Boys & Girls Club Awarded $100,000 Grant from Kansas Health Foundation
LAWRENCE, Kan. – In many ways, the priority outcomes at Boys & Girls Club are aligned with those of the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF). The organization made that alignment even clearer by awarding Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence a $100,000 Healthy Living Grant.
The Healthy Living Grants Initiative will focus on health strategies for vulnerable populations, as part of the foundation’s mission to improve the health of all Kansans. Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence was one of eight organizations around the state to be awarded funds by KHF.
“The top threats to health for Kansans are smoking, obesity and access to affordable health care,” said Steve Coen, KHF president & CEO. “Unfortunately, data shows these are critical need areas for low-income Kansans and racially diverse communities – both rural and urban. With these eight partner organizations, we can target our resources so ALL Kansans can have the opportunity for better health.”
Boys & Girls Club will be incorporating youth program curriculum that promotes healthy, drug-free lifestyles and encourages teens and parent advocates to speak out about tobacco usage concerns. It will also be working towards implementing a community Tobacco 21 policy, primarily within its teen program. The funds will be divided and distributed during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 grant years.
“We are really fortunate to receive this grant, which adds to our excitement about implementing it,” Director of Grants, Hannah Odette, said. “Making good decisions when it comes to the peer pressures of alcohol, drugs and tobacco is already a huge part of our healthy lifestyles and SMART Moves initiatives. This partnership with KHF, who is working to create the same drug-free environment, makes terrific sense.”
Odette will work internally with Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence Director of Teen Services, Amy Hill, and new Executive Director of the Center for Great Futures, Monica Dittmer, to implement the programming at the Teen Center. BGCLK will also partner with Lawrence Public Schools, LiveWell Lawrence, Lawrence Health Department and the Alliance for Healthier Generation.
The Kansas Health Foundation is a philanthropy dedicated to improving the health of all Kansans. For more information about the Kansas Health Foundation, visit www.kansashealth.org.