IBJI CARES
Compassionate Allied Rehabilitation Enabling Society
IBJI CARES is the philanthropic arm of Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (IBJI) and is supported by the IBJI community. Formed in 2018, IBJI CARES empowers employees and patients to promote the benefits of wellness, healthy movement and positive lifestyles with neighbors near and far through fundraising, education, community outreach and service opportunities. Funds raised by IBJI CARES benefit causes in the Chicagoland area, as well as worldwide, that enhance the health and wellbeing of others.
For more information, please contact IBJI CARES Chairperson Vanessa Yee, PT, DPT, at vyee@ibji.com.
Join Our Annual Holiday Food Drive
IBJI CARES is hosting a company-wide food drive. All non-perishable items are welcome. Donations collected will be distributed to local food pantries.
Collecting donations at all locations from December 1-31, 2023.
2024 IBJI CARES T-shirts Now Available
Show your support for IBJI and our community in the new year with a stylish limited-edition IBJI CARES tee. T-shirts are $25 each and are a great way to make a lasting impact on orthopedic care and community support. Buy yours today!
Illinois Bone & Joint Institute Partners with Over the Rainbow Association
DES PLAINES, Ill., Feb. 7, 2023—Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (IBJI), the largest independent, physician-owned orthopedic practice in Illinois, proudly announces its 2023 Charity Partner, Over the Rainbow Association (OTR), a non-profit organization based in Evanston.
Each year, IBJI CARES, the philanthropic arm of IBJI, gives back to the community by partnering with a local organization to assist with fundraising efforts and awareness. OTR was selected from a list of 10 applicants. Former partners have included the Northbrook-based Glenkirk organization and Good News Partners’ New Life Shelter in Chicago.
“We chose OTR as their philosophy aligns closely with IBJI CARES’ mission to promote the benefits of wellness, healthy movement, and positive lifestyles and improve the holistic health of the individual,” said Vanessa Yee, PT, DPT, IBJI CARES Chairperson. “We were looking for an organization widespread in the Chicagoland area so that multiple regions of IBJI could be involved. OTR is dedicated to providing independent living solutions for individuals with physical disabilities, as well as providing services such as social workers, exercise programs, healthcare partnerships, and volunteer programs with schools through their Resident Services program, allowing us to be involved with multiple aspects of their residents’ health.”
Throughout 2023, IBJI CARES will be raising money to support OTR’s Kindness Tag program and support OTR as they further expand housing locations. Volunteers days are planned to help with landscaping beautification projects.
The Kindness Tag initiative started out by providing residents with much-needed hearing aids but has progressed to include a number of gifts given by donors and the residents themselves. OTR’s properties have been gifted automatic door openers, rolling laundry baskets, new winter coats and boots, dinners, and more.
“Kindness Tag gives our residents the opportunity to experience the unique joy of giving, lifting their spirits, and giving them a new purpose,” says Alex Costelle, OTR Manager of Development. “We are looking forward to expanding this program with IBJI’s help. We have witnessed first-hand Kindness Tag curbing depression, anxiety, and loneliness.”
OTR is excited about the 2023 partnership, knowing that their shared goal is to improve the quality of life for OTR residents.
“We have always felt that IBJI and OTR align in our missions as we both prioritize the holistic health of the people we serve,” says Costelle. “We also appreciate that not only does IBJI contribute monetarily but also by providing volunteers and spending quality time making a difference. We are so grateful for the support of IBJI this year.”
Years in Review: A Look Back On Our IBJI CARES Charity Partnership with Glenkirk
We are grateful for the three-year partnership we had with Glenkirk, supporting their residents with disabilities, and we look forward to staying connected with them for years to come. IBJI CARES was able to donate a total of $100,000 to Glenkirk to fund important programs that will allow their residents to live full and meaningful lives.
Read the press release at ibji.com/newsroom for more details about how we helped.
IBJI CARES Seeks 2023 Charity Partner
Applications Now Open
IBJI CARES, the philanthropic arm of Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, announces the opening of applications for our 2023 Charity Partner. Through a partnership with IBJI, the chosen local charitable organization will be the recipient of a year’s worth of fundraising efforts.
“Every year, we try to expand our reach,” states Dr. Vanessa Yee, PT, DPT,Physical Therapist, IBJI CARES Chairperson. “This year, we would again love to partner with an organization where we can be involved in multiple ways. We have many employees who are eager to volunteer and help give back to our communities all over the Chicagoland area.”
Through various efforts including the annual IBJI CARES Golf Outing, the largest fundraiser of the organization, the selected 2023 partner will work closely with the CARES board to align charitable needs with resources that include volunteerism and funding.
Volunteers beautify landscaping at a Glenkirk home.
Former partners have included the Northbrook-based Glenkirk organization and Good News Partners’ New Life Shelter in Chicago.
In 2022, Glenkirk organization benefited from new technology and landscaping at residential homes for intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals.
Local organizations are invited to fill out the application form on or before Friday, October 21, 2022.
For more information on IBJI CARES, visit ibji.com/cares or contact Vanessa Yee at vyee@ibji.com.
IBJI CARES is a registered 501(c)(3) and the acronym ‘CARES’ stands for Compassionate Allied Rehabilitation Enabling Society.
About Illinois Bone & Joint Institute
Illinois Bone & Joint Institute (IBJI) is the largest independent physician-owned orthopedic practice in Illinois. IBJI is dedicated to providing accessible, compassionate, and comprehensive care to your family for every orthopedic specialty with leading-edge technology and innovative treatment options. For more information, please visit ibji.com.
Registration is Open for the 2022 IBJI CARES Charity Golf Outing!
You are invited to the third annual IBJI CARES Open Charity Golf Outing! Join us on Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling. All profits from this event will benefit Glenkirk.
Open to all IBJI employees, friends and the public. If you have questions, please contact Vanessa Yee at vyee@ibji.com.
Take Advantage of Upcoming Volunteering Opportunities!
As part of our partnership with Glenkirk, IBJI CARES will be organizing three upcoming volunteering opportunities. These Volunteer Days are a great opportunity to join together with friends, family, and colleagues to serve those in our communities who need it most!
- Saturday, April 23 – Spring Cleanup Event
- Saturday, May 14 – To be determined
- Saturday, October 8 – To be determined
3rd Annual Medical Device Donation Drive
Donate your new or gently used braces, slings, walkers, and crutches to the IBJI CARES DME Drive! Through a partnership with Village Church of Gurnee, IBJI CARES will send these items to medical missions in third-world countries. Drop off items at any IBJI Rehab clinic by March 31!
2021 IBJI CARES Charity Golf Outing
The IBJI CARES 2nd Annual Charity Golf Outing and Silent Auction Fundraiser was a huge success with nearly 125 attendees! Held at the Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling on Saturday, August 28, the event included lunch and beverages, 18 holes of golf, and a silent auction featuring a number of sought-after items. The event benefited Glenkirk, a Northbrook-based organization that empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities.
“IBJI as a whole wants to make a difference in our community and make sure the places we work and live are taken care of, not just as healthcare providers but as human beings,” said IBJI CARES Chairperson Vanessa Yee, PT, DPT.
Stay tuned for news on next year’s event.
Thanks to the following companies for sponsoring the 2021 IBJI CARES Open Golf Tournament:
IBJI CARES Spring DME Donation
May 14, 2021
IBJI CARES has completed the Spring DME Donation Drive with an estimated 500+ donations! Thank you to all of those who donated and to our staff that helped us collect, sort, clean, and deliver the donations. The items are being split up and delivered partly to underserved youth sports in Cuba, as well as medical clinics in underserved areas of the Philippines. We are honored to be a part of this work. Thank you to all the clinics and community members that donated items for this effort!
DME collected from IBJI CARES Spring Donation Drive.
IBJI CARES Blood Drive
On Saturday, March 20th, IBJI CARES was proud to sponsor its first blood drive of 2021, hosted by Vitalant at the IBJI Rehab clinic in Lake Bluff. Donors from IBJI’s own staff of physicians, therapists, and administrators – as well as members of the community – came together to help save lives by donating blood that can be used for cancer patients, premature babies, and emergency cases, among others. We want to thank everyone who helped make this event a success!
IBJI CARES Shares Photos from Successful 2019 Brace Donation Drive
February 5, 2021
Back in late 2019, IBJI CARES hosted a large DME drive throughout our clinics. The DME items donated by our clinics and patients were gathered and handed over to a medical mission effort being sponsored by the Village Church of Gurnee. After several hiccups due to political and COVID-19 challenges, the mission workers were able to find a place overseas where these donated items could be used in underserved areas.
Just recently, we were honored to receive several photos showing these items being put to use in the cities of Iligan and Matungao in the Philippines! In the photos below, you can see an ambulance driver and medical workers from these two cities proudly showing how the items we donated are being used to help their local population — where medical care is limited and equipment such as the items we donated are in critical need.
These powerful photos show what amazing things can be done when IBJI’s staff, patients, and community partners team up to give back! More information will follow soon about exciting news regarding our current DME drive. Stay tuned, and thank you all for your support of IBJI CARES’ efforts to help across the globe.
IBJI CARES Second Annual Medical Device Donation Drive
Donate your gently-used medical devices to any IBJI Rehab facility by Wednesday, March 31, 2021.
Updated: May 4, 2021 – This drive is now over. Thank you to everyone that donated!
The IBJI CARES is hosting its second annual medical device donation drive. We are partnering with the Village Church of Gurnee to send our donations to migrant missions in underserved countries. Donate your gently-used medical devices to any IBJI Rehab facility by Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Thank you for your donation!
We are accepting gently used and in good working condition:
- Wrist, knee, elbow, finger, and ankle braces/splints
- Shoulder slings
- Supportive sleeves
- Walkers
- Crutches
- Walking boots
The following are not accepted:
- Knee walkers (rollabouts)
- Custom fit items (Donjoy Defiance, Custom splints, etc.)
*Donations will be accepted from the public for gently-used knee or wrist braces. We cannot provide a receipt with monetary value for tax purposes, but if you would like a letter of acknowledgement for your donation from IBJI CARES, please email us at info@ibji.com with your contact information and details about what you donated.
Contact Tara at tbanick@ibji.com with any other questions.
IBJI CARES Extends Partnership with Glenkirk Through 2021
November 16, 2020
Learn More about Clenkirk, our 2020-2021 Charity Partner
Due to the challenges related to COVID-19 in 2020, the IBJI CARES has made the decision to extend its charitable partnership with Northbrook-based Glenkirk through the entirety of 2021. Although IBJI CARES typically chooses a different partner charity with which to work each year, we believe that suspending this process for the coming year will allow us to achieve our desired goals in benefitting Glenkirk’s admirable mission to serve those in our community with intellectual disabilities. Our selection of a new charity partner will resume in Fall 2021, and applications will be taken at that time. Meanwhile, we look forward to another fruitful year of partnership with Glenkirk.
IBJI CARES Successful Second Blood Drive!
September 19, 2020
On behalf of IBJI CARES, thank you to all of you who participated in our Fall 2020 Vitalant Blood Drive in Lake Barrington on Saturday, September 19. The results are in:
26 total units donated
78 LIVES SAVED!
The vast majority of our blood donors were IBJI employees and their family members. We are proud of our team’s giving spirit!
Congrats to IBJI team member and donor Jayna Winkhardt, winner of the $50 Amazon gift card!
If you were unable to attend on Saturday but would still like to donate blood, you can still do so at your local Vitalant blood donation center. See attached list of sites and use our GROUP CODE 007H when making the appointment to show your support for our drive.
Thank you all for your support of this life-saving event!
IBJI CARES Book Drive Success!
August 13, 2020
On August 12, Bernie’s Book Bank sent out a truck to pick up over 1,000 books collected at IBJI clinics across Chicagoland in a joint effort for the 2020 IBJI CARES Book Drive. Thanks to the efforts of IBJI team members, the drive was a huge success (despite the COVID-19 pandemic!), and will enable hundreds of children across Chicagoland to enjoy the many benefits of reading. For more info on how to help, visit berniesbookbank.org. Thank you to our staff, patients, and IBJI CARES volunteers for your support in this effort!
IBJI CARES Blood Drive!
June 4, 2020
On Tuesday, June 2, IBJI employees and members of the community participated in the first ever IBJI CARES Blood Drive, hosted by the Vitalant bloodmobile at our Morton Grove offices. At a time when the blood shortage is extreme due to the COVID-19 crisis, IBJI CARES was honored to provide this opportunity for people to literally save lives.
Over 50 people registered to donate blood, and Vitalant’s staff was onsite to ensure that the donations were collected in a safe and socially-distanced setting. Karen Murphy, Vitalant blood drive coordinator for the North Shore region, expressed her pleasure that, while many blood drives have been canceled due to school and office closures in recent weeks, the IBJI CARES blood drive was able to go on as scheduled and provide life-giving donations during this difficult time.
“It has long been a goal of the IBJI CARES to host an on-site blood donation,” noted Tara Banick, PT, DPT, OCS. “We were delighted that so many IBJI physicians, therapists, and staff made the time to come out and donate today. Due to this enthusiastic response, we hope to have another blood drive at a different IBJI location later this fall.”
In the first picture is IBJI’s Dr. Alejandra Rodriguez-Paez who participated in the drive. In the second picture, IBJI’s Dr. Eric Chehab, in red, also participated.
Those who were not able to attend this blood drive are welcome to schedule a donation at any Vitalant Blood Donation center and register using our Group Code 946A. Go to https://vitalant.org to find your local donation center and schedule an appointment.
IBJI CARES Food Donation to Evanston Township School District
May 1, 2020
On the first Friday of May, IBJI CARES teamed up with Produce Alliance to provide fresh produce to 1,600 Evanston-area families experiencing nutritional challenges during this COVID-19 crisis. By covering the cost of a large delivery of fruits and vegetables that cannot currently be served in local restaurants, IBJI CARES was able to help Produce Alliance provide this fresh, nutritious food to the students and families served by the Evanston Township School District. Redirecting excess food from farmers while providing healthy food to our neighbors during these difficult times fits perfectly with the IBJI CARES mission, and we were proud to be a part of this effort!
Read more on Evanston Township High School’s website.
Spikeball Tournament Benefits Glenkirk
February 27, 2020
Our HPI staff was proud to host our second annual IBJI CARES charity spikeball tournament on Saturday, February 22. Thanks to the community who came out to enjoy an exciting competition, with proceeds all going towards IBJI CARES’ 2020 charity partner Glenkirk and their work for the intellectually disabled around Chicagoland. It was an exciting event for a great cause!
IBJI CARES Announces 2020 Partner Charity Organization
January 7, 2020
IBJI CARES (Compassionate Allied Rehab Enabling Society), a 501(c)(3) non-profit affiliate of Illinois Bone and Joint Institute has chosen a partner charity for the year 2020!
The IBJI CARES' mission is to empower our employees and patients to promote the benefits of wellness, healthy movement and positive lifestyles with neighbors near and far through fundraising, education, community outreach and service opportunities. Each year, we choose an existing local charity with which to partner, dedicating a year’s worth of fundraising efforts and hands-on volunteering to that organization to help them achieve their goals.
For the year 2020, the Board of Directors of IBJI CARES is happy to announce our partnership with the Glenkirk foundation. Glenkirk provides quality lifetime support and services to empower our Chicagoland neighbors with intellectual disabilities. We are excited to work to raise funds for Glenkirk this year, and to be actively involved with their amazing organization though hands-on volunteerism using IBJI employees’ own time and abilities.
For more information, please visit the Glenkirk website at glenkirk.org.
IBJI CARES and the IBJI Social Committee team up for a good cause!
Tuesday, October 1
IBJI physicians, therapists and staff came out for a fun afternoon of shuffleboards, drinks, and treats at Royal Palms of Chicago on Saturday, September 21. The event was a blast, and we’re so happy to see our team enjoying each other’s company for a great cause. Thanks to everyone who came!
IBJI CARES Donates Splints, Braces
July 30, 2019
On Friday, July 26, IBJI CARES boxed up approximately 200 surplus splints and braces and shipped them to the World Medical Missions charity organized by Samaritan’s Purse. These items will be sent overseas to developing countries where they can be given to those in need of orthopedic care. IBJI CARES is delighted to be a part of this wonderful effort!
IBJI CARES ‘Day of Service’ a Success!
July 22, 2019
On Saturday, July 20, 38 IBJI physicians, therapists, and staff came out on the hottest day of the year to volunteer at New Life Shelter for the homeless in Chicago! Despite the heat, our hard-working volunteers painted walls and windows, installed a new basketball hoop, deep-cleaned the kitchen, organized the pantry, lay down sport court, moved a gazebo, cleaned ceiling fans, organized the attic, and performed many other odd jobs to help make the shelter more functional and pleasant for the ~18 children and 30+ adults who live there at any given time.
We also donated new toys (a bike, trike, kites, basketball, legos, and other games) to promote active play and healthy movement for the children staying there. We were also able to watch the installation of the new outdoor playset, made possible by the funds IBJI CARES has raised so far this year on behalf of New Life Shelter!
This Day of Service was a meaningful way to demonstrate that our efforts and concern for our community go beyond just donating money, and we were humbled to be able to make a difference for our Chicagoland neighbors in need!
IBJI CARES Open Golf Tournament a Success!
July 3, 2019
The sun broke through a rainy June on the 29th to shine over the first annual IBJI CARES Open charity golf outing! Held at Chevy Chase Country Club, the event welcomed over 130 guests for a delicious lunch, silent auction, and golf tournament. We were honored to host the director and board members of our 2019 target charity, the New Life Shelter of Chicago, for which the event raised $16,000 to help fund major renovations to the shelter’s playground, kitchen, bathrooms, and common areas.
The afternoon was filled with fun, exciting auction items, and prizes for the winning foursome and longest drives! Thank you to all of the IBJI physicians, therapists, and staff who participated and/or volunteered their time to make the day a huge success! We also thank our many corporate sponsors, who so generously donated towards the effort. We can’t wait for next year’s golf outing!
Thank you to our event sponsors:
Advanced Rehabilitation Systems
IBJI Health Performance Institute
John Kosich Commercial Realty
Philanthropic Events
IBJI CARES Bernie’s Book Drive Complete!
Thank you all for an incredibly successful Bernie’s Book Bank Book Drive! Our goal was to collect 2,000 books, and in one month, we didn’t just meet that goal…
We blew it away, with a grand total of 3,936 children’s books donated!
Top Five Clinics
- Libertyville — 515 books
- Glenview — 440 books
- Lindenhurst — 414 books
- Gurnee — 404 books
- Avondale — 361 books
We appreciate everyone who brought in books, made colorful donation boxes for their clinics, and talked up the drive to patients, friends, and neighbors.
Last Saturday, around 35 of us met at Bernie’s Book Bank for a packing session, where we prepped books to be shipped out to underprivileged kids around Chicagoland. We also dropped off our donated books en masse, and their staff were overwhelmed by both the quantity and quality of the books we brought.
Thanks again! We showed in a big way how much IBJI really does “CARE”!
IBJI CARES Donates Crutches Overseas
On March 1, IBJI team members gathered to help box up and ship out the assistive devices collected from patient and clinic donations during the company-wide drive we hosted on behalf of Crutches4Kids this winter. We packed up and loaded onto a truck a total of 86 pairs of crutches, 45 canes, and 16 walkers! They are being trucked to New York, from where they will be shipped to those in need in medically underserved areas of Haiti. IBJI CARES was proud to make this possible and thankful for all those who donated items for this wonderful cause!
IBJI CARES Hosts Charity Spike Ball Fundraiser
IBJI’s own Health Performance Institute teamed up with IBJI CARES to host our very first fundraiser event, with all proceeds going towards our 2019 charity partner, New Life homeless shelter in Chicago. Around thirty junior high and high schoolers from the Chicagoland area competed for the title of North Shore Spike Ball Champions, and competition was intense! Thanks to everyone who came out to play in honor of a great cause, and thanks to all who worked to make the event a success!
To learn more about IBJI CARES’ 2019 charity partner, New Life Shelter / Good News Partners, please visit goodnewspartners.org.
IBJI CARES In The News
Board of Directors
Eric Chehab, MD
Cathy Irwin, PT, OCS, MHS
Anand Vora, MD