Rosalind Franklin University Launches Giving Tuesday Campaign Supporting Free Healthcare Services in Lake County

In recognition of Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday), Rosalind Franklin University (RFU) is raising support for free healthcare services that benefit uninsured and underserved residents of Lake County. Through its Interprofessional Community Clinic (ICC), Community Care Connection (CCC) and Children’s Advocacy Center Medical Clinic (CACMC), RFU is bringing high-quality healthcare to those who need it most.

These programs bridge critical gaps in access to care, offering primary care, vaccinations, podiatry, physical therapy, medication review, infectious disease testing, behavioral health counseling, health screenings and health coaching, all at no cost to patients.

Student-founded and -led, the ICC is a weekly, pro bono clinic housed in the RFU Health Clinics adjacent to the university campus in North Chicago. The CCC extends healthcare beyond clinic walls with a mobile health vehicle and a fleet of electric SUVs, delivering compassionate care directly to Lake County residents who might not otherwise have access to care. For many, this outreach is truly life-saving. The CACMC provides specialized, trauma-informed medical evaluations in a safe, supportive environment for child victims of sexual and physical abuse. 

This year, new and increased gifts to the ICC, CCC and CACMC will be matched up to a total of $10,000, thanks to a commitment from the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County (HFNLC). A longtime RFU community partner, HFNLC has supported both the ICC and CCC, sharing the university's commitment to improving healthcare access for medically underserved populations.

Gifts to the ICC help provide essential supplies and services for patients. A donation of $25 to $50 can provide diagnostic equipment, such as pulse oximeters and blood pressure cuffs, while $120 can cover 10 A1c test cartridges for patients managing diabetes. Larger gifts can support student training and patient care, including $710 to cover the full cost of medical interpreter certification for a student clinician, helping overcome language barriers and improve access to quality care.

RFU's commitment to healthier communities goes hand in hand with its mission to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. Through the ICC, students gain hands-on patient care experience early in their education, learning to collaborate across disciplines while making a meaningful difference in the community.

“Volunteering at the ICC has deepened my understanding of how social and financial barriers shape access to healthcare and taught me the value of serving as a bridge between patients and the care they deserve,” said Susanna Mirabelli, CMS ’29, executive officer of care coordination for the ICC.

“The ICC has taught me that caring for patients means understanding the challenges that they face outside the clinic, too,” said Elizabeth Schmidt, CMS ’29. “It has made health equity feel less like a classroom concept and more like a responsibility I can act on.”

Your gift will help sustain these essential services and ensure that the next generation of healthcare professionals continues to learn through compassion and action. RFU’s Giving Tuesday campaign, running Nov. 16 through Dec. 14, will support the ICC. The clinic also receives support through the Dance for Health Equity, the university’s annual fundraiser benefiting the ICC.

Join us this Giving Tuesday, and help transform care in our community.

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