Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County Awarded $20,000 Grant by Amerigroup Foundation

"As one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States, type 2 diabetes affects all Washingtonians, but the risk is higher for American Indian and Alaska Native youth. Early education can provide better outcomes," said Amerigroup Washington Medical Director Dr. Tanya Dansky. "This is why Amerigroup strongly supports the Boys & Girls Club of America T.R.A.I.L. to Diabetes Prevention Program in Tulalip."

This funding will support the continuation of the T.R.A.I.L (Together Raising Awareness for Indian Life) to Diabetes Prevention Program. T.R.A.I.L. provides youth with a comprehensive understanding of healthy lifestyles, with the long-term goal of preventing and reducing the onset of type 2 diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Native youth ages 7 to 11. The interactive and educational based curriculum draws from tribal traditions and history to teach participants about nutrition, food choices, media influences, and the impact of type 2 diabetes.

"Thanks to the support of the Amerigroup Foundation, we are able to provide effective programs and address issues like type 2 diabetes that are increasingly present in the community we serve," said Bill Tsoukalas, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County. "Through programs like T.R.A.I.L, we are not only empowering kids and teens to discover the path to a healthy future, but we are influencing families and communities along the way." 

Amerigroup Foundation is committed to improving health and strengthening Washington communities. A host of Amerigroup volunteers recently contributed their time and energy and planted a community garden at the Tulalip Club. During the event, Club members and local guests had the opportunity to learn basic growing techniques regarding planting, tending and harvesting a garden. They also learned about preventative measures they can take to combat diabetes and lead a healthy life. As a culmination to the festivities, Amerigroup executives presented the Club with a $20,000 check to support the Clubs' T.R.A.I.L to Diabetes Prevention Program.

Through its Healthy Generations grant program, Amerigroup Foundation works to identify the issues most in need of attention and then directs its financial support and volunteer efforts toward improving health in those areas. Promoting youth health and active lifestyles is an ongoing focus of the foundation.

About Amerigroup Foundation
The Amerigroup Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Amerigroup, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anthem, Inc. Together, with local, regional and national organizations, the Amerigroup Foundation works to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Amerigroup and its affiliated health plans serve. Amerigroup Foundation funding is focused on strategic initiatives working to address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative with five areas of focus: Healthy Heart, Cancer Prevention, Healthy Maternal Practices, Type 2 Diabetes Prevention, and Healthy Active Lifestyle. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about the Amerigroup Foundation, please visit www.anthem.foundation.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,000 Clubs serve some four million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native American lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at http://www.bgca.org/facebook  and http://bgca.org/twitter

Healthy Lifestyles is a key outcome area for BGCA, with over a third of young people currently overweight or obese in the United States. Boys & Girls Clubs are solution-oriented, offering signature programs like Triple Play. Triple Play, a game plan for the mind, body and soul, was launched in 2005 by BGCA in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services and with support from The Coca-Cola Company and Anthem Foundation. The goal of Triple Play is to encourage kids and teens to eat healthier, become more physically active and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County
For 70 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County has enabled young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, 21 Clubs and 15 school-based extension sites serve nearly 21,000 children and teens through Club membership and community outreach. Over 4,000 youth attend our Clubs each day which are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native American lands, and serve military families. Clubs provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. For more information call us at (425) 258-2436 or go to www.bgcsc.org. Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/boysgirlsclubssnohomishcounty/

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SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Related Links

http://www.bgca.org