American Cancer Society Secures $25M for Chicago Hope Lodge

• 5700 S. Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, IL: The American Cancer Society is planning a new six-story Hope Lodge in Hyde Park, replacing an existing apartment building near the Museum of Science and Industry.
• $25 million gift: Kimberly Duchossois and her family committed $25 million toward the project, bringing the fundraising campaign closer to its approximately $82 million goal. The facility will be named the Beverly and Richard Duchossois Hope Lodge Chicago.
• UChicago Medicine partnership: UChicago Medicine is providing the site through a long-term lease and contributed $5 million, while Rush University System for Health is also supporting the project. The lodge will provide free lodging and support services for cancer patients and caregivers traveling to Chicago for treatment.

What The American Cancer Society Is Planning

The American Cancer Society is advancing plans for Hope Lodge Chicago, a new short-term lodging facility at 5700 S. Stony Island Avenue in Hyde Park. The site sits directly across from the Museum of Science and Industry and Jackson Park, placing the future facility near major medical, cultural and transportation destinations on Chicago's South Side.

 

 

What The Hope Lodge Will Provide

The six-story project will replace an existing five-story apartment building with accommodations for cancer patients and their caregivers who travel to Chicago for treatment. Hope Lodge facilities provide free lodging, allowing patients to remain near treatment without taking on hotel expenses. The Chicago location will also include communal spaces and a Cancer Wellness Hub offering resources focused on nutrition, physical activity, stress management and social connection.

 

 

What The $25 Million Gift Means

The $25 million Duchossois family gift is the largest philanthropic commitment announced for the Chicago project so far. The donation moves the ACS closer to its approximately $82 million fundraising target.

Kimberly Duchossois said, “It is extremely gratifying to see this dream finally coming to fruition”, referencing her longtime effort to bring a Hope Lodge to Chicago.

The facility will be named the Beverly and Richard Duchossois Hope Lodge Chicago, honoring Duchossois' parents.

 

 

What UChicago Medicine Adds

UChicago Medicine is providing the development site through a long-term lease and has committed $5 million to the campaign. Rush University System for Health and other community partners have also contributed, bringing previously announced commitments above $10 million before the Duchossois gift. The location is particularly strategic because Chicago serves patients traveling from across Illinois, the Midwest and beyond for specialized cancer treatment and clinical trials.

 

 

What The Project Means For Hyde Park

Hope Lodge Chicago will become the 32nd Hope Lodge community in the American Cancer Society's nationwide network. The existing 31 facilities provide free lodging to more than 36,000 cancer patients and caregivers annually, according to ACS. The project will also add a community-focused wellness component to Hyde Park while supporting the area's growing medical and institutional ecosystem. No construction timeline has been announced yet, as fundraising and project planning continue.