Chicago has long been one of America’s great golf cities. The roots run deep. Chicago Golf Club introduced the nation’s first 18-hole course in 1892, and more than a century later, the region remains one of the country’s most vibrant golf markets. Hundreds of public courses stretch across the metropolitan area, ranging from championship-caliber tournament […]
Housing and mental health care are often treated as separate challenges. For veterans, they rarely are. As communities across the country look for better ways to support veterans, two Chicago organizations, both Make It Better Foundation 2026 Philanthropy Award winners, are demonstrating what a more integrated approach can look like. Rush University’s Road Home Program […]
“She called me ‘string bean‘ because I was skinny and awkward growing up,” says Ashley, reflecting on her grandmother. “She was one of the few people who understood me. She told me to pursue writing, to become a journalist.” Today, that formidable woman who spoke multiple languages and shaped Ashley’s career path sometimes forgets that […]
In the summer before college, 17-year-old Carly Siegel felt a slight tingling in her finger. It was easy to dismiss — a small, fleeting sensation on an otherwise ordinary day. But Carly mentioned it to her mom while they were sitting in the car, and together they decided to have it checked out. That one […]
At 2 a.m., a mother rocks her crying two-month-old, exhausted and unsure what to do next. She tries soothing, then distraction, then silence. Nothing works. By morning, guilt sets in. She wonders, like so many caregivers: Why didn’t anyone teach me how to do this? Most people will one day be responsible for another person, […]
“I felt misunderstood for so much of my life,” says Monique*, reflecting on years of therapy before receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult. She was labeled lazy by teachers, and what seemed easy for peers felt difficult for her. Monique felt she had to mask her differences to fit in. It was exhausting. Autism […]
This month, the Alzheimer’s Association — a 2026 Philanthropy Award winner — raised a record-breaking $640,000 with support from Make It Better! The Power of Purple: A Reason to Hope Luncheon took place in Chicago earlier this month, raising funds for Alzheimer’s and dementia care, support, and research. Make It Better staff were honored to […]
Amplifying the authentic connections and good intentions of people gathered around any table — at home, work, or in your community — through helpful actions and virtuous circles of freely available content can lead to meaningful, measurable change. What starts small can joyfully snowball! Our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association is proof. It started with […]
Dr. Mojgan Makki, Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with Psychiatry Studio in Chicago, was treating an adolescent patient with ADHD. The patient experienced serious side effects from the oral medication, requiring Dr. Makki to pursue the next clinically appropriate plan: a transdermal patch for ADHD treatment. “Time was of the essence,” says Dr. Makki. […]
Alzheimer’s, one of the most common forms of dementia, affects more than 6.9 million Americans. It’s a complex and debilitating condition, but for millions of families, Alzheimer’s disease does not arrive as a surprise. It is a genetic condition that researchers can now predict through genetic testing. A simple genetic test can reveal whether someone […]
