BCBSNC Foundation Announces Twenty-Six Grants

BCBSNC Foundation Announces Grants Aimed at Improving Health and Encouraging Physical Activity

Chapel Hill, N.C. – The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (BCBSNC Foundation) has invested more than $530,000 in grants to 26 organizations across the state. These grants tie directly to the Foundation’s focus on improving the health of vulnerable populations and promoting healthy active communities.

“We believe that investing in these organizations will help us further our mission of improving the health and well-being of our fellow North Carolinians,” said Kathy Higgins, president of the BCBSNC Foundation. “It is important that we continue to support innovative and effective programs and services that help individuals and communities across the state.”

Grants include:

• $80,000 to the Mountain Area Health Education Center, Inc. in Asheville to provide examination, screening, diagnosis, treatment and counseling for financially needy women at risk for gynecologic cancer in 16 western counties.
• $75,000 to the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development for the expansion of a community and faith-based screening program designed to increase the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer in African-American men in Hertford, Perquimans and Pasquotank counties, three counties that have the highest incidence and mortality rates in the country.
• $69,760 to the Graham County Health Department for a multi-level community physical activity intervention centered around the paving of a one-mile trail around the perimeter of the Graham County high school and middle school.
• $60,000 to Mount Olive College for a referral-based physical activity and nutrition intervention focused on lifestyle change that will address the issues of poor nutrition, lack of exercise, social isolation, poverty, obesity and diabetes for low income individuals in Wayne, Duplin and Sampson counties.
• $60,000 to Wilmington Health Access for Teens for the expansion of a three-year school-based obesity prevention program for at-risk and underserved high school students focusing on physical activity, nutrition and student action to create a healthier environment within the school.
• $55,000 to the Consortium of Southeastern Hypertension Control to increase opportunities for cardiovascular screening and lifestyle education for low-income, high-risk African Americans in Forsyth County.
• $35,000 to Student Action with Farmworkers to support and train 10 bilingual college students to work with rural health clinics as summer outreach workers and health educators to migrant farmworkers in 21 counties.
• $23,500 to Centro de Enlace to provide interpreter services and referrals to increase access to primary care providers, specialized dental care, and Medicaid or Health Choice/Health Check services for Latinos in Yancey County.
• $12,470 to the Community Table, Inc. in Jackson County for a weekend backpack program for children who do not have access to healthy meals outside of the school day, combined with nutrition education for both children and parents.

In addition to program-based grants, 17 equipment-only grants were announced, as part of its Healthy Active Communities focus area. These investments are designed to provide necessary tools and equipment to keep individuals active and engaged in a variety of activities, and to help increase levels of physical activity.

These include:

• $5,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle
• $5,000 to the Center for Community Self-Help in Durham County
• $5,000 to Inborden Elementary School in Halifax County
• $5,000 to Long Branch Elementary School in Robeson County.
• $5,000 to Employees “Fit” for the Job in Northampton County
• $4,970 to Rosenwald Elementary School in Robeson County
• $4,890 to the Loaves and Fishes program in Wake County
• $3,500 to Elon Homes for Children serving Mecklenburg, Iredell, Gaston, Lincoln, Guilford, Randolph, Forsyth and Rockingham counties
• $2,500 to Cowee Elementary School in Macon County
• $2,500 to Cullowhee Valley School in Jackson County
• $2,500 to East Union Middle School in Union County
• $2,500 to R.B. Dean Elementary School in Robeson County.
• $2,500 to Scotts Elementary School in Iredell County
• $2,500 to Scotts Creek Elementary School in Jackson County
• $2,500 to Weddington Middle School in Union County
• $2,500 to West Iredell Middle School in Iredell County
• $2,000 to Celeste Henkel Elementary School in Iredell County