Community

Gavin Foundation: 40 Years Of Helping South Sububan Youth Succeed In Medicine


Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Most youth in the south suburbs probably don’t know that they have a better chance of becoming a medical doctor than becoming a National Basketball Association player.

The Dr. Charles Gavin Foundation has been working for the past forty years to make this a reality. You too can play a role in making this a reality for a south suburban youth.

This year marks the 40th Dr. Charles E. Gavin Memorial Foundation Annual Medical Scholarship Fund Raising Golf Outing. This annual fundraiser is one of the oldest and longest running golf outings in the south suburbs.

The memory of Dr. Charles Gavin is still perpetuated in the south suburbs forty years later through his Memorial Foundation that not only provides medical scholarships to promising young medical students, but also serves the communities with charitable, educational, cultural and social endeavors that support and promote all people.  This annual golf outing is the major fund raising activity of the Gavin Foundation.

If you would like to support this Memorial Foundation join them on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at Odyssey Country Club, 19110 Ridgeland Ave, Tinley Park, IL 60477 or send a tax-deductible contribution to the Dr. Charles Gavin Foundation, P.O. Box 368, Park Forest, Illinois 60466. 

Your contribution will help to continue the long and distinguished work of the Gavin foundation. No contribution is too small. Small donations eventually add up to huge sums.

Dan Graham, Golf Chairperson, can be reached at 708/748-3594, or Ernie Davis at 708-748-2408 for additional information.

Dr. Charles Gavin grew up and lived in Chicago Heights, Illinois until his untimely death on January 9, 1971 at 44 years of age.  He left a wide and deep impact on the lives of so many people from all walks of life.  As an African-American growing up in the 1930’s and ‘40’s during severe economic and social times in Chicago Heights, “Buddy” as he was affectionately called, had all the attributes of being young and gifted. He was educated in School District 170 and graduated from Bloom Township High School with high honors.  

While at Bloom High School his outstanding academic performance earned him admission into the National Scholastic Honor Society which marked the first time an African-American student at the school had gained admission.  After servicing in World War II, Charles enrolled at the University of Illinois and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with high honors in three years.  He received an academic scholarship and attended the University of Chicago obtaining a Master’s degree in inorganic chemistry.  Charles earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois becoming one of the first African Americans to become a certified orthopedic surgeon.

However what made Dr. Charles Gavin outstanding was not all of his academic accomplishments, but what he gave back to the community and most importantly to every person who was touched by his humanitarianism and his life long dedication to serving their needs whether they could pay for his services or not. All people regardless of their socio-economic status, race or creed received outstanding quality medical care with respect and dignity from Dr. Gavin.  He felt that human beings deserved good medical care to improve their quality of life.

Charles Gavin epitomized the twin values of academic excellence and social responsibility.

Moreover, the Gavin family has a long and distinguished history of academic excellence ad community service in Chicago Heights and the south suburbs. His brother Marvin Gavin was a judge in the Sixth District court in Markham. Dr. Katherine Gavin, a sister of Dr. Gavin, teaches at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.

Dr. Leonard Robinson, the son of Dr. Gavin’s sister, Yvonne, practices medicine in Matteson. He plays a leading role in the Gavin Foundation.

Dr. Charles Gavin saw a need for quality health care and took steps to address the issues by helping to create more competent and enlightened professionals.

Over the past forty years, the Gavin Foundation has provided assistance to numerous south suburban youths to pursue careers in medicine. The Gavin Foundation can be viewed as a major resource in the fight against the healthcare crisis in America.

One of the key elements in the improvement of community health is the community itself. We, as individuals, families, congregations, educators, health care professionals, business people and members of the broader south suburban community, should take up the challenge of supporting community based institutions like the Gavin Foundation.

For the golfers, the Gavin Outing is an excellent reason for getting out on the links.

For non golfers, a contribution to the Gavin Foundation is an investment in the future. It is an investment in human capital that will pay dividends to the region for years to come.


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