Created in 1951, the Crane Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that focuses its donations on aiding underserved communities, natural disaster relief, and education. Donations are made to 501(c)(3)s and equivalent foreign organizations, working with partners such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. The Foundation supports Crane associates through a matching gifts program as well; providing a 1:1 match for any donation made by an associate to an accredited US educational institution.
Partnerships Honoring Our Founder
R.T. Crane Medical Prep High School
We are incredibly grateful to The Crane Foundation for its support of our students who are passionate about science and medicine but may not otherwise have the resources to pursue their career goals. We are equally thrilled to launch this program to develop important, real-world career skills as students earn certifications in Revenue Cycle Management, one of the fastest-growing fields in healthcare today.
– Fareeda Shabazz, former Principal of Richard T. Crane
Medical Prep High School.
In 1891, Crane introduced manual training to Chicago’s grade schools, eventually establishing five such schools during his lifetime, and donating liberally for scholarships to help train public school teachers in mechanical instruction. In 1903, the English High and Manual Training School was renamed Crane Technical Prep School in honor of R.T. Crane; the school is now known as the Richard T. Crane Medical Preparatory School (RTC). RTC is a magnet high school that offers a full and articulated college preparatory curriculum and rigorous career coursework focused on the health sciences to students across the city. This curriculum includes a comprehensive science and mathematics sequence and competitive dual enrollment and Advanced Placement courses which arm students with an essential academic foundation.
In 2021, Crane Co. discovered this school and the connected history and decided to form a partnership to support the school’s students by sponsoring a summer program for valuable experience-based learning opportunities and applicable certifications. The donation made covered all costs for the administration of and equipment for a Revenue Cycle Management certification training program. The program consisted of a six-week internship, including shadowing sessions with medical professionals, workforce development sessions, a lecture series on a variety of healthcare professions, and clinical workshops. This program is hosted by the Chicago-Based Rush University Medical Center and Lurie Children’s Hospital. Throughout the program, students receive training, support, and professional experience to help them develop employable skills in the healthcare industry, and upon receiving their certifications in Revenue Cycle Management, students are well positioned for strong career opportunities. All course materials and equipment are provided to participants free of charge.
While the inaugural program took place in 2021 with 16 students participating, the Crane Foundation renewed the funding to sponsor the program again in 2022. In addition, the Foundation has expanded its 2022 contributions to include sponsorship for additional certifications, tutoring, and new STEM lab equipment for the school’s students.
You can read more about the start of this relationship and the school in the press release issued in March of 2021.