Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Texas Awards Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® Grants To 25 Charitable Organizations Statewide

BCBSTX Invests More Than $1.5 Million in Funding Across the State to Promote Health and Wellness for Children

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Jun 18, 2015, 02:04 ET

RICHARDSON, Texas, June 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Now in its fifth year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) announced today that its Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® (HKHF) initiative has awarded $1.54 million in grants to 25 organizations across the state. Of the 25 grantees, 11 are new recipients.

"Everything we do through our community-based efforts is designed to improve the overall health of Texans," said Bert Marshall, president of BCBSTX. "This program has become a focal point among our charitable initiatives and was created to help stem the rising tide of obesity and related chronic diseases. We recognize the role we can play, and we're proud to stand with these local organizations that are dedicated to improving children's health in meaningful ways by impacting lifestyle habits at an early age."

In 2015, HKHF received more than 150 applications from organizations across the state. Each application was evaluated on the basis of impact, feasibility, capacity, collaboration and sustainability. All grant recipients are community partners that share BCBSTX's vision of improving the health and wellness of Texas children. According to a recent report by the Center for Public Policy Priorities, one in four Texas children live in poverty and 888,000 children are without health insurance.¹ With one in eleven children nationwide now living in Texas, "it is clear that the ability of our state –and country– to grow, prosper and innovate depends on the wellbeing of Texas kids," the report asserts.

A signature program of BCBSTX's community investments, HKHF is designed to improve the health status of at least one million children, and is part of an ongoing commitment to invest in and partner with nonprofit organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs to reach children and their families in four key areas: nutrition, physical activity, preventing and managing disease and supporting safe environments. Since the program's inception, BCBSTX has awarded more than $6.9 million to more than 130 charitable organizations. In 2014 alone, 41 community partners were awarded grants.

Examples of BCBSTX's collaboration with community organizations include:

"El Centro de Corazón is appreciative to receive support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas to develop a pediatric component of our Diabetes Self Management Program. Through this new component, we will be able to better educate our children and their families about healthier lifestyle choices, which includes nutrition and physical activity, thereby reducing the likelihood of chronic illnesses later in life" –Marcie Mir, CEO, Houston, TX
"Because of the generosity of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic (LBUCC) will launch its Promotora de Salud Program dedicated to improving family engagement in primary, preventative care and improving health outcomes for high-risk Hispanic patients. LBUCC's Promotora will share similar social, cultural and economic characteristics of the families served, thereby readily able to understand and connect our culturally diverse patient population to the health care system and services available. The focus on high-risk Hispanic patients will reduce disease risk factors in our underserved communities and improve health outcomes." –Leonor Márquez, CEO, Dallas, TX
"The Mayor's Fitness Council is very appreciative of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas' support of Veg Out SA! With the help of BCBSTX, we are able to raise our community's awareness on the health benefits of consuming more fruits and vegetables as part of a daily diet." –Mycheryl Price, City of San Antonio, TX

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) – the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas – is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and healthcare practitioners, and 500 hospitals to serve 5 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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BCBSTX's Community Investments

BCBSTX is committed to helping improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve. For more than 80 years, that commitment has been reflected through social responsibility efforts that include corporate giving, local community relations, volunteerism, diversity and inclusion, ethics and compliance, wellness and sustainability initiatives. Our signature program, Healthy Kids, Healthy Families ® has impacted nearly 9 million children and their families in Texas through support in areas of nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management, and supporting safe environments. BCBSTX is also a 2014 Civic 50 honoree, a program which recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the country. To learn more about BCBSTX's social responsibility efforts, please visit http://bcbstx2014srr.com/

¹ The State of Texas Children 2015, Center for Public Policy Priorities, Texas Kids Count Project

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SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas