Merged with UChicago Medicine, Ingalls Memorial Hospital operates as a licensed nonprofit community hospital providing comprehensive healthcare services to the Chicago Southland community. This grant supports Ingall’s integrative model of cancer care which includes Reiki, massage, reflexology, day and educational events for patients receiving infusion therapy and helps them to grow their program — increasing number of patients served, adding new locations, and introducing new services.

The Legacy Ranch was established in 2017 to provide Equine-Assisted Therapy to the Chicagoland area. The organization is a privately-owned PATH Int’l Member Center providing Therapeutic Riding Classes in both private and group settings through seasoned and trained staff. Legacy Ranch provides mental health therapy, occupational, physical and speech therapy in partnership with licensed therapists. This grant specifically supports equine therapy for veterans.

The Gathering Lighthouse is an educational non-profit center, dedicated to teaching individuals self-empowerment, personal strength and leadership skills to use in all aspects of life. This is accomplished through programs, seminars, classes, individual coaching and counseling, focused on empowerment and growth of the individual.

BraveHearts provides innovative equine-assisted services in support of children, adults, and military Veterans. Located in Harvard and Poplar Grove, Illinois, BraveHearts has the largest horse program in the country for military Veterans; all Veterans receive services at no cost. Veteran participants may suffer from post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, and other issues associated with a return from active service. Veterans learn horsemanship skills and techniques on how to gentle a horse. This grant supports BraveHearts’ Trail to Zero suicide prevention ride in Ft. Wayne Indiana as well as “green medicine” therapy for Veterans at Windy Knoll Farm.

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods promotes the importance of nature for nurturing personal and community well-being, cultivating creativity, and inspiring learning. The Oberweiler Foundation grant supports Brushwood Center’s Art and Wellness I Nature (It’s A W.I.N) programs for underserved youth. It’s A W.I.N. includes Art programs, music workshops, mindful exercises, etc. Second year of a two-year grant. $25K in 2022; $25K in 2023

Discretionary grant supports Palliative Virtual Immersion Therapy program for cancer patients.

Merged with UChicago Medicine, Ingalls Memorial Hospital operates as a licensed nonprofit community hospital providing comprehensive healthcare services to the Chicago Southland community. This grant supports Ingall’s integrative model of cancer care which includes Reiki, massage, reflexology, day and educational events for patients receiving infusion therapy. In addition, new services will be introduced including auriculotherapy (ear seeds). This non invasive treatment helps treat anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, nausea, vomiting and digestive disorders.

SOUL Sharing of Unconditional Love). Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy program’s mission is to enrich lives by promoting the unconditional love and healing of the human-animal bond while advocating for animal therapy standards of excellence. The HEART concepts (healing, energy, awareness, resiliency, transformation) will be incorporated into the organization’s meditation and mindfulness programs.

BraveHearts provides innovative equine-assisted activities and therapies in support of children, adults, and our military veterans. Located in Harvard and Poplar Grove Illinois, BraveHearts has the largest horse program in the country for military veterans; all veterans receive services at no cost. Veteran participants may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and other issues associated with a return from active service. Veterans learn horsemanship skills and techniques on how to gentle a horse. This grant supports BraveHearts’ Trail to Zero suicide prevention rides in St. Louis and Chicagoland; care of two therapy horses; and 4 Veteran mental health retreats (program pilot).

Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods promotes the importance of nature for nurturing personal and community well-being, cultivating creativity, and inspiring learning. The Oberweiler Foundation grant supports Brushwood Center’s Art and Wellness I Nature (It’s A W.I.N) programs for underserved youth. It’s A W.I.N. includes art programs, music workshops, mindful exercises, etc. First year of a two-year grant. $25K in 2022; $25K in 2023

Second and Third Year of a three-year grant ($35K in 2020; $35K in 2022; $35K in 2022) Funding supports and promotes integrative and complimentary care at Comer Children’s Hospital. Through the support of a team including a part time massage therapist, consistent services are provided throughout clinics within the hospital. Training and awareness of services are also provided and promoted amongst patients, parents, and staff.

Discretionary grant supports Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training for cancer patients and/or their family members in the Sauk Valley area.

Recently merged with UChicago Medicine, Ingalls Memorial Hospital operates as a licensed nonprofit community hospital providing comprehensive healthcare services to the Chicago Southland community. This grant supports Ingall’s integrative model of cancer care which includes Reiki, massage, reflexology, day and educational events for patients receiving infusion therapy.

Kids Above All serves to protect and heal children and families that have experienced severe trauma, neglect or abuse.This grant supports the use of holistic therapies – including yoga, art, meditation and equine-assisted through partner BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding Center- in the treatment of Kids Above All children residing in their group homes.

BraveHearts provides innovative equine-assisted activities and therapies in support of children, adults, and our military veterans. Located in Harvard and Poplar Grove Illinois, BraveHearts has the largest horse program in the country for military veterans; all veterans receive services at no cost. Veteran participants may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and other issues associated with a return from active service. Veterans learn horsemanship skills and techniques on how to gentle a horse. This grant supports BraveHearts’ Trail to Zero suicide prevention rides, training at Windy Knoll Farm, critical COVID safeguards, and the necessary care of two therapy horses.

Discretionary grant supports Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training for cancer patients and/or their family members in the Sauk Valley area

Advocate Good Shepherd is an acute care hospital located in Barrington. In an effort to improve outcomes for a subset of high risk surgical patients, their Center for Health and Integrative Medicine will pilot and measure the effectiveness of services such as outpatient nutrition counseling, acupuncture/pressure, mindfulness and meditation, aromatherapy, body work, etc.

BraveHearts provides innovative equine-assisted activities and therapies in support of children, adults, and our military veterans. Located in Harvard and Poplar Grove Illinois, BraveHearts has the largest horse program in the country for military veterans; all veterans receive services at no cost. Veteran participants may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and other issues associated with a return from active service. Veterans learn horsemanship skills and techniques on how to gentle a horse. This grant supported a team of BraveHearts staff and veterans who completed a 20-mile trail ride in Illinois, bringing awareness of the 20 veterans who commit suicide each day in the U.S. while also raising funds for the BraveHearts veterans program. It also supported training for the ride at Windy Knoll Farm. (Additional funding was provided to address BraveHearts’ unexpected drop in fundraising and volunteer help as a result of the pandemic.)

First Year of a three year grant ($35K in 2020; $35K in 2021; $35K in 2022) Funding supports the Supportive Care and Comfort Team efforts to provide aromatherapy, massage therapy and more. Funding also supports comprehensive training for medical staff and pediatric residents at the Comer Children’s hospital to promote the increased recommendation and use of complementary and alternative medicine.

This organization is a hub of research ranches and farms that serve to advance the science and educational support for regenerative agriculture practices. Honey bees and the honey bee industry are threatened by a suite of factors and require short term, nature based solutions to keep them alive until food production systems are transformed. This grant supports research of the effect of toxic pesticides on bees and potential ways of restoring bee immunity and gut microbial diversity.

Recently merged with UChicago Medicine, Ingalls Memorial Hospital operates as a licensed nonprofit community hospital providing comprehensive healthcare services to the Chicago Southland community. This grant supports Ingall’s integrative model of cancer care which includes Reiki, massage, reflexology, day and educational events for patients receiving infusion therapy.

Recently merged with UChicago Medicine, Ingalls Memorial Hospital operates as a licensed nonprofit community hospital providing comprehensive healthcare services to the Chicago Southland community. This grant supports Ingall’s integrative model of cancer care which includes Reiki, massage, reflexology, day and educational events for patients receiving infusion therapy.

Samaritan’s mission is to provide hope, help and healing through professional counseling for children, adolescents, families, adults and couples and psychiatry for teens and adults. They partner with non-profits, foundations, service organizations and corporation to address mental wellness and provide mental health education. Virtual Reality Therapy helps visually and emotionally address a patients underlying fear while reassuring a client that they are completely safe. VTR, combined with traditional cognitive Behavioral Therapy leads to faster, more lasting recovery. This grant supports the subscription costs for two VRT kits for the year.

Smart Policy Works seeks to break down economic, social and structural barriers to health and economic security. Through advocacy, expert analysis and training, they work to make systems and policies work better for all. This grant supports an alternative treatment for military sexual trauma. Warrior Stories is an innovative PTSD therapy using an online platform to treat Veterans who struggle with traditional talk therapy. Warrior Stories allows Veterans to express their experiences using images, as well as words, in a simple but powerful graphic novel style and to process these images with a therapist.

Supports the Integrated Comfort Team efforts to assist children with significant medical conditions through a unique model of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The funding will cover continued support of residency training program for integrative/alternative medicine; growth of the program through outreach efforts; and continued training of Comer Children’s nursing staff.

The Pediatric Comfort Team was launched by the hospital to address the suffering and pain of children with serious, chronic illness. The “team” uses CAM to optimize the quality of life for children receiving palliative care with a focus on treating underserved children, reflecting a growing recognition that a palliative care team is a critical part of a comprehensive pediatric oncology program.

Matching grant to provide continued access to integrative medicine services for children of medically underserved and low income families. This program provides free acupuncture treatments for low-income and at-risk students at Evanston Township High School, the Deerfield Behavioral Health Outpatient Adolescent Program and Youth Servics of Glenview/Northbrook. To date, the program has provided over 1,200 free treatments to approximately 400 students.

Smart Policy Works seeks to break down economic, social and structural barriers to health and economic security. Through advocacy, expert analysis and training, they work to make systems and policies work better for all. This grant supports an alternative treatment for military sexual trauma. Warrior Stories is an innovative PTSD therapy using an online platform to treat Veterans who struggle with traditional talk therapy. Warrior Stories allows Veterans to express their experiences using images, as well as words, in a simple but powerful graphic novel style and to process these images with a therapist.

In 2009, Be Alright was founded with a purpose of converting Chicago domestic violence shelters into havens of healing. Completely volunteer staffed, Be Alright supports survivors of domestic violence and the shelters they reside in; including Greenhouse Shelter, Apna Ghar and Maria Shelter. They annually conduct a back to school backpack drive for kids and teens living in Chicago shelters.

Third year of a three-year grant ($15,000 in 2015; $45,000 in 2016; $40,000 in 2017) to support the expansion of the Integrative Medicine Program and Integrated Comfort Team. The funding will cover continued support of residency training program for integrative/alternative medicine; research opportunities for further CAM exploration; expansion of CAM offerings in the areas of nutrition, yoga, meditation and acupuncture; the addition of CAM outpatient clinic. The Pediatric Comfort Team was launched by the hospital to address the suffering and pain of children with serious, chronic illness. The “team” uses CAM to optimize the quality of life for children receiving palliative care with a focus on treating underserved children, reflecting a growing recognition that a palliative care team is a critical part of a comprehensive pediatric oncology program.

Massage Therapy Foundation was founded by the American Massage Therapy Association in 1990 with the mission of advancing the knowledge and practice of massage therapy by supporting scientific research, education and community service. The Oberweiler Foundation has partnered with the Massage Therapy Foundation to identify and fund research and service projects that align with our mission. The goal of Howard Area Community Center’s chair massage program is to offer a therapeutic service to women who have violent experiences with human touch. According to research and healthcare experts working with this population, experiences with safe and appropriate touch through massage helps to override the imprint of traumatic touch from abuse.

Second year of a three-year grant ($15,000 in 2015; $45,000 in 2016; $40,000 in 2017) to support the expansion of the Integrative Medicine Program and Integrated Comfort Team. The funding will cover continued support of residency training program for integrative/alternative medicine; research opportunities for further CAM exploration; expansion of CAM offerings in the areas of nutrition, yoga, meditation and acupuncture; the addition of CAM outpatient clinic.

The Pediatric Comfort Team was launched by the hospital to address the suffering and pain of children with serious, chronic illness. The “team” uses CAM to optimize the quality of life for children receiving palliative care with a focus on treating underserved children, reflecting a growing recognition that a palliative care team is a critical part of a comprehensive pediatric oncology program.

FD NOW supports groundbreaking research that drives more efficient treatments and cures for FD patients. The matching grant is for Research, performed at Fordham University, for the expansion of accelerated scientific research to find new alternative medicine treatments to remedy the osteoporotic effects of FD through the identification of compounds that will produce a significant reduction in the symptoms of FD and eventually find a cure for the disease.

This grant builds on past Oberweiler Foundation support of JourneyCare’s merged partner Horizon Hospice & Palliative Care. Building on the best practices at Horizon, JourneyCare seeks to enhance seriously ill children’s quality of life by relieving or reducing physical and emotional symptoms through Complementary and Alternative therapies. CAM visits focus on art, massage, and music therapies.

This trail blazing effort is designed to lessen pain and suffering of medically fragile and technology dependent children ages birth through 21 who have life-threatening and/or terminal illnesses and are currently residing in transitional care facilities. Complementary therapies used include massage and music. CAM-SAM, the first program of its kind in pediatric transitional care, will be a ground-breaking initiative that might well be the only such program in the United States at this time.

Second of a two-year grant ($15,000 in 2015; $35,000 in 2016) to provide access to integrative medicine services for children of medically underserved and low income families with difficult to treat conditions including neuromuscular disease, chronic respiratory illness, gastrointestinal dysfunction, behavioral disorders, and cancer. The objective of the program is to provide relief from pain and anxiety for children of families without insurance or adequate financial resources. In addition the grant will fund tuition for one Integrative Medicine fellow who would complete a fellowship at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.

First year of a three-year grant ($15,000 in 2015; $45,000 in 2016; $40,000 in 2017) to support the expansion of the Integrative Medicine Program and Integrated Comfort Team. The funding will cover continued support of the residency training program for integrative/alternative medicine; research opportunities for further CAM exploration; expansion of CAM offerings in the areas of nutrition, yoga, meditation and acupuncture; the addition of CAM outpatient clinic. The Pediatric Comfort Team was launched by the hospital to address the suffering and pain of children with serious, chronic illness. The “team” uses CAM to optimize the quality of life for children receiving palliative care with a focus on treating underserved children, reflecting a growing recognition that a palliative care team is a critical part of a comprehensive pediatric oncology program.

FD NOW supports groundbreaking research that drives more efficient treatments and cures for FD patients. The matching grant is for research, performed at Fordham University, for the expansion of accelerated scientific research to find new alternative medicine treatments to remedy the osteoporotic effects of FD through the identification of compounds that will produce a significant reduction in the symptoms of FD and eventually find a cure for the disease.

This trail blazing effort is designed to lessen pain and suffering of medically fragile and technology dependent children ages birth through 21 who have life-threatening and/or terminal illnesses and are currently residing in transitional care facilities. CAM-SAM, the first program of its kind in pediatric transitional care, will be a ground-breaking initiative that might well be the only such program in the United States at this time.

First of a two-year grant ($15,000 in 2015; $35,000 in 2016) to provide access to integrative medicine services for children of medically underserved and low income families with difficult to treat conditions including neuromuscular disease, chronic respiratory illness, gastrointestinal dysfunction, behavioral disorders, and cancer. The objective of the program is to provide relief from pain and anxiety for children of families without insurance or adequate financial resources. In addition the grant will fund tuition for one Integrative Medicine fellow who would complete a fellowship at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.

FD NOW supports groundbreaking research that drives more efficient treatments and cures for FD patients. The matching grant is for research, performed at Fordham University, for the expansion of accelerated scientific research to find new alternative medicine treatments to remedy the osteoporotic effects of FD through the identification of compounds that will produce a significant reduction in the symptoms of FD and eventually find a cure for the disease.

A philanthropic program that assists children facing life-limiting illness with CAM pain and symptom management hospice while they continue to pursue aggressive, curative treatments. These treatments will, typically, be provided in the comfort of the patient’s home. (merged with JourneyCare)

This trail blazing effort is designed to lessen pain and suffering of medically fragile and technology dependent children ages birth through 21 who have life-threatening and/or terminal illnesses and are currently residing in transitional care facilities. CAM-SAM, the first program of its kind in pediatric transitional care, will be a ground-breaking initiative that might well be the only such program in the United States at this time.

Final year of a four-year grant for $25,000 per year to provide access to integrative medicine services for children of medically underserved and low income families with difficult to treat conditions including neuromuscular disease, chronic respiratory illness, gastrointestinal dysfunction, behavioral disorders, and cancer. The objective of the program is to provide relief from pain and anxiety for children of families without insurance or adequate financial resources.

The second year of a $48,300 two-year grant to support a residency training program for integrative/alternative medicine, including training for the next generation of pediatricians in integrative medicine, as well as funding for iPads, biofeedback and additional resources for pediatric patients that are coping with serious illness and pain. The program also provides nurse training in complementary and alternative medicine. The Pediatric Comfort Team was launched by the hospital to address the suffering and pain of children with serious, chronic illness. The team uses CAM to optimize the quality of life for children receiving palliative care with a focus on treating underserved children, reflecting a growing recognition that a palliative care team is a critical part of a comprehensive pediatric oncology program.

A philanthropic program that assists children facing life-limiting illness with CAM pain and symptom management hospice while they continue to pursue aggressive, curative treatments. These treatments will, typically, be provided in the comfort of the patient’s home. (merged with JourneyCare)