Andrew Florin is a medical student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Out of gratitude for the tireless support from his many teachers, mentors, and family members, Andrew will develop and implement an after-school literacy program for the first, second, and third grade children of low-income and underserved Latinx families at the Erie Neighborhood House in West Town. He believes that every child, regardless of circumstance, deserves an opportunity to become a curious, confident, and passionate reader, and in order to bring this vision to life, he seeks to raise $3100 for project expenses: $2000 for age-appropriate books, both for the children to keep and for the communal Erie Neighborhood House reading room that will be used throughout the program, $300 for child-sized tables, $300 for bean bag chairs, $250 for whiteboards, $150 for bookshelves, and $100 for a mid-year pizza party to reward the hard-working little readers.

For all donors interested, Andrew will be creating an email list which will provide update photos throughout the year of how their donations have contributed to the success of the project.

The Schweitzer Fellowship is a year-long service learning program for graduate students in health-related professions who will design and implement innovative direct service projects aimed at improving the health and well-being of underserved Chicago area communities. Through their community projects and participation in a year-long program that includes mentoring support, monthly meetings, written reflection, and interprofessional collaboration, Schweitzer Fellows are developing the skills and confidence needed to become Leaders in Service—professionals who will remain dedicated to public service and to creating change.

In the summer of 2016, the Schweitzer Fellows for Life network launched FellowsFest 2016 (formerly Summer Fest), a campaign to help support our current Fellows' projects. Each of the Fellows has created a "wish list" of supplies and resources that will help them realize their service project goals.

The Chicago Areas Schweitzer Fellowship is a program of Health & Medicine Policy Research Group. Your Summer Fest donation will appear on your credit card statement at "Health & Medicine."