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Stefanie Scott
HealthCode Receives Healthy Kids, Healthy Families Grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
$25,000 Award Will Support Virtual Activity Initiatives
AUSTIN, Texas (December 22, 2020) – With a focus on the health, economic and social implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has awarded HealthCode a $25,000 Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® (HKHF) grant.
The grant – part of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’s commitment to community-based organizations supporting children and families who have been impacted by the health, economic and social implications of the COVID-19 pandemic – will support HealthCode’s virtual activity programs designed to promote healthy lifestyles.
“HealthCode is grateful for the confidence and support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield as we build on our progress toward promoting healthy habits to prevent chronic disease,’’ said Steve Amos, CEO and founder of HealthCode.”The stress from the global COVID-19 pandemic is taking its toll on our global community and has led increased sedentary lifestyles and social isolation Through HealthCode’s Democratizing Wellness initiative, we will work with health care professionals, human resource and wellness professionals and educators to engage people of all walks of life in virtual activities and promote healthy living while seeking to counter the negative social effects of COVID-19.’’
Launched in 2011, the Healthy Kids, Health Families grant program started as a three-year project designed to improve the health and wellness of at least one million children through community investments. The program was extended as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’s ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of the children and families across Texas.
“This year’s grant process was especially important given the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sheena Payne, BCBSTX’s director of Community Investments. “So, we are happy to award these grants that will support and nurture meaningful and transformational projects across Texas. Strategically, it is also important that we continue to aid community-based organizations that are directly supporting children and families who have been impacted by the health, economic, and social implications of this pandemic.”
The HKHF program – which centers on nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management and supporting safe environments – has awarded $14 million in funding and impacted the lives of close to three-million children and their families in Texas.
HealthCode is committed to raising awareness on living healthier, happier lives through physical activity, nutrition and the environment. Since launching the first Million Mile Month virtual activity challenge in 2014, HealthCode’s programs have expanded. Earlier this year, as millions began working from home to slow the spread of COVID-19, HealthCode introduced a series of new virtual challenges to encourage people to keep moving and stay healthy year-round.
Amos said: “As we look to 2021, we look forward to creating new initiatives to give everyone new incentives to stay active and engage in healthy living.’’
About HealthCode
HealthCode, a nonprofit based in Austin, Texas, is dedicated to empowering people to live healthier, happier lives through education and encouraging physical activity, promoting healthy eating habits, supporting the environment and cultivating community connections. For more information visit https://healthcode.org.