Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

---

Organization Name: First Ladies Health Initiative
Legal Name (if Different): First Ladies Health Alliance, NFP
Also Known As: FLHI
Mailing Address: 122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1390
City: Chicago
State: IL
Postal Code: 60603
Main Phone: (312) 470-0270
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.firstladieshealth.com/
Employer ID Number: 45-4425973
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)3

Proposal Information

---

Today’s Date: 3/11/26
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: She Thrives: Health, Leadership & Resilience for Chicago’s Adolescent Girls
Project Description:

First Ladies Health Initiative’s (FLHI) program, She Thrives is a 12-month community-based initiative empowering 120 adolescent girls (ages 13–18) from Chicago’s South and West Side communities to strengthen their health literacy, leadership capacity, and self-advocacy. The program integrates culturally responsive education in menstrual and reproductive health, mental wellness, nutrition, and preventive care with leadership development and mentorship to equip girls to reach their full potential and positively influence their families and neighborhoods.

Girls will participate in monthly Leadership Circles facilitated by clinicians, community mentors, and leaders trained in adolescent health, including Dr. Kamala Chambers, founder of The White Dress Project. Dr. Chambers’ curriculum will be woven into selected sessions to address body image, self-acceptance, trauma recovery, and dignity, all critical components of wellness that support girls’ overall health and empowerment.

The program will include quarterly Teen Health Access & Wellness Days to reinforce preventive care with blood pressure screenings, nutrition counseling, mental health resource navigation, and adolescent-friendly health education. During winter months, Virtual Coffee Chats will provide supplemental engagement and peer support. Our Teen Ambassador Leadership Track enables girls to co-design sessions, mentor peers, and plan a community showcase highlighting their voices, projects, and leadership growth. Family engagement workshops will support guardian understanding of adolescent health and wellness.

FLHI looks to empower adolescent girls to advocate for their own health, to lead in their school and community and to support other girls’ wellness and success. Through Monthly Safe Space Leadership Circles, Specialized Menstrual Health Sessions with Dr. Chambers, and Teen Health and Wellness Days, She Thrives is a program that provides girls with the knowledge, confidence and support required to overcome the barriers to health, education leadership.

Total Project Budget: $48,500

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Obama Foundation: Girls Opportunity Alliance – Potential, Lumena Foundation – Potential

Project Duration: 12 months
Geographical Area Served: Chicago’s South and West Side neighborhoods
Age Group To Be Served: 13 through 18 year old adolescent girls

Contact Information

---

Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mrs.
Contact First Name: Sharon
Contact Last Name: Brown
Contact Title: Director of Development
Contact Phone: 847-421-0499
Contact Email: sbrown@firstladieshealth.com