July 18, 2006
First Major Grant Program from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation Focuses on Children's Health
The first major grant program of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation is one that focuses on a current health crisis, but with an eye to improving the future health of Kansans.
Healthy Habits for Life is a grant program that will provide a total of $25,000 in grants to assist school nurses in promoting healthy lifestyle choices to their school-aged students. In issuing grants, the foundation will seek out programs that will help Kansas youth reduce their cardiovascular risk, increase their physical activity or learn healthy eating habits.
“Childhood obesity, literally, grows into an adult health problem,” says Graham Bailey, chief operating officer of the BCBSKS Foundation, citing recent studies that conclude 40 percent of today’s children are considered overweight or clinically obese. “In Kansas, more than one in five adults are obese and almost three in five are overweight, which means an increasing number of Kansans are being treated for medical conditions caused or complicated by being overweight.
“The foundation believes that the good health habits instilled in our children today through programs delivered with Healthy Habits for Life grants will carry over into their adult lives, allowing for a healthy Kansas population in the future,” he said. “Living in a healthier Kansas will ultimately save health care dollars for all of us.”
The grant program was announced in Wichita during the 17th Annual Statewide Conference of the Kansas School Nurse Organization (KSNO). Representatives from KSNO will assist in the grant selection process.
The maximum grant amount is $1,000 with no more than one public school within a school district earning a grant. The school district or private school must be a 501(c)(3) organization. The program is available in the service area of the BCBSKS Foundation that includes all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte.
Applications must be postmarked no later than Sept. 15, 2006, with the funds distributed in November 2006. Grant recipients can use the funds for programs offered during the first semester of 2007.
For more information, visit the Healthy Habits for Life section or call Marlou Wegener, BCBSKS Foundation grant coordinator, at 1-800-432-0216, ext. 7246, or, in Topeka, 291-7246.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSKS is the state's largest health insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte.
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