Hedge Funds Care Midwest will be supporting 17 groups working to address the effects of child abuse during the 2012-2013 grants period.

The nine continuing grants and eight new grants total USD620,000, donated by hedge fund industry participants.

Hedge Funds Care grants are awarded to charitable organisations in the following areas that address child abuse: education, prevention, intervention, research, advocacy, and training.

Current Midwest beneficiaries are Brighton Park Neighbuorhood Council, Casa Central Social Service, Chicago Child Care Society, Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County, Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois, Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, The Family Defense Center, Family Service Agency of Waukesha County, Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Imagination Theater, Juvenile Protection Association, La Rabida Children's Hospital, North American Alliance of Child Helplines/BeCause Foundation, Teen Parent Connection, The Thresholds, Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center.

“This extension of our grants program marks a further significant step forward in our drive to help prevent child abuse wherever and whenever we can, and to mitigate its impact on victims through intervention in the dreadful cases where prevention proves impossible,” says Benji Wolken, co-chair of the Hedge Funds Care Midwest Committee of Hearts.

“The successes that have been achieved to date by the programs in which we participate mean we are more determined than ever to continue helping expert agencies and their inspirational staff in their invaluable work,” says Dean Backer, who became the president of Hedge Funds Care in November. “Thank you to the generous support of our industry donors, who provide incredible leadership as well as financial contributions. Without that support this good work would not be possible.”