Our History
Serving Kids for 100+ Years
The IWS Children’s Clinic is operated by the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society (OPRF IWS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to children's well-being for over 100 years. OPRF IWS began as a milk station in the early 1900s, a time when many children died from preventable diseases, often due to a lack of clean milk. Seeking solutions, members of the Chicago Women’s Club organized milk stations where mothers could access safe milk for little or no cost. In January 1916, the Oak Park River Forest station of the Infant Welfare Society was established.
Today, OPRF IWS is located at 28 Madison Street in Oak Park, Illinois where our warm and welcoming IWS Children’s Clinic is housed.
OPRF IWS continues to fulfill its mission to advance the health and wellbeing of children in need through a variety of programs including the IWS Children’s Clinic and Portable Dentistry. Our work is possible through thoughtful donations — join the cause!
Mission
To advance the health and well-being of children in need
Vision
Healthy children growing into
healthy and productive adults
Values
Compassion, Inclusion, Excellence, Collaboration, & Stewardship
Generosity Makes It Possible
The work of OPRF IWS is powered by dedicated volunteers and staff, generous donors, engaged partners and enlightened communities who agree that sustaining the health of our community's at-risk children is a critical investment in the future.
We are grateful to our many donors and funders for their support:
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Andrew and Alice Fischer Charitable Foundation, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation, Berwyn CDBG, Berwyn CMHB, Carl R. Hendrickson Foundation, Chicago Board of Trade, Children's Care Foundation, Community Memorial Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Donley Foundation, Fred J. Brunner Foundation, George Eisenberg Foundation, Healthier Smiles Program, ICAAP, IDPH OHPP, Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation, Jackson Community Grant, Laughing Acres Family Foundation, Montgomery A. Ward Foundation, Oak Park CDBG, Oak Park Rotary, Oberweiler Foundation, Oak Park CMHB, OPRF Community Foundation - Future Philanthropists Program, River Forest Mental Health Committee, State of Illinois, Turano Foundation, United Way of Metro Chicago, Walmart Local Community Grant, Washington Square Health Foundation, Westlake Health Foundation.
