Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
Annual Report Fiscal Year 2013–2014
6
Healthy Active Communities
health ministry and, of course, creation
of access to healthy food. The PHW
Certification Program has become a
badge of honor. “There are 300 certified
congregations in 64 counties representing
more than 90,000 people of faith doing
remarkable things,” Willona says.
PHW has evolved to support clergy
leadership and empower individual
congregants. More than 120 clergy are
engaged in health messaging, and more
than 400 individual congregants have
improved their health behaviors and
have committed to support fellow
congregants in similar changes.
To further enhance the on-the-ground
efforts, the Foundation also partnered
with PHW in 2013 to offer Healthy Eating
Equipment Grants. These grants helped
increase opportunities for healthy eating
in 20 certified congregations through
kitchen upgrades for healthier cooking,
new refrigeration for fresh produce,
cooking demonstrations and gardens
to increase access to fresh produce.
“People feel more empowered.
The peer support and the financial
assistance have made a huge difference
for a lot of these churches,” Willona says,
adding, “We are so proud of the work
they are doing.”
With its systemwide impact,
the PHW is a shining example of the type
of program the Foundation supports to
improve the health of North Carolinians.
These collective changes—from
delivering healthier meals and messages
to spreading a citywide network of
community gardens—have created
a groundswell of support for the larger
change that the North Carolina Council
of Churches and the Foundation seek to
make: the integration of healthy spirits
and healthy living for all people of faith.
A PLUG FOR OUTDOOR PLAY.
On average, kids spend 7.65 hours a day “plugged in.”
1
That’s why
the Kids in Parks TRACK Trails programwas created in 2008: to
encourage children to enjoy the great outdoors by making hiking
trails more attractive and family-friendly. The brainchild of North
Carolina pediatrician Olson Huff, Kids in Parks started as a small pilot
to get kids outside and moving on a few select trails along the Blue
Ridge Parkway. Believing this program could become a nationwide
model, the Foundation invested in its initial funding, evaluation and
expansion. Today, 100 TRACK Trails in seven states and the District
of Columbia offer self-guided hiking, disc golfing, canoeing, biking
and geocaching adventures.
One of the nation’s only health-related nature programs backed
by proven results, TRACK Trails has been endorsed by the American
Academy of Pediatrics, the White House and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
TRACK Trails has produced impressive results in North Carolina,
including 40,500 kid-miles hiked. That translates into 22,250 hours of
outdoor time.
2,3
By the end of 2014, there will be 75 TRACK Trails in 50 North Carolina
counties. The finish line is in sight: at least one TRACK trail in all 100
counties by the end of 2017.
To learn more about TRACK Trails, please visit
.
C H I L D R E N
SPEND ONLY
SEVEN
MINUTES
UNSTRUCTURED
OUTDOOR PLAY
A DAY
ON
MOST OBESE
STATE
THE NATION
IN
25
th
NC IS THE
6
5
