Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Funds Play with a Purpose

CHICAGO, Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is awarding a $75,000 Healthy Kids, Healthy Families grant to Playworks Illinois to support their work rejuvenating recess and combatting bullying at 18 low-income Chicago Public Schools.

Playworks believes recess should be fun, energizing, safe and inclusive for everyone and their work is helping students learn cooperation and leadership skills that they carry off the playground, into the classroom and beyond.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and BCBSIL's is proud to highlight Playworks' success at teaching CPS students how to resolve conflicts and interact with each other in healthy, appropriate ways.

"It's wonderful to see a program that parents and teachers credit with reducing bullying, reducing classroom disruptions and improving overall student behavior," says Donna Gerber, vice-president, Public Affairs and Community Investments. "But what is so special is how Playworks is able to teach those school and life skills – all in a kid-friendly, fun way. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is proud to help further their reach as part of our 78-year legacy of serving the people of Illinois."

Playworks embeds coaches in schools who teach fun, inclusive games where everyone plays, everyone belongs and everyone contributes. The coaches lead by example – getting in the game – literally.

Students also become leaders – working as junior coaches who help run games for their peers and younger students.

"We are proud to have BCBSIL as one of our founding partners," said Jason Held, Playworks Illinois Executive Director.  "With support from BCBSIL, we are on our way to serve over 20,000 kids this year throughout the state, lowering incidents of bullying, making kids feel safer, returning classroom time back to teachers and getting kids more vigorously active during recess through our direct service program and professional development of educators and community youth workers."

BCBSIL support of Playworks extends to hands on help from our Chief of Staff, Manika Turnbull, who serves on the board of Playworks Illinois. "It's so inspiring to go to a Playworks school and see the high-fives and smiles on the faces of the students," she says. "It's important for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois to invest in organizations that impact the day-to-day lives of people right where they need it – and serving children in schools with skills that can lead them to live active, healthy lives is one way we are doing that."

In total, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is supporting 71 community organizations through financial grants.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois