The Medica Foundation in its second cycle of funding for 2007 awarded
$534,100 in grants for projects that address prevention and healthy
lifestyles as well as provide financial support to organizations focused
on general health issues. For all of 2007, the Medica Foundation
provided nearly $1.2 million in funding for projects that address a
spectrum of health issues.
Projects that focus on prevention and healthy lifestyles are important
to the Medica Foundation because they promote habits that have a proven
impact on the quality of life and the cost of health care. “The
Medica Foundation is committed to funding projects that are key to
addressing the fundamental aspects of good health,”
said Rob Longendyke, executive director. “These
projects help people understand why taking control of their health is
important and, by instilling healthy behaviors in a broad base of the
population, they have the potential to prevent more serious conditions
and reduce the cost of care.”
Second cycle funding in the area of healthy living totaled $250,000. The
projects are:
2008 City of Lakes Loppet Event and Programming Initiative, $30,000 to
support the 2008 event and incorporate a year-round program to educate
youth and promote physical activity and involvement in the Tri-Loppet
and Trail Loppet events for Minneapolis Public School Students. A
project of the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation.
Fit Team for Kids, $30,000 for expansion of the Health Start
School-Based Clinic comprehensive health and fitness program for
low-income students at risk for obesity in three St. Paul high
schools. A project of West-Side Community Health Services.
Healthy Lifeways Project, $30,000 to utilize nutrition awareness and
structured physical activity to reduce health disparities in American
Indian youth. A project of Little Earth Residents Association.
Bolder Options Health Habits Program, $30,000 to expand the Healthy
Habits Mentoring Program to a satellite office at Dunwoody Institute
to support North Minneapolis youth. A project of Bolder Options.
Healthy Lifestyles for North Minneapolis Teens, $25,000 to expand
health and wellness activities through the completion of a health
assessment, referrals to a nutritionist, health educator or on-site
clinic and by offering healthy food choices. A project of the Plymouth
Christian Youth Center.
Ready. Set. Action! Peer Education Model, $30,000 to develop a program
by junior high/middle school students to educate elementary school
students about healthy eating and exercise. A project of the Illusion
Theater and School, Inc.
Running Buddies Program, $20,000 to pair at-risk youth (ages 5-17)
with adults to train and run 5K, 5-mile and trail races, including
training plans, nutrition education, shoes, goal setting advice and
relationship support. A project of Duluth Area Family YMCA.
Strong Kids, $25,000 to provide a 12-week program for parents and
children to develop a healthy approach to lifetime weight management.
A program of the Marshall Area YMCA.
SWITCH, $30,000 to implement the program in two Burnsville, Minn.
elementary schools. SWITCH, designed to help communities, schools and
families promote and choose healthy lifestyles, is a program of the
National Institute on Media and the Family.
Second cycle grants in the area of prevention and preventive services
totaled $200,000. The projects are:
Breast Cancer Screening Initiative, $50,000 to improve breast cancer
screening among low income insured and uninsured in patients at
clinics in Hennepin County. A project of the Neighborhood Health Care
Network.
Family Connection Liaisons, $35,000 to expand the project to include
follow-up services to non-English speaking families in Hennepin County
as their children enter school and to provide support in choosing a
clinic for preventive services. A project of the Youth Coordinating
Board.
Guys’ Clinic, $50,000 to provide a “males
only” clinic every two weeks for a program
focused on sexually transmitted disease prevention, screening,
treatment and education aimed at young males ages 12-23. A project of
Annex Teen Clinic in Robbinsdale, Minn.
Minneapolis Project for Lead-Safe Kids, $40,000 to increase blood lead
level testing of Minneapolis kids at risk for lead poisoning by
educating pediatric medical clinic staff about local lead poisoning
prevention programs. A project of the City of Minneapolis.
Primary Caries (cavities) Prevention by Primary Care Medical
Providers, $25,000 to reduce the incidence of dental cavities among
low-income, high risk children by integrating fluoride varnish
applications and dental cavity prevention education into child and
teen check-ups provided by medical providers. A project of the Regents
of the University of Minnesota.
Second cycle funding in the area of general community support totaled
$84,100. Some of the projects include:
2008 Asthma Walk and Race Up the Place to Fight Lung Disease, $5,000.
These two events are organized by the American Lung Association of
Minnesota.
Becoming Well Within: A Musical Tribute to Women with Breast Cancer,
$2,500. This fundraising event supports Well Within’s
efforts to increase awareness about breast cancer and available
community resources.
Community Health Initiative, $6,000 to support planning grants in the
Health Disparities Research Grant Program. A project of the Regents of
the University of Minnesota.
Fremont Community Health Services 2nd Annual
Gala, $3,000 to support this fundraising event in support of efforts
to provide health care education and outreach services to uninsured
patients
Mille Lacs County Operation Community Connect, $2,000 to support this
project of Rum River Interfaith Caregiver and the emergency needs of
homeless individuals in Mille Lacs County.
Region 7E Integrated Services Program, $2,500 to provide financial
assistance to help 200 at-risk families ensure compliance with
medically advised treatment.
About the Medica Foundation
The Medica Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable grant-making foundation
and a sister organization to Medica Health Plans, a Minnesota-based
nonprofit HMO. The Foundation generally seeks to fund community-based
programs and initiatives that can provide sustainable, measurable
improvements in the availability, access and quality of healthcare. The
Medica Foundation is governed by an independent board of directors made
up of community leaders John Buck, Burt Cohen, Kris Sanda and Esther
Tomljanovich. More information about the Medica Foundation can be found
online at http://www.medica.com/C10/MedicaFoundation1/default.aspx.
Email: foundation@medica.com;
Phone: 952/992-2060.
About Medica
Medica is a health insurance company headquartered in Minneapolis and
active in the Upper Midwest. With nearly 1.4 million members, the
non-profit company provides health care coverage in the employer,
individual, Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Part D markets in Minnesota
and a growing number of counties in North Dakota, South Dakota and
Wisconsin. Medica also offers national network coverage to employers who
also have employees outside the Medica regional network.
Medica has the highest accreditation status, Excellent, from the
National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA®)
for its Minnesota Medicaid HMO plans and commercial health plans in
Minnesota and North Dakota. Medica’s vision
is to become the community’s health plan of
choice, trusted for its integrity, respected for its service, and
admired for its commitment to innovation and efficiency.
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