JCC Association has received a $98,200 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation (BCBSF Foundation) to help eight Florida Jewish Community Centers combat childhood obesity:
Jewish Community Alliance, Jacksonville
Lori & Eric Ross JCC, Boynton Beach
JCC of the Greater Palm Beaches, Palm Beaches
JCC at Jack & Lee Rosen Southwest Orlando Campus, Orlando
Michael-Ann Russell JCC, North Miami Beach
Dave & Mary Alper JCC, Miami
David Posnack JCC, Davie
“JCC Association has long been concerned about the health and well-being of our children,” said Steven Becker, vice-president of health and wellness services at JCC Association, “and this generous grant will allow us to introduce our Discover CATCH: Early Childhood initiative to families all over Florida. This program teaches healthy nutrition and activity habits to preschoolers, which they can keep throughout their lives.”
Through its Embrace a Healthy Florida childhood obesity initiative, the BCBSF Foundation is addressing the causes of childhood obesity through community engagement in six communities across Florida and through grants to support promising practices and applied research.
“National statistics indicate that childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. This troubling trend is documented in Florida, too,” said Susan B. Towler, vice president, BCBSF Foundation. “We are excited to partner with JCC Association to eliminate this widespread threat to children, families, communities and the health care system.”
JCC Association is the leadership organization for the Jewish Community Center Movement, which includes nearly 350 JCC, YM-YWHA, and day and resident camp sites in the U. S. and Canada. JCC Association offers a wide range of services and resources to help its affiliates to provide health-related, educational, cultural, social, Jewish identity-building and recreational programs for all ages and backgrounds. JCC Association supports the largest network of Jewish early childhood centers and Jewish summer camps in North America.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation is a separate, philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) incorporated in the state of Florida. The BCBSF Foundation, and its parent, BCBSF, are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information on the BCBSF Foundation, please visit its Web site at www.bluefoundationfl.com or for more information on the childhood obesity initiative, visit www.embraceahealthyfl.org.
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