Frequently Asked Questions
Sports and Recreation Questions
Fitness Center Questions
3. Where is the Galvin Health and Fitness Center?
4. How many times a week should I exercise in order to lose weight or get rid of excess body fat?
Membership Questions
General Questions
We are very fortunate to be supported by a number of generous organizations including: Chicago Blackhawk Charities and Cubs Care. In addition, the RIC Women's Board and the John Dolan Golf Challenge help to support our programs.
Visit our Community Partner and Sponsor page for a complete list of sponsors and community partners that contribute to the success of our programs.
Yes and No.
If you are a regular participant with one of our sports teams, you may be eligible to participate on that team's travel squad. Not all participants travel to all competitions. Travel rosters for each competition are decided by the team's head coach and is based on a number of factors including but not limited to: funding, type of competition, and a player's performance and participation in practice.
The Galvin Health and Fitness Center is located on the 3rd floor of Abbott Hall, 710 North Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL. The entrance is located on Huron Street.
Abbott Hall is just east of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's main hospital at 345 East Superior Street.
This depends upon several factors including an individual's overall activity level, initial fitness level and health history. Generally, working out two times per week is sufficient for a beginner to receive both cardiovascular and weight loss benefits.
For more fitness related questions and answers, visit our Fitness FAQ.
The RIC Helen M. Galvin Center for Health and Fitness requires a one-time only initiation fee to join the program. The fee must accompany the medical form for it to be processed. The initiation fee is as follows:
RIC patient referral (medical form completed by a RIC physician) - $20
Non-RIC patient referral (medical form completed by a non-RIC physician) - $35
Once an applicant has paid their initiation fee and their application has been approved, the member will receive an initial evaluation to determine the correct exercise prescription and a second one-on-one appointment with one of our professional fitness staff to acquaint the member with the equipment in the fitness center.
There is still no monthly charge for the fitness facility. However, there is a yearly maintenance fee of $30 that helps us with maintaining the equipment and facility. The maintenance fee is due from September 1st of each year and no later than December 31st. Maintenance fees paid after December 31st are assessed a $10 late charge in addition to the $30 maintenance fee.
For more information, visit the membership page.
No. An individual with a physical disability is eligible to participate in any of our programs. Please click here for a complete list of the conditions served by the RIC Sports and FItness Program.All participants must submit a completed RIC Sports nad Fitness Medical Form signed by a doctor before participation.
Yes, although participants for research studies are screened very closely because of the extreme physical exertion needed for the fitness testing, individuals found ineligible for research studies are invited to participate in any of our other programs.
Yes and No.
We DO NOT provide transportation to and from the Fitness Center or any of our regularly scheduled practices or programs. Participants must arrange their own transportation.
Yes, we usually provide transportation if you are traveling with an RIC team to and from an out-of-town competition.
Thank you for considering a contribution to RIC ’s Helen M. Galvin Health and Fitness Center and Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Sports Program. You can make a donation to the RIC Health and Fitness Center and Wirtz Sports Program in any denomination by visiting the RIC Online Giving page. When giving online, please be sure to indicate that you are supporting the sports program at RIC. Additionally, you can send a check or money order payable to RIC Sports to:
The Helen M. Galvin Health and Fitness Center
The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
710 N. Lake Shore Drive - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
You can subscribe to the monthly RIC Sports Report by sending us an e-mail address with “Subscribe to Sports Report” in the subject line to sports@ric.org. Or, you can call us and request your e-mail or home mailing address be added to our mailing list.
To unsubscribe, send an email with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line to sports@ric.org or call us at 312-238-5001.