The Robert R. McCormick Foundation was there from the start — before the start, actually.
In 2012, McCormick Foundation partnered with Major League Baseball on an initiative called Welcome Back Veterans, which donated $1 million to help launch Road Home.
Though, the pledges were something like a lead-off hit designed to start a rally, said Anna Laubach, director of public safety portfolio and special initiatives for the foundation. It was clear from the start that Road Home would need more funding.
“It’s a great opportunity for philanthropy that we can pilot something and demonstrate its effectiveness, and then larger dollars can come in and bring it to scale,” Laubach said. “That was a win for us.”
The formula worked. Crown Family Philanthropies, Bank of America, Michael Reese Health Trust, State Farm, the Field Foundation of Illinois and MillerCoors were among others that pledged support before Road Home welcomed the first veteran through its doors. That wave drew attention, and Wounded Warrior Project® ultimately provided the investment needed to expand services.
In addition to serving as a vote of confidence to other philanthropic partners, McCormick Foundation provided valuable input as Rush conceptualized the program’s structure and strategies.
“It was very stimulating and rewarding just to be at the beginning of all of that,” Laubach said. “We have some longstanding relationships with the folks at Rush now. I think that makes it different from other relationships we have — the connection to our staff, understanding the issues of veterans and making sure there is a through line in terms of our support and understanding.”
McCormick Foundation has deep roots in the military and addressing veterans’ needs, with its namesake having served as a colonel with the 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army during World War I. The foundation maintains a First Division Museum and continues to support quality programs that provide veterans with essential services. It also has employed veterans to be part of its grantmaking process.
“There’s a legacy here and a real commitment to continue to support members of the military, veterans and their families,” Laubach said.
Laubach, a trained social worker and clinical therapist, has taken a particular interest in the foundation’s efforts to support veterans since she joined its team 15 years ago. She led the work of Welcome Back Veterans, which funded projects specifically related to mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder care for veterans.
“Meeting veterans through all the programs we were supporting, I realized the immensity of the problem and where there was potential for solutions,” she said. “It captured my attention and my passion for helping to support people with high-quality mental health services.”
It was the success found elsewhere with Welcome Back Veterans’ Home Base program that prompted the Chicago-based McCormick Foundation to turn its attention toward home and Rush.
“Before Road Home, we had given millions of dollars to other programs in other cities and we really wanted to do something here in Chicago,” Laubach recalled. “All of the stars aligned at the same time.”
Since the early days, McCormick Foundation has remained invested, with Welcome Back Veterans donating a total of $2.6 million and the foundation making an additional $600,000 in grants in support of Road Home. And the foundation remains a strong champion of the program’s work.
“This is free to veterans who need the support,” Laubach said. “It’s not intended to replace the Veterans Affairs services but really to enhance what the VA is able to provide. I think the way it fits into a larger ecosystem is providing access that would not otherwise exist for veterans who really need the services.”
