Today we’d like to introduce you to Utica J. Gray, PhD.
Dr. Gray, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Carbondale (in downstate Illinois), but I have spent the majority of my life in the Chicago area. I attended elementary, middle, and high school in Evanston. Upon graduation from Evanston Township High School, I attended Northwestern University. I am a graduate of Northwestern University and hold a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology; a Master of Science in Human Services Administration from Spertus College; and a PhD in Business Administration with a Public Administration concentration from Northcentral University. The focus of my dissertation was the role of government funding, organizational age, and benefits to organizations as they pertain to nonprofit mergers during recessionary times. I have 17 years of nonprofit development experience in the areas of developmental disabilities, adoption, homelessness, education, senior services and healthcare. My career has allowed me to spearhead the development of long-term strategic plans for many large organizations. I have successfully increased community and volunteer engagement, improved fiscal stability, and secured new and recurring funding. My continued success is rooted in my ability to lead extensive program evaluations, oversee team and volunteer management, and direct fundraising efforts. I am experienced in nonprofit mergers, strategic planning, leadership, and management. I currently serve as the Chicago Regional Director for Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation. What began as a start-up organization in June 2014 has been transformed into a thriving and award-winning organization under my leadership.
I have been married for nearly 15 years to my husband, Jameel. We are parents to our 12-year-old daughter, Inaya, and our 9-year-old son, Jayvyn. I enjoy actively serving as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Chi Omega Chapter (Evanston, Illinois) and as the Leader of Girl Scout Troop #75142 (Bolingbrook, Illinois). I also enjoy cake decorating and belly dancing in my spare time.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The greatest challenge Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation (FSCFKF) faces is its lack of notoriety in the Chicago area due to its existence of less than four years. Fresh Start’s short existence in Chicago initially affected our ability to fundraise and recruit patients. Many patient families were (and sometimes continue to be) skeptical that an organization actually exists to provide reconstructive and medical services to disadvantaged children at no cost to their families. People’s perceptions change immediately after they hear the first-hand stories about how Fresh Start has transformed the lives of disadvantaged children. As such, our goal is to continue to increase our ability to have those first-hand stories heard. Only then will Fresh Start flourish in the Chicago area to the best of its ability. The first year of Fresh Start’s existence in Chicago was devoted to laying the groundwork for the organization — hiring staff, creating a website and marketing materials, creating social media presence, planning events, and conducting three Surgery Weekends. It was necessary to lay the groundwork during the first year to ensure that the organization would be built upon a strong foundation. Now that the initial groundwork has been laid, we plan to continue to direct our attention to building awareness of our services and our unique model of professional medical, volunteer-driven service delivery. We would like to continue to “get the word out” about our services, recruit patients in need of our services, and to raise funds to support our efforts.
Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
In 2010, Fresh Start Surgical Gifts began a brand new collaboration with The Plastic Surgery Foundation to expand the Fresh Start model of no-cost pediatric reconstructive surgery delivery nationally through the creation of the Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation, with the initial site expansion taking place at The University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) Comer Children’s Hospital.
The mission of Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation is to transform the lives of disadvantaged infants, children, and teens suffering from physical deformities caused by birth defects, accidents, abuse, or disease through the gift of reconstructive surgery and related healthcare services. Fresh Start accomplishes its mission through the Surgery Weekend Program, which transforms the lives of low-income, uninsured, and underinsured children with physical deformities through comprehensive healthcare treatments at no cost to the children and their families. The Surgery Weekend Program includes reconstructive surgeries, health education, and many other medical services that treat all aspects of a deformity. Medical procedures are performed by an all-volunteer team of medical specialists who treat a wide range of conditions which affect children’s health, quality of life, and self-esteem. Fresh Start provides no-cost medical care to empowering children to become healthy, confident, and productive adults.
Fresh Start’s no-cost specialty services provide patients with personalized and individualized care that often cannot be found at other healthcare organizations or state-funded programs. Many of the procedures performed by Fresh Start are deemed as “cosmetic” by many health insurance companies and are not covered by insurance. Such insurance coverage denials cause financial burdens to the patients and their families. Fresh Start also maintains long-term relationships with patients. Even years after they have completed the Program, patients still receive follow-up evaluations and personalized care to ensure that they continue on a healthy path well into adulthood. Fresh Start is the only plastic surgery organization that provides organized care for children in the United States.
The first Chicago Surgery Weekend took place June 7-8, 2014. Twelve Surgery Weekends have been held to-date in Chicago. Surgery Weekends are held three times per year at The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital with an approximately 16-week cycle surrounding each weekend. Each cycle includes follow-ups, consultations, patient and volunteer outreach, Medical Program Committee review, and other medical services. We are extremely fortunate to have Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Russell Reid, serving as the Inaugural Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation Medical Director, and the assistance of so many committed UCM administrators and medical volunteers who ensure the success of our program in Chicago.
Prospective patients may apply for services via Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation’s website, (http://www.freshstartkids.org/get-help/); applications are available in both English and Spanish. Those who are interested in supporting our mission financially may donate via the website (http://www.freshstartkids.org/donate/) . All of the overhead and administrative expenses for Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation are covered by Fresh Start Surgical Gifts and The Plastic Surgery Foundation, so that 100% of every donation directly benefits the medical needs of our patients.
Accomplishments:
Sixty-nine patients have been served by Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation and more than $2 million has been provided in donated medical care since its Chicago inception in June 2014.
Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation’s first three Celebrity Golf Classics – Hosted by Jermaine Dye (Chicago White Sox, 2005 World Series MVP) raised nearly $85,000 to benefit the Foundation. Nearly 45 celebrity golfers as well as Fresh Start supporters joined us to raise money to give children with deformities a fresh start in life. The 4th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic – Hosted by Jermaine Dye (Chicago White Sox, 2005 World Series MVP) will be held at The Glen Club (2901 West Lake Avenue, Glenview, Illinois 60026 ) on Monday, June 11, 2018. Additional information may be found at http://www.freshstartkids.org/events/. The Pre-Tournament Party for the Celebrity Golf Classic will be held on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at Rivers Casino (3000 S. River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018).
In November 2015, Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation was named the winner of the Make It Better Foundation 2015 Philanthropy Award – Health & Wellness.
Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation was a finalist for the Axelson Center 2016 Excellent Emerging Organization Award.
The role of luck – what role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
I do not feel that “luck” has played a role in my life. I feel that God has placed the right opportunities, the right people, and the right mentorship in my life as He has deemed fit. I do not consider them “luck”; I instead consider them blessings. I have been blessed, and I have made it my duty both in my professional and personal life to share my blessings with others.
Contact Info:
- Address: Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation, c/o The Plastic Surgery Foundation, 444 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
- Website: http://www.freshstartkids.org/
- Phone: (844) 374-5437
- Email: info@freshstartkids.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fresh-Start-Caring-For-Kids-Foundation-1536953619898231/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreshStartKids
Image Credit:
Martika P. Gartman Photography and Danny Diaz Photography
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