The Pritzker Military Foundation (PMF), founded by Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), has announced a $100,000 donation to the Fisher House Foundation to aid in the construction of its 100th Fisher House. This new facility will be located at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago/Great Lakes and is expected to be completed in 2025. The PMF has a history of generous contributions totaling $500,000 to various Fisher Houses, including those at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, the, Minneapolis VA Medical Center, the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, at Fort Liberty, North Carolina (formerly Fort Bragg) and now in North Chicago.
“We are truly honored to contribute to the establishment of the Fisher House Foundation’s 100th house and to take part in the meaningful celebration of its remarkable expansion,” said Col. Pritzker (Ret.). “These houses are making a profound difference in the lives of countless individuals who are dedicated to caring for their active-duty and veteran loved ones during challenging times.”
Fisher House serves active-duty military and veteran families across the country and overseas. Lovell FHCC is the nation’s only fully integrated Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility, making the newly constructed facility the first Fisher House with the mission to support both active-duty military families and veteran families. The Lovell FHCC location will span more than 14,000 sq. ft. and will provide free lodging for the families of veterans and military members, allowing them to remain close to their loved ones during critical medical care. At full capacity, it has the potential to save these families over $1.3 million each year. It will also provide patients with access to necessary care that was previously out of reach without suitable lodging for their families nearby.
In early October, staff from the Pritzker Military Foundation, along with donors and community leaders, gathered for a “Topping Off” ceremony to sign a beam for the entrance of the new Fisher House. The event was hosted by Dr. Robert Buckley, Director of Lovell FHCC, and David A. Coker, President of Fisher House Foundation. The new facility will include 16 accessible suites, a spacious kitchen, large communal living and dining areas, a laundry room, and a shared patio. Once completed, the home will be donated to the Lovell FHCC as part of a public-private partnership involving the Fisher House Foundation, the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Fisher House is grateful to the Pritzker Military Foundation for their partnership and contributions to the 100th Fisher House,” said Ken Fisher, chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation. “They clearly value the importance of caring for the military and veteran community, and it is especially meaningful for them to help bring this new Fisher House to North Chicago.”
To learn more about the Pritzker Military Foundation grants, please visit https://www.pritzkermilitaryfoundation.org/our-grants/. The Pritzker Military Foundation is a private foundation that accepts applications by invitation only. There is no open application period.
About Pritzker Military Foundation
The Pritzker Military Foundation seeks to support the work of nonprofit organizations in preserving American military history, restoring historic military artifacts and making them accessible to the public, and providing services and essential resources to past and present service members in all branches of the United States Armed Forces. To learn more, visit www.pritzkermilitaryfoundation.org.
