The Ernie Banks Live Above and Beyond Foundation™ works to promote social welfare, and improve and develop the capabilities of children and seniors who are underprivileged residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods with donations to programs that enhance neighborhoods, eliminate prejudice and relieve discrimination among various age groups and races.
A new initiative entitled the "Essie Banks Hospice & Palliative Program" was started in June 2010 to honor Ernie's beloved Mother Essie Banks, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 97. The Banks family's experiences led Ernie and his wife Liz to start a fund to help other families cope with the expenses for Palliative
(pre-hospice) care that is typically not covered by Medicare.
Our goal is to
raise $250,000.00 for The International Association f
or Hospice & Palliative Care (IAHPC) to support their efforts to make
the end of life peaceful by including the family as well as the patient
in their care. Through its relationship with The IAHPC, the Ernie Banks Above and Beyond Foundation will help educate family members, caregivers and individuals about palliative care and
hospice care, while also paying for nurses' visits, medications and
supplies until they qualify for hospice care. In addition, this grant
will be used to train the primary caregiver or family member (mini-aide
training) on how to care for a chronically ill person at home.
In keeping with our mission, the Ernie Banks Above and Beyond
Foundation also provides educational scholarships, purchases and donates
sports equipment for under-funded schools, community centers and parks.
We offer seminars to children and seniors, teaching them sports,
fitness, diet, communication and social skills. Each seminar is hosted
by individuals who have prevailed over adversity to become successful in
either sports or the business world.