The Learning Community and Collaborators Receive $75,000 Blue Cross Grant to Lead Nutrition and Physical Activity Program for Youth & Families
CENTRAL FALLS, RI (February18, 2014) – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode
Island (BCBSRI) announced today that it has awarded The Learning Community,
a K-8 public charter school serving Central Falls, Providence and
Pawtucket, a $75,000 grant to fund Not Just Gym, a nutrition and physical
activity program to engage students and their families in a lifelong
commitment to exercise and healthy living.
In collaboration with local partners, The Apeiron Institute for Sustainable
Living and Shri Yoga Studios’ Shri Service Corps, The Learning Community
will use funding for Not Just Gym to deepen their health and fitness
programs. New additions will include expanded afterschool programs and
integrating activity monitors and circuit training into physical education
courses. While programming will reach students who are overweight or obese,
the ultimate goal of Not Just Gym is to cement healthy living in all of the
school’s students and extend that behavior by working in partnership with
families. Programming to achieve that goal includes a monthly healthy
living series for families and expansion of their Let’s Move Family Fitness
Festival. Not Just Gym will impact more than 550 Rhode Island K-8 students
and their families.
Funding for the initiative is part of the 2014 BlueAngel Community Health
Grant Program (BACHG), which supports nonprofit organizations addressing
critical health issues in Rhode Island.
“The theory behind Not Just Gym is that by engaging students in a wide
variety of initiatives, they will adopt habits that evolve into lifestyle
changes. Families are our most important partners, so it just makes sense
to include them in this initiative. We have seen how excited students are
to share what they know about exercise with their families at home. We are
committed to the whole school community modeling that healthy living is
important and fun,” said Sarah Friedman, Co-Director of The Learning
Community. “Our terrific partners are known for innovative thinking about
wellness; together, we will make a major positive and lasting health impact
with our community.”
In 2014, BCBSRI celebrates 75 years of providing high quality coverage and
peace of mind to thousands of Rhode Island families. In recognition of
this milestone anniversary, BCBSRI will award three $75,000 BlueAngel
Community Health grants to agency collaborations that provide community
education and outreach on the importance of good nutrition, physical
activity, and healthy weight for children and their families. For the first
time this year, grants are focused exclusively on programs impacting
childhood obesity.
“As we look at the next 75 years here, the BlueAngel program is one way we
can support and partner with community-based agencies working to help Rhode
Islanders live healthier lives,” said Michele Lederberg, Chief
Administrative Officer, BCBSRI. “The Learning Community and its partners’
collaboration on this nutrition and physical program addresses an important
need to create a commitment to health and wellness throughout a lifetime.
We hope that this focus on tomorrow’s leaders will make an even more
targeted impact on Rhode Island’s future.”
The BACHG Program is the cornerstone of BCBSRI’s charitable giving. Since
the Program’s inception in 2002, BCBSRI has donated over $2.3 million
dollars to support Rhode Island nonprofit organizations helping un- and
under-insured Rhode Islanders to live healthier lives. More than 220,000
people in Rhode Island have been touched by funded programs since the
BACHG’s launch.
In July 2013, BCBSRI issued a call for Letters of Inquiry from
organizations seeking BACHG funding, specifically seeking programs that aim
to combat childhood obesity in Rhode Island communities. Out of twenty-one
agencies, three collaborations were chosen to receive $75,000 grants. The
BACHG program provides one year of funding and an opportunity to reapply in
year-two for transitional funding, if successful performance outcomes have
been achieved.
About Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is the state’s leading health
insurer and covers more than 600,000 members. The company is an independent
licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more
information, visit BCBSRI.com and follow us on Twitter @BCBSRI.
About The Learning Community
The Learning Community is a K-8 public charter school and the highest
performing high poverty school in Rhode Island. The school serves 560
students from Central Falls, Providence and Pawtucket and has one of the
strongest track records of family engagement in the state. Through The
Teaching Studio, Learning Community teachers are sharing what works with
other public schools, reaching over 3,000 students in 2013. This work
fulfills the school’s bold mission: At The Learning Community, we believe
that literacy empowers each individual to have a voice, assume community
responsibility and take social action. We expect leadership at every level.
We grow teacher leaders, student leaders and community leaders. More at
www.thelearningcommunity.com