The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas announced Wednesday 47 grants are being awarded in 2023 to public schools, universities and nonprofit groups in Arkansas totaling $3.38 million. The grants will directly impact each of the state’s 75 counties, funding projects focused on:
- Behavioral health resources
- Social determinants of health
- Maternal and pediatric health needs
- Health equity
- Whole person health
- Medical condition innovation
The Blue & You Foundation is a charitable foundation established and funded by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield to promote better health in the Natural State.
“These grants will fund dozens of projects touching Arkansans all over the state — from supporting the Arkansas Suicide Prevention Hotline to providing recreational therapy to youth aging out of foster care, the 2023 grants will impact Arkansans in a powerful way.” said Rebecca Pittillo, executive director of the Blue & You Foundation. “The organizations that we have funded are focused on improving the lives of people in our communities, which is also our goal at the Blue & You Foundation.”
Last year, the Blue & You Foundation funded 41 initiatives in Arkansas through its annual grants totaling $3,360,327.
Additional funds will be awarded in 2023 through the Foundation’s mini grant program. Applications for mini grants, up to $2,000 each, will open on January 1.
“This is another grant opportunity for schools, colleges, universities, nonprofit groups and municipal organizations to receive much-needed funds to help advance their projects and initiatives,” Pittillo said. “These grants will be awarded to groups looking to fund safety equipment, school health initiatives and efforts to end food insecurity.”
Mini grant applications should be submitted no later than February 15. For more information on the Blue & You grant process or to apply, visit blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org.
Some of the 2023 award winners are as follows:
- Lyon College, Batesville ($117,300) — to combine the efforts of Lyon College and the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville initiatives to prevent suicide, provide mental health services and help those in emotional crisis.
- Hispanic Community Services, Inc., Jonesboro ($79,750) — allowing the organization to provide bilingual mental health services and education in Craighead, Crittenden, Green, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett and Randolph counties.
- Arkansas State University System Foundation, Jonesboro ($136,250) — for the Foundation-s Diversifying our Curing Community program, assisting minority students who aspire to go on to medical school.
- University of Arkansas — Fayetteville School of Social Work, Fayetteville ($73,550) — to evaluate the effectiveness of the school-s primary care internship program and the impact of social workers working in a primary care setting.
The rest of the award winners may be found here.
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