Little Rock -- The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas recently awarded a record-breaking 242 mini-grants to community projects throughout the Natural State to help communities live healthier, $1,000 at a time.
“These mini-grants are used to fund such things as health fairs, exercise or healthy eating programs, community gardens, health education or the purchase of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for use in public buildings," said Patrick O'Sullivan, executive director of the Blue & You Foundation.
The Blue & You Foundation is a charitable foundation established and funded by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield to promote better health in Arkansas. The poor health status of Arkansans contributes to rising medical costs. By providing funding and working with other organizations, the Foundation hopes to support healthcare projects that will benefit all Arkansans.
More information on the mini-grants listed below, and all previous grants, can be found on the Foundation's website: blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org. The foundation's deadline for regular grants, which range from $5,000 to $150,000, is July 14, 2017.
Applications for regular grants can be made online through the Foundation website.
The Foundation anticipates awarding approximately $2.5 million in grants annually to programs that positively affect the health of Arkansans. Any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, public charity, public school, church, non-profit hospital or governmental organization in Arkansas is eligible to apply for a grant.
| Organization | City | Condition Targeted |
|---|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Club of Alma | Alma | Healthy lifestyles |
| CASA of Clark County, Inc. | Arkadelphia | Foster child health |
| Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church Dalark | Arkadelphia | Diabetes |
| Piney Grove A.M.E. Church | Arkadelphia | Senior wellness |
| Pleasant Hill African Methodist Episcopal Church | Arkadelphia | Diabetes |
| St. Paul A.M.E. Church | Arkadelphia | Behavioral health |
| Augusta First United Methodist Church | Augusta | Hunger |
| Believers Community Church | Batesville | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Central Avenue United Methodist Church | Batesville | Disabilities |
| Compass Church | Batesville | Aging |
| First Baptist Church (Batesville) | Batesville | Access to medical care |
| Scouting Adventures in Leadership | Batesville | CPR/first aid/AED |
| St. Mary's Catholic Church | Batesville | CPR/first aid/AED |
| United Way of North Central Arkansas | Batesville | Access to healthy food |
| White River Planning & Development | Batesville | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| Bauxite Public Schools | Bauxite | Exercise/physical activity |
| Belleville Fire Department | Belleville | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Choose to Stay | Benton | Social determinants of health |
| Legacy Village Greenhouse Corp. | Bentonville | Alzheimer's |
| Northwest Arkansas Community College | Bentonville | Exercise/physical activity |
| Bismarck Elementary School | Bismarck | Exercise/physical activity |
| West Fourche Volunteer Fire Department | Bluffton | Cardiac care |
| Rhonda Hodges Ministries, Inc. | Blytheville | Domestic violence |
| Boys and Girls Club of South Logan County AR | Booneville | Healthy lifestyles |
| Brookland Elementary School | Brookland | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| City of Bryant | Bryant | Worksite wellness |
| Calico Rock Museum Foundation | Calico Rock | Heart health |
| A Healthy Ouachita County | Camden | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| Bethel A.M.E. Church | Carthage | Diabetes |
| First Baptist Church (Cave City) | Cave City | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Galla Rock Volunteer Fire Department | Centerville | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Charleston Public Library | Charleston | Literacy |
| Monroe County Sheriff Department | Clarendon | Access to healthy food |
| Boys and Girls Club of Faulkner County | Conway | Healthy lifestyles |
| Carolyn Lewis Elementary | Conway | Access to healthy food |
| Conway Police Department | Conway | Access to healthy food |
| La Lucha Space | Conway | Access to healthy food |
| Liberty Volunteer Fire Department | Conway | CPR/first aid/AED |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway | Alzheimer's |
| Cord Fire Department | Cord | Emergency Medical Services |
| Corning Lions Club | Corning | Exercise/physical activity |
| Ashley County Skilled Work Center, Inc. | Crossett | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| Crossett Health Foundation | Crossett | Medication compliance education |
| Helping Others Before Self-Destruction | Crossett | Screenings |
| John Ed Chambers Memorial Hospital, Inc. | Danville | Access to healthy food |
| Yell County | Danville | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Deer K-12 Schools | Deer | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Cossatot Community College of the U of A | DeQueen | Medical professional education |
| El Dorado School District | El Dorado | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| KidsNGolf | El Dorado | Exercise/physical activity |
| Liberty Baptist Association | El Dorado | Hunger |
| South Arkansas Fights Aids | El Dorado | HIV/AIDS |
| Union County Sheriff's Office | El Dorado | CPR/first aid/AED |
| City of Elkins | Elkins | Cardiac care |
| Evening Shade Volunteer Fire Department | Evening Shade | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Farmington United Methodist Church | Farmington | Healthy lifestyles |
| ALLPS School of Innovation | Fayetteville | Access to healthy food |
| Fayetteville Youth Center, Inc. | Fayetteville | Exercise/physical activity |
| Hogeye Marathon & Relays, Inc. | Fayetteville | Exercise/physical activity |
| National Center for Appropriate Technology | Fayetteville | Access to healthy food |
| Outdoor C.A.R.E. | Fayetteville | Exercise/physical activity |
| Peace at Home Family Shelter | Fayetteville | Parenting |
| Walton Arts Center Council, Inc. | Fayetteville | Exercise/physical activity |
| Dancing on the Horizon | Fordyce | Exercise/physical activity |
| Community Alternative Prevention Program | Foreman | Child development |
| East Arkansas Community College | Forrest City | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Antioch Consolidated Association for Youth and Family, Inc. | Fort Smith | Exercise/physical activity |
| Boys Shelter, Inc. | Fort Smith | Healthy lifestyles |
| Crisis Intervention Center | Fort Smith | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Fairview Elementary | Fort Smith | Exercise/physical activity |
| Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club | Fort Smith | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| Sutton Elementary School | Fort Smith | Healthy lifestyles |
| Greenwood Schools | Greenwood | Child development |
| Valley View Church of Christ | Greenwood | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Gurdon Public Schools | Gurdon | Healthy lifestyles |
| City of Hampton | Hampton | Exercise/physical activity |
| Poinsett County Sheriff's Office | Harrisburg | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Boone County Government | Harrison | CPR/first aid/AED |
| First Lutheran Church | Harrison | Access to healthy food |
| Harrison School District | Harrison | Access to healthy food |
| Mercy Mall | Harrison | Nutrition |
| PTA Arkansas Congress | Harrison | Hydration |
| Havana Fire Department | Havana | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Heber Springs High School | Heber Springs | Hydration |
| Hickory Ridge Food Pantry & Clothes Closet | Hickory Ridge | Access to healthy food |
| City of Highland | Highland | Emergency medical services |
| Hempstead County Sheriff's Office | Hope | Emergency medical services |
| Gardner Magnet School | Hot Springs | Hunger |
| Hot Springs Middle School | Hot Springs | Exercise/physical activity |
| Hot Springs Rehabilitation Volunteers, Inc. | Hot Springs | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| Lakeside Baptist Church | Hot Springs | Hunger |
| Pines Progressive Eldercare Services, Inc. | Hot Springs | Behavioral health |
| Village Church of Christ | Hot Springs Village | Access to healthy food |
| Boys and Girls Club of Jacksonville | Jacksonville | CPR/first aid/AED |
| New Commandment COGIC | Jacksonville | Healthy lifestyles |
| City of Jasper | Jasper | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Mt. Sherman Volunteer Fire Department | Jasper | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Familie Tiez Mentoring and Outreach | Jonesboro | Exercise/physical activity |
| Foundation for Student Health, Safety and Fitness | Jonesboro | Healthy lifestyles |
| Junior Auxiliary of Jonesboro | Jonesboro | Healthy lifestyles |
| NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation | Jonesboro | Healthy lifestyles |
| University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service | Jonesboro | Healthy lifestyles |
| Valley View Public Schools | Jonesboro | Exercise/physical activity |
| City of Lake City | Lake City | Healthy lifestyles |
| Breaking the Cycle, Inc. | Lake Village | Exercise/physical activity |
| East Poinsett County School District | Lepanto | Exercise/physical activity |
| Leslie United Methodist Church | Leslie | Hunger |
| LIFE Coalition | Lewisville | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| Arkansas Arts Center Foundation | Little Rock | Alzheimer's |
| Arkansas Community Health Worker Association | Little Rock | Community health workers |
| Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, Inc. | Little Rock | Prostate cancer |
| Arkansas School for Integrated Academics & Technologies | Little Rock | Exercise/physical activity |
| Arthritis Foundation | Little Rock | Arthritis |
| Asbury Christian Child Development Center | Little Rock | Access to healthy food |
| Baptist Health Foundation | Little Rock | Breastfeeding |
| Best Buddies International, Inc. | Little Rock | Disabilities |
| Canaan Missionary Baptist Church | Little Rock | Screenings |
| Centers for Youth and Families, Inc. | Little Rock | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Delta Community Based Services | Little Rock | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| Easter Seals Arkansas | Little Rock | Disabilities |
| Ferncliff Camp | Little Rock | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Greater Works Outreach International, Inc. | Little Rock | Screenings |
| Harmony Health Clinic | Little Rock | Access to healthy food |
| Heaven Sent Adult Daycare Center | Little Rock | Senior wellness |
| Horace Mann Running Club | Little Rock | Access to healthy food |
| I CAN! of Arkansas | Little Rock | Access to healthy food |
| Innovative Lifestyles for Senior Living, Inc. | Little Rock | Exercise/physical activity |
| Jefferson Elementary School | Little Rock | Exercise/physical activity |
| Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission | Little Rock | Healthy lifestyles |
| Little Rock School District/Central High School | Little Rock | Medical professional education |
| Little Rock School District/Fair High School | Little Rock | Medical professional education |
| Little Rock School District/Hall High School | Little Rock | Medical professional education |
| Little Rock School District/McClellan High School | Little Rock | Medical professional education |
| Little Rock School District/Parkview High School | Little Rock | Medical professional education |
| Longley Baptist Church | Little Rock | Cardiac Care |
| Methodist Family Health | Little Rock | Mental health |
| National Audubon Society | Little Rock | Exercise/physical activity |
| New Hope Baptist Church | Little Rock | Hunger |
| PCMS Healing the Healer Foundation | Little Rock | Mental health |
| Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church | Little Rock | Child development |
| Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church | Little Rock | Healthy lifestyles |
| St. James United Methodist Church | Little Rock | CPR/first aid/AED |
| St. Joseph's Helpers of Pulaski County | Little Rock | Pregnancy |
| St. Theresa Catholic Church | Little Rock | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Teen Promise, Inc. | Little Rock | Healthy lifestyles |
| Trinity United Methodist Church | Little Rock | Emergency Medical Services |
| Twentieth Century Knights | Little Rock | Coats for kids |
| Zenenvirotech, Inc. | Little Rock | Nutrition |
| Magazine School District | Magazine | Exercise/physical activity |
| Boys & Girls Club of Magnolia | Magnolia | Child development |
| Columbia District Baptist Association | Magnolia | Mold |
| Free Union Missionary Baptist Church | Magnolia | Behavioral health |
| Trinity Christian Methodist Episcopal Church | Magnolia | Screenings |
| Malvern-Hot Spring County Library | Malvern | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Marshall Elementary School | Marshall | Germ prevention |
| BigUms Soup Kitchen | Maumelle | Hunger |
| William Christian Doerhoff Memorial Foundation | Maumelle | Substance abuse |
| Mayflower Police Department | Mayflower | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Boys and Girls Club of McGehee | McGehee | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Ozarka College | Melbourne | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Acorn Elementary School | Mena | Healthy lifestyles |
| Conway County Center for Exceptional Children | Morrilton | Exercise/physical activity |
| Petit Jean Youth Foundation | Morrilton | Mental health |
| Mount Judea Area Alliance | Mount Judea | Senior wellness |
| Van Matre Senior Activity and Wellness Center | Mountain Home | CPR/first aid/AED |
| City of Mountain View | Mountain View | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Mountain View High School | Mountain View | Exercise/physical activity |
| Seven Day Adventist Church | Mountain View | Aging |
| Sunnyland Fire Department | Mountain View | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Pigeon Creek Freewill Baptist Church | Mountainburg | Access to healthy food |
| Mulberry High School | Mulberry | Access to healthy food |
| Pike County | Murfreesboro | Infant injuries |
| Newark Volunteer Fire Department | Newark | Emergency Medical Services |
| Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality | North Little Rock | Healthy lifestyles |
| Leaping Beyond Sports Camp | North Little Rock | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| North Little Rock High School Medical Professions | North Little Rock | Healthy lifestyles |
| North Little Rock Parks and Recreation | North Little Rock | Nutrition |
| North Little Rock School District (Pike View Early Childhood Center) | North Little Rock | Child development |
| Step Up Mentoring | North Little Rock | Healthy lifestyles |
| Oil Trough Volunteer Fire Department | Oil Trough | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Ozark Free Will Baptist Church | Ozark | Access to healthy food |
| Ozark School District | Ozark | Exercise/physical activity |
| Crowley's Ridge Academy | Paragould | Exercise/physical activity |
| Shiloh United Methodist Church | Paragould | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Paris Lions Club | Paris | Vision |
| Paron Community Trust (Paron Heritage Skills Club) | Paron | Healthy lifestyles |
| Lions Club of Pea Ridge | Pea Ridge | Vision |
| Committee Against Spouse Abuse, Inc. | Pine Bluff | Healthy lifestyles |
| New Morning Star Children & Families Development Services Center, Inc. | Pine Bluff | Healthy lifestyles |
| There is Hope for the Children | Pine Bluff | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| Plainview Volunteer Fire Department | Plainview | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Pottsville Elementary School | Pottsville | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| Prairie Grove Police Department | Prairie Grove | Access to healthy food |
| Ward Chapel AME Church | Prescott | Hunger |
| Adult Development Center of Benton County, Inc. | Rogers | Disabilities |
| Elmwood Middle School | Rogers | Exercise/physical activity |
| Janie Darr Elementary | Rogers | Exercise/physical activity |
| Rogers New Technology High School | Rogers | Exercise/physical activity |
| Rogers Public Schools | Rogers | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Bethel A.M.E. Church | Rosston | Behavioral health |
| Crawford Elementary School | Russellville | Hydration |
| Dwight Elementary | Russellville | Hydration |
| Equestrian Zone | Russellville | Disabilities |
| Junior Auxiliary of Russellville | Russellville | Dental |
| River Valley Food 4 Kids | Russellville | Hunger |
| River Valley Off-Road Cyclist | Russellville | Exercise/physical activity |
| River Valley Shelter for Battered Women & Children, Inc. | Russellville | Access to healthy food |
| Russellville Middle School (PE Program) | Russellville | Exercise/physical activity |
| CASA of White County | Searcy | Parenting |
| St. Paul United Methodist Church | Searcy | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Sheridan Healthcare and Rehabilitation | Sheridan | Long-term care |
| Boys & Girls Club of Siloam Springs | Siloam Springs | Exercise/physical activity |
| Grange Calamine Volunteer Fire Department | Smithville | Respiratory/ lung health |
| Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund | Springdale | Hunger |
| Central Junior High School | Springdale | Hydration |
| Childers Knapp Elementary | Springdale | Access to healthy food |
| Elmdale Elementary School | Springdale | Hydration |
| EPIC Compassionaries | Springdale | Senior wellness |
| Foodcorps, Inc. | Springdale | Access to healthy food |
| John Tyson Elementary School | Springdale | Hydration |
| Lakeside Junior High School | Springdale | Nutrition |
| Ozark Guidance Center Foundation | Springdale | Exercise/physical activity |
| Parson Hills Elementary School | Springdale | Hydration |
| Sonora Middle School | Springdale | Access to healthy food |
| Springdale School District | Springdale | Hydration |
| Westwood Elementary School | Springdale | Hydration |
| Bridging the Gaps of Arkansas | Texarkana | Access to healthy food |
| Life House Outreach Center of Texarkana, Inc. | Texarkana | Access to healthy food |
| Miller County Sheriff's Office | Texarkana | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Pink Behind the Thin Blue Line | Texarkana | Exercise/physical activity |
| Salvation Army | Texarkana | Medication assistance |
| Texarkana Arkansas Police Department | Texarkana | Behavioral health |
| Timbo Volunteer Fire Department | Timbo | Emergency Medical Services |
| Vilonia School District | Vilonia | Worksite wellness |
| Scott County Boys & Girls Club | Waldron | After-hours care |
| Beyond Boundaries | Ward | Disabilities |
| CASA of the Arkansas Delta, a program of Mid-South Health Systems, Inc. | West Memphis | Child abuse awareness & prevention |
| East Arkansas Family Health Center, Inc. | West Memphis | Obesity (nutrition and exercise) |
| West Memphis Boys Club, Inc. | West Memphis | CPR/first aid/AED |
| Davis Chapel AME Church | Wilton | Diabetes |
| Marion County Fair | Yellville | Safety |
| Marion County Library | Yellville | CPR/first aid/AED |
The Blue & You Foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves the state of Arkansas. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization.
About Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Founded in 1948, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest health insurer in Arkansas.
Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates have more than 2,700 employees. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is comprised of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 106 million members — one in three Americans.