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Instituto del Progreso Latino receives a $20,000 grant

CHICAGO — Instituto del Progreso Latino received a $20,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and NASCAR Chicago Street Race. The organizations are teaming up to provide education, training and workforce opportunities to Chicagoland residents and their families.

“Our grant to Instituto is driven by our continued commitment to the communities we serve,” said BCBSIL President Brian Snell. “Helping to provide resources for sustainable careers helps those individuals build physical and financial security, which improves their overall well-being.”

As part of its efforts to improve health equity statewide, BCBSIL provides support to community organizations dedicated to upskilling, developing career paths and providing resources like education and training to help people build stable careers. The Instituto grant supports its nursing program, which will create sustainable careers for its participants and help replenish the health care workforce. 

“We are profoundly grateful to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and NASCAR for this gift to Instituto,” said Karina Ayala-Bermejo, president and CEO of Instituto del Progreso Latino. “This investment directly supports our efforts and Instituto’s college nursing programs, expanding opportunities for students to enter the health care workforce and serve our communities. With support from NASCAR and Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we can fasttrack the preparation of new nurses and keep our community’s health care workforce moving forward at full speed."

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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurer in Illinois, serving nine million members and operating in all 102 Illinois counties. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at bcbsil.com and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn

About Instituto del Progreso Latino
Instituto del Progreso Latino is a leading Chicago nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of Latino and immigrant families through education, workforce development, and community empowerment. Its programs create opportunities for individuals of all ages to succeed in school, careers, and civic life.

About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.

Media Contacts

BCBSIL
Tricia Ament
918-261-7548
media@bcbsil.com

Instituto del Progreso Latino
Carlos Jaramillo
773-890-0055 ext. 4509
C.jaramillo@idpl.org