Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) announced today the award of nearly $350,000 in Healthy Kids, Healthy Families (HKHF) grants to 19 community-based organizations statewide for 2020. The organizations were chosen through a competitive grant application process.
The funding is part of BCBSNM’s continuing commitment to improve the health and wellness of children and their families throughout New Mexico.
“The Healthy Kids, Healthy Families grant program supports BCBSNM’s commitment to the communities we serve,” said Janice Torrez, vice president of external affairs at BCBSNM. “It’s important for us to collaborate with organizations that are making a difference in people’s lives through outreach and education. We want to inspire a new generation of wellness in our state by addressing the pressing health issues facing our families. Together we can truly make a difference in communities throughout New Mexico.”
Established in 2011, the HKHF grant program is designed to encourage health education, promote physical activity, prevent and manage disease, and support safe environments. The program works through investments and partnerships with nonprofit organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs that improve the lives of New Mexicans.
Annually, the HKHF grant program receives numerous applications from 501(c)(3) organizations across New Mexico. Each application is vetted based on impact, feasibility, capacity, collaboration and sustainability.
This year’s statewide HKHF grantees include:
Borderland Boys & Girls Club: Providing children with healthy after-school and school-break snacks, age-appropriate fitness activities and education on healthy habits.
Cancer Aid Resource and Education: Helping cancer patients who must travel out of state for treatment with travel expenses to alleviate financial hardships.
Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation: Bringing mobile adaptive camps to children with physical disabilities.
Catholic Charities: Supporting bilingual learning and child care to ensure that children meet their developmental needs and are given the opportunity and information necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico: Providing facilitated peer support groups in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho where children, teens, young adults and their caregivers can tell their stories, recognize coping techniques and learn strategies to manage painful emotions.
CLNkids: Supporting children and families experiencing homelessness with early childhood education, nutritious foods, wellness clinics and life skills programs.
Jardin de los Ninos: Providing up to 50 families every week a basket filled with nutritious foods as part of the Weekend Anti-Hunger Project.
Keshet Dance Company: Providing support to low-income and disabled children and their families through scholarships for dance education and performance programming.
Las Cumbres Community Services: Supporting the Conjunto therapeutic preschool program for children at risk for physical and social-emotional challenges.
Many Mothers: Providing hands-on practical physical and emotional support to parents for 12 weeks after the birth of a child.
New Mexico Center for Therapeutic Riding: Conducting weekly therapeutic horseback riding lessons to special education classrooms in the Santa Fe Public School system.
New Mexico Dental Association Foundation: Covering the cost of case management and undonated dental laboratory expenses for low-income elderly, disabled people and women veterans.
New Mexico Lions Crane Reading Program: Funding eye exams and glasses for children ages three to seven who are not covered by Medicaid or other insurance.
New Mexico State University Foundation – Fit Families: Providing low-income children ages 5-12 who are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight and their families a seven-week program focused on nutrition, fitness and self-esteem.
New Mexico State University Foundation – Happy Smiles: Providing Sunland Park residents with a mobile clinic operated by Doña Ana Community College dental hygiene students and faculty to provide dental services — such as cleanings, cavity prevention and oral health screenings — at no charge.
Oasis Albuquerque: Serving older adults by providing Fit and Free from Falls programming for fall risk reduction.
Saranam: Supporting families who have exited Saranam’s housing program with an after-care program that provides ongoing services such as case management, life skills, mental illness support and referrals for job training.
St. Felix Pantry: Providing weekend food boxes and nutrition literature to low-income students at Puesta Del Sol Elementary School, a Title 1 school in Rio Rancho.
Villa Therese Catholic Clinic: Supporting off-site medical screening clinics to families without access to medical care.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico is one of the largest commercial health insurers in New Mexico with more than 600,000 New Mexicans carrying a Blue Cross and Blue Shield card. Since 1940, BCBSNM has been committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSNM is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, 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.