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The Franciscan Health Foundation has introduced a new initiative named Carmen's Giving Tree to support new mothers at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields. This program provides essential items such as car seats and diapers to mothers at no cost. It honors Carmen Freilich, a former nurse, and long-time employee who dedicated her four-decade career to women's healthcare.
Carmen Freilich began her journey in the early 1980s at the former Olympia Fields Osteopathic Hospital as a Lamaze teacher, later becoming the manager of Women's Health and Related Services. In 1989, she established The Woman's Place at Olympia Fields hospital, a clinic focusing on holistic care for women.
Her daughter, Kristen Himmerick, shared, "The center was focused on treating the whole person and provided women and new mothers with a library of resources long before the internet was widely available, (including) a nurse to answer questions and an easy way to schedule necessary services." Himmerick added, "She identified a gap in women's healthcare and created The Woman's Place to help meet the health needs of women."
Freilich was a graduate of the Columbia University nursing school in 1959. She worked in New York before moving to Illinois with her husband, Dr. Theodore Freilich, and spent the last 20 years of her career at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields. In remembrance of her dedication, her family established Carmen's Giving Tree to continue her legacy of support and service following her passing in 2022.
Himmerick reflected, "(My Mom) was a strong believer in giving, even when she was on a fixed income. She believed that women deserved access to healthcare and supported many charities for women and children." During a recent event, Franciscan Health Olympia Fields dedicated a memorial in Freilich's honor at the Family Birth Center, which was attended by many, including former patients and colleagues. Himmerick expressed her pride, saying, "I am proud that Franciscan Health will still be serving women and new mothers in my mom's name 40 years after she founded The Woman’s Place."
Laurie Crosby, Executive Director of the Franciscan Health Foundation of South Suburban Chicago, thanked the Himmerick family for their charitable contribution. Crosby stated, "Kristen's impactful memorial gift not only continues her mom's legacy of selfless giving but truly allows her to live on in the lives of the babies who will benefit from Carmen's Giving Tree."
Individuals interested in supporting Carmen's Giving Tree can contribute through the Franciscan Health Foundation website or by phone.
