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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Awards Nearly $4.5 Million to Community Organizations
July 31, 2024
CHICAGO — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has awarded nearly $4.5 million to 115 community organizations as part of its 2024 Blue ImpactSM grants.
“Health and wellness plays a critical role in the communities we serve,” said Tonita Cheatham, Executive Director of Community Relations, BCBSIL. “These grants will help dozens of locally based organizations improve nutrition, behavioral health, maternal and infant care, and other public health issues in all 102 Illinois counties.”
Some organizations awarded funds include:
- Fenix Family Health Center, Highwood (Illinois): a Federally Qualified Health Center serving the Latino communities in Highland Park and Highwood;
- Dion’s Chicago Dream, Chicago: providing fresh food to South Side residents through a unique food locker program;
- The Community Wellness Project, East St. Louis (Illinois): working to reduce community violence; and
- The Illinois Commission for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Chicago: helping migrants access health and wellness services throughout the state.
See the full list of Blue Impact awardees.
These organizations were selected as part of BCBSIL’s continued efforts to address social determinants of health, focusing on five areas that can have a measurable, positive impact on the health and wellness of communities:
- Economic Opportunity and Stability: Addressing issues related to poverty, removing barriers to employment, providing good jobs and upskilling.
- Nutrition: Supporting efforts to decrease hunger and increase access to nutritious food.
- Neighborhood and Built Environment: Focusing on affordable healthy housing, access to transportation, safe outdoor spaces, and access to physical activity.
- Locally Defined Health Solutions: Addressing hyperlocal health and human service needs, community collaborations that improve community wellbeing, interrupt violence, or build peaceful communities.
- Optimal Health Outcomes: Helping close gaps in care, specifically in six priority areas: immunizations, diabetes care, cardiovascular care, behavioral health, early detection cancer screening and maternal and infant health.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurer in Illinois, serving 9 million members and operating in all 102 Illinois counties. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Media Contact
Dave Van de Walle
david_van_de_walle@bcbsil.com
(312) 653-9673