Healthy Community Commission
In January 2008, the Silver Cross Hospital Board of Trustees and local community leaders launched a new not-for-profit organization called the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission. The Commission is chaired by Derrick Brown and currently has 16 members who represent the interests of constituencies on Joliet’s east side.
Our Mission
The Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission is a community-based organization committed to creating a stronger, healthier future by providing support for education, workforce development training, and enrichment activities for youth, to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve.
Our Accomplishments
The work of the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission has led the Veteran’s Administration to open a mega-outpatient clinic for area Veterans in the former Silver Cross Emergency Department. This facility opened on March 11, 2013. Silver Cross fulfilled its promise to the community that convenient medical services would continue to be available in the neighborhood by bringing in Aunt Martha’s to open a federally qualified healthcare center on the old hospital campus. Called the Joliet Community Health Center, this 20,000-square-foot facility opened in the spring of 2013 providing medical, dental, and behavioral health services to the area’s poor and underinsured.
The Commission also heard the cry of the veterans. Through a partnership with Volunteers of America, Hope Manor Joliet was built. Hope Manor Joliet is a three-story, 67-unit multi-family housing development strategically located on eight acres of land donated by Silver Cross Hospital. The housing is within walking distance of the Veterans Clinic. The complex offers housing targeting veterans with disabilities, who are homeless or at high risk of homelessness. The development opened in August 2017. Volunteers of America recently opened Hope Manor Joliet, with 67 units of permanent supportive housing for our veterans.
Grants & Scholarships
Since 2008, the Commission has awarded over $3.25 million in educational scholarships, workforce development, and quality of life grants to numerous east-side Joliet residents and organizations such as:
The Commission has truly been a vibrant connection between the Hospital and the residents of Joliet’s east side by making great strides in improving the quality of life for area residents by awarding grants to not-for-profit organizations that support directly and indirectly individuals residing in zip codes within the zip codes of 60432, 60433, 60436, 60441 (Fairmont) areas. The organization must have a non-for-profit status as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is classified as a publicly supported organization within the meaning of Sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)[vi] of the Code.
Grants
Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission Grant (Dec 1 to Jan 15, 2026)
- To apply for the HCC Grant, please click here.
- The grant must align with our main initiatives.
- Workforce Development
- Quality of Life
- Educational Scholarship Program
Scholarships
Board of Directors
The Healthy Community Commission's Board of Directors is comprised of community and hospital leaders.
- Derrick Brown, Chairman
- Betty Washington, Secretary/Treasurer
- Manuela Botello
- Edna Brass
- Herbert Brooks, Jr.
- Cesar Cardenas
- Wynter Jackson
- Mark Jepson, Vice President of Operations, Silver Cross Hospital
- Hugo Manzo
- Michael Mutterer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Silver Cross Hospital
- Scott Paddock, Senior Vice President of External Affairs, Silver Cross Hospital
- Kathy Pecora
- Dr. Gamilah Pierre
- Debra Upshaw
- Dr. Mario Villamar
- Diana Viveros
- Rev. Bennie Yarbough
- Richard Brandolino (Emeritus)
Contact Information
To contact the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission, please email Leslie Newbon, Manager of Marketing & Community Relations at Lnewbon@silvercross.org.
