Blue Cross to Fund Clinton Valley Programs to Keep Kids Healthy, Active

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has selected Clinton Valley Elementary as one of 20 schools across the state to receive a share of $600,000 to support programs that promote healthy eating and physical activity.

Clinton Valley is one of only two Macomb County schools to have been selected to participate in the program this year.

The program will be implemented by Wayne State University’s Center for School Health and to include programming developed by the Michigan Fitness Foundation.

"The Blues partnership with Wayne State University’s Center for School Health and the Michigan Fitness Foundation is the cornerstone for building a stronger, broader coalition of organizations and supporters to reach a greater number of children across Michigan," said Shannon Carney Oleksyk, registered dietitian and healthy living advisor for the Blues’ social mission, in a statement. "We fully believe our collective efforts will have a positive impact on children’s health."

As part of the program, Clinton Valley will receive resources, equipment, professional development and mentoring to help "implement and sustain programming that addresses prevention of childhood obesity through a comprehensive, evidence-based, yet school-friendly, approach," according to BCBS.

Since 2009, Blue Cross has awarded almost $2.7 million in Building Healthy Communities funding, impacting more than 35,000 elementary students.

Programs that promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle are even more important given a new report released by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that estimates nearly 60 percent of Michigan residents could be obese by 2030. With 31.3 percent of adults now considered obese, Michigan is the nation’s fifth fattest state.