July 25, 2007
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation Renews Healthy Habits for Life Grant Program for Second Year
The first major grant-giving program of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation enjoyed so much success its first year that the foundation's leadership has agreed to commit dollars to the program for a second year, according to Graham Bailey, chief operating officer of the foundation.
Healthy Habits for Life offers grants to school nurses to assist them in promoting healthy lifestyle choices to school-aged children. Specifically, the foundation is seeking to support programs that will help Kansas kids reduce their cardiovascular risk, increase their physical activity or learn healthy eating habits.
The foundation awarded in excess of $33,000 in grants to 38 school nurses at the end of 2006 – an increase of $8,000 from its original intent – and its board of directors has agreed to provide an additional $25,000 this fall.
"Last year's program was an overwhelming success as school nurses used the grants to touch the lives of thousands of Kansas school-aged children," Bailey said. "The foundation's board felt that it is important to continue reaching out to more children by providing school nurses with the funds they need to create programs that will address one of our top health concerns: childhood obesity. We know that if children learn healthy habits at a young age, those habits will carry on through their adult lives."
The renewal of the grant program was recently announced in Wichita during the 18th 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 program is available in the service area of the BCBSKS Foundation which includes all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte.
Applications must be postmarked no later than Sept. 10, 2007, with the funds distributed by Oct. 15. Grant recipients can use the funds for programs offered during the 2007-2008 academic year.
For more information, visit the Healthy Habits 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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