Northfield Non-Profit Awarded $50K Grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation

Growing Up Healthy is one of just 12 organizations in Minnesota to receive an award from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation. This week, the foundation announced that it would give the Rice County non-profit a $50,000 grant, with a chance for more in the next fiscal year.

The funds will be used for "social capital development work" in low income areas of Rice County. According to Growing Up Healthy, the organization will work to empower and develop leaders from historically marginalized communities. 

Growing Up Healthy was established in 2007 as a coalition of organizations and agencies serving families and residents. Its stated aim is to address the social factors that impact the health of young families in the county.

Growing Up Healthy is in good company. In all, the foundation will disburse $580,000 in grants.

Among the recipients are:

• Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, Minneapolis
• Casa de Esperanza, St. Paul
• Greater Frogtown Community Development Corporation, St. Paul
• Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research, Minneapolis (HACER)
• Hope Community Inc., Minneapolis
• Juxtaposition Arts, Minneapolis
• Minnesota Council of Churches, Mankato
• Native American Community Development Institute, Minneapolis
• Northland Foundation, Duluth
• Organizing Apprenticeship Project, Minneapolis
• Project for Pride in Living, Minneapolis

The foundation also gave an additional grant of $100,000 to the Trust for Public Land in Minneapolis to work with Juxtaposition Arts. The two entities will use the money on a "community-driven, creative placemaking project in North Minneapolis."