Alumni at Work

In Philanthropy
 

Amanda Cage is helping to improve community life in Chicago and throughout the country, working with organizations to help build capacity and with stakeholders to seek policies that alleviate the problems of poverty.

Having started her career working on issues of low-wage and immigrant workers, Cage notes that she now has a greater impact on these issues because she’s focused on systemic change. “As a program officer, I have a comprehensive view of the efforts (both public and private) being made to address our society’s most pressing social problems. I am also able grant financial support to nonprofit agencies that are doing the best work.” -EC

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“One of the things I enjoy most is educating people living with HIV/AIDS on policy issues and how it impacts their daily lives—and most importantly, the role that they can play in changing policy.”

A state lobbyist responsible for developing a state policy agenda, shepherding it through the legislature, and then making sure it gets implemented, Peller is passionate about what he does.

“I have always been interested in health policy issues, and particularly healthcare for low-income populations. Illinois has a comparatively well-funded, stable system of care for people living with HIV, and a solid HIV-prevention infrastructure. But could we do more? Absolutely.” -EC

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“I wanted to work for a foundation because I was intrigued by the potential to use private funds to leverage change for children and families.”

And as head of a foundation focused on the health and well-being of infants, children, and their families, Phyllis Glink is able to do just that.

“I find it challenging and stimulating to use strategic grantmaking to change the public’s understanding and investment in young children,” she said. Research has shown that “the first three years of life are critical to brain development. Yet, there is a huge gap between what we know and what our policies and programs support.” -EC

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Head of a philanthropy spearheading programs in healthcare access, community emergency response, and the health of older adults and children, Richard Krieg is most excited about improving community health and safety.

Working with organizational leaders, “we are trying to revolutionize how a community can stay intact following a major disaster,” Krieg explained.

He credits his education with giving him the tools to seek change. “Horizon isn’t bashful about activism in the health policy arena. We often fund multiple service delivery organizations and agencies while simultaneously seeking change at the policy level. I learned many of these skills at the Harris School.” -EC

* Additional alumni at the McCormick Tribune Foundation include: Andrea Jett, MPP’02, and Kathleen Margaret Praznowski, MPP’02