Each year 1,000 more patients in need of holistic care receive treatment at Core El Centro as a result of financing from IFF for leasehold improvements and equipment to build out and furnish the new space in the Clock Shadow building. Annually, Core El Centro now serves nearly 3,000 clients, of whom 90% are low-income and 79% are Latino.
The holistic health center is one of seven nonprofits in the one square mile neighborhood of Walker’s Point in Milwaukee, WI, to receive over $7 million in loans from IFF to improve their facilities as well as preserve the area’s historic landscape and cultural diversity. IFF also financed Walker’s Point Center for the Arts’ first building, which offers room for an after-school arts program for children and a gallery for local artists.
Seeds of Health and Escuela Verde, both charter schools in high-need areas, benefited from IFF’s services and expertise. The loan helped Seeds of Health to refinance existing high-cost debt as well as acquire and build out a Milwaukee Community Cyber High School. IFF’s financing for Escuela Verde enabled the small school to temporarily relocate within Walker’s Point. Other projects to receive assistance from IFF include La Causa, Next Act Theatre, and Radio Milwaukee.
Five years after opening its Milwaukee office, IFF’s work in Walker’s Point illustrates its commitment to comprehensive community development, particularly in the areas of education and health.