Grantee: 

Fit Together Grants Program

Current Grant:

Five, three-year grants totaling $594,000 (2005)

Project:

Increasing physical activity in rural communities in North Carolina

Impact:

The Fit Together grants program was created in 2005 to provide funding and technical assistance to communities seeking to improve community health. The program supports the statewide Fit Together campaign, which was created in partnership between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund.

Fit Together grants are designed to promote innovative and integrated strategies to increase access and reduce barriers to physical activity in rural communities. To increase effectiveness, qualifying grantees utilize the comprehensive "5P approach" (programs, policies, physical projects, partnerships, and promotion) developed by Active Living by Design, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Fit Together grants include:

• Fit Families of Chatham, Chatham County: This Fit Together project is designed to maximize the potential of the new Southwest Park in Chatham County, recruiting nearby families, workplaces and church groups for physical activity programs centered at the park. Participants learn how to incorporate physical activity into their everyday life, and local employers are recruited to develop policies encouraging workers to use the park.
• Gateway to Healthy Living, Camden County: A limited tax base and moratorium on new construction have resulted in limited facilities and programs for physical activity in Camden County. This project increases opportunities for physical activity through the establishment of a new park in the center of the county. Project efforts initially targeted county and school employees, and has expanded to other community members such as students and local businesses.
• Walking to Jerusalem Faith-Based Walking Program, Jackson County: Nine churches in Jackson County have joined together to increase routine physical activity among their church members. Through a faith-based walking program, church and community members will walk the distance from Sylva to Jerusalem (an equivalent of 6,313 miles) and assist in implementing policies to encourage physical activity and walking. This and other programs encourage use of physical facilities in the community such as the walking trail, two parks and a church gym.
• Students Lead the Way to "Fit Together, Move More Communities," East Carolina University, Pitt County: In two rural towns in Pitt County, mentors serve as positive role models and engage middle school children in routine activity. Opportunities for students to be physically active are provided through programs such as the GO FIT! after-school program, and school running and walking clubs. Students’ families and school staff will also have opportunities to participate in wellness programs.
• Walk Walnut Cove, Healthy Carolinians of Stokes County: A walk-friendly community in the London neighborhood of Stokes County is the vision of the Walk Walnut Cove Fit Together project. The goal of the project is to make active living accessible to residents of all ages through building safe, well-lit sidewalks in key connection areas of the neighborhood while also utilizing complimentary promotion, programs and policy strategies.

In 2007, Fit Together grantees concentrated largely on planning the Promotions component of their project and focused specifically on how communications support the other five “P”s.  BCBSNC Foundation supported this throughout the year by hosting learning collaborative opportunities and and expert-led communications workshop.