WellPoint Military Care Foundation Volunteers Stuff 250 Backpacks with School Supplies for Military Kids and Teens at Andrews Air Force Base

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md., Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, Nov. 10, WellPoint Military Care volunteers spent time with Andrews Air Force Base military kids and teens at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA)-affiliated Youth Center while stuffing 250 backpacks full of school supplies. In addition to the school bags, WellPoint Military Care Foundation presented a $10,000 grant to the Youth Center to support the Triple Play health and wellness program.

"As our members face a mid-semester slump, these backpacks will provide necessary school supplies to keep them motivated and prepared for the remainder of the year," said Vincent Eure, director of the Andrews Air Force Base Youth Center. "The new grant further demonstrates the WellPoint Military Care Foundations commitment to our military youth – not just within school hours, but also in the time they spend out of the classroom. We are very grateful for their support of our healthy lifestyles programs, which help kids and teens focus on leading a life of health and wellness."

The $10,000 grant will support the implementation of Triple Play, BGCA's leading healthy lifestyles program focused on teaching the importance of healthy eating, physical activity and emotional wellbeing.

"Committing to the military is a tremendous dedication not only for the military member, but also their entire family," said Lance Chrisman, executive director, WellPoint Military Care Foundation. "We are proud to extend our support of Boys & Girls Clubs to our military-connected youth and take part in this initiative that assists the families that love and sustain our soldiers."

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,200 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at BGCA's Facebook and Twitter.

About WellPoint Military Care Foundation
Through charitable grant making, the WellPoint Military Care Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem's inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Related Links

http://www.bgca.org