Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan names six #MIKidsCan Contest finalists

DETROIT, Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Michigan students and one elementary school have been selected as finalists for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's #MIKidsCan Contest.  Winners will be decided by the public through an online vote. To view finalist entries and vote, visit AHealthierMichigan.org/mikidscan. Voting runs through Nov. 14 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  Winners will be announced Nov. 18.

In partnership with Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, Blue Cross recently asked Michigan kids ages 7 - 14 to a create  a two-minute video or submit a photo and short essay answering the question, "What's your favorite way to get moving and be active?"  Three finalists were chosen in each category: video and photo/essay submission. The winner of the video category will receive a special assembly with Stafford focused on healthy eating and exercise.  The winner of the photo/essay category will receive tickets to the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving game and autographed Detroit Lions gear.

The video finalists are:

• Makayla Pawlowski, a seventh grader from Larson Middle School in Troy
• Brooklyn and Jackson Sage, second graders from Christ the King School in Southgate
• Cass City Elementary School in Cass City

The photo/essay finalists are:

• Zharia Akeem, a seventh grader from Bates Academy in Detroit
• Zach Edmonds, a ninth grader at Big Rapids High School in Big Rapids
• Austin West, an eighth grader from Oxford Middle School in Oxford

"We are extremely impressed by the incredible entries we received from Michigan kids entered in the MIKidsCan contest," said Andrew Hetzel, vice president of Corporate Communications for Blue Cross. "These finalists are great examples of how kids can have a great time getting active every day, and we think they'll inspire other kids to do the same."

The #MIKidsCan Contest is an extension of Blue Cross' ongoing efforts to help Michigan families make good choices leading to healthier lives. With a focus on improving children's health, over the last 10 years, Blue Cross has given more than $6 million in support of kids' health and wellness initiatives across the state, reaching more than 100,000 children. For more information on the #MIKidsCan Contest and Blue Cross' ongoing efforts to help improve childhood health, visit http://www.AHealthierMichigan.org/mikidscan or follow #MIKidsCan on Twitter.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.4 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies who reside outside the state. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com  and MiBluesPerspectives.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

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