Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Continues Funding to Elementary Schools for Physical Activity and Nutrition Programs: Seeks Applicants from the Arab American Community
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is committed to improving the health of Michigan communities and is building strategic relationships in the Arab-American community to more effectively identify and address our specific health care needs.
Blue Cross provides grants to schools across the state to promote healthy eating and physical activity and encourages all eligible elementary schools to apply. The number of overweight children in the United States has doubled in the past 20 years. And in Michigan alone, total obesity expenditures each year amount to nearly $3 billion.
That’s why Blue Cross Blue Shield, committed to building a healthier Michigan, continues its statewide support for school programs that get kids moving and eating healthier.
The Blues are accepting grant proposals from public and nonprofit private elementary schools in Michigan for programs that increase physical activity and improve nutrition among their student population.
The grants are part of the Blues’ 2011 Building Healthy Communities: Engaging Elementary Schools and their Community Partners program. Funding amounts are anticipated to range from $20,000 to $50,000 per school, depending on the number of programs selected, the size of the school and the number of children enrolled. More than 14,000 school children throughout Michigan have participated in the Building Healthy Communities initiative since 2009.
Proposed programs require four elements: a healthy school assessment, physical activity and nutrition education, a walking club and a 5K run or walk. These elements, combined with optional parent and community components, are most successful in helping elementary students, staff and parents achieve healthier lifestyles, according to environmental assessments by the Blues’ Social Mission department.
Proposals that include parent and community engagement and schools proposing community partnerships are preferred and have a better chance of funding. The company encourages and supports collaborative approaches to obesity prevention and aims to build partnerships that help sustain programs past the grant period.
“Childhood obesity is an urgent health issue and we support initiatives throughout the state targeted toward motivating children and adults to adopt healthier habits. We believe we can have a significant impact on knowledge, attitudes and behavior by supporting these school-based obesity prevention programs,” explained Lynda Rossi, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Chief of Staff for BCBSM.
Grant information and downloadable forms are available at:
<a href=”http://www.bcbsm.com/buildhealth”>Click here for Link</a>
Application materials will be e-mailed to each elementary school when its Notice of Intent to Apply form, due no later than Feb. 11, is received. The full grant proposal is due online by midnight on Sunday, March 13, 2011. Scanned signatures are acceptable.
Hard copies of documents that cannot be e-mailed must be sent by postal mail and postmarked by Monday, March 14, 2011.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and administers health benefits to nearly 4.5 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who reside outside the state. BCBSM also offers dental, vision and hearing plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com.