Boys & Girls Clubs In New Jersey Awarded New Grants By Amerigroup Foundation

ISELIN, N.J., Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Through Triple Play, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Amerigroup Foundation are delivering education and programming that promote the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition, and enable youth to build the skills needed to overcome environmental factors that can negatively impact health and wellness. Thanks to $20,000 in Triple Play grants from the Amerigroup Foundation, more youth will have access to health and wellness programming in New Jersey.

Through the partnership, Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey have made significant strides in enabling youth to reach their full potential as healthy, productive adults. When comparing New Jersey youth to New Jersey Club kids, 67 percent of Club kids eat more than two servings of fruit per day while 31 percent of New Jersey youth reported eating over 2 servings of fruit per day. Thanks to Amerigroup Foundation, the following Clubs will receive grants to implement the Triple Play program:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Hudson County
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Paterson and Passaic
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County

"Amerigroup wants New Jersey kids to be healthy as possible and our Foundation's partnership with the Boys and Girls is one way we help make that happen," said John Koehn, Amerigroup New Jersey Medicaid Plan President. "Amerigroup is taking a proactive approach to adolescent health that takes into consideration social and environmental factors that impact well-being, and providing access to resources and support that foster greater awareness about the benefits of leading a healthier lifestyle that can positively impact their future."

As Boys & Girls Clubs of America's proven health and wellness program, Triple Play is a game plan for the mind, body and soul. Supported by founding sponsor The Coca-Cola Company and co-sponsor Amerigroup Foundation, the program's three components deliver on the belief that whole child health fosters young people's ability to gain diverse knowledge, skills and protective factors that enable them to overcome barriers to wellness, resulting in positive future health outcomes.

"Amerigroup Foundation's continued support of Triple Play has enabled us to continuously build and implement a whole child development approach," said Jennifer Bateman, National Vice President of Youth Development Programs for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Through the partnership, we're enabling New Jersey youth in all communities statewide to develop the healthy habits, and social and emotional skills to lead a healthy lifestyle for life."

Through Triple Play, Amerigroup Foundation aims to create positive outcomes for youth, families and communities that are sustained over time. Together, the partnership seeks to level the playing field to enable all youth to achieve great futures.

The Triple Play grants are part of a five-year, $10 million commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America from The Anthem Foundation, Amerigroup Foundation's parent company.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, 4,400 Clubs serve 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native 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 and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote 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 on Facebook and Twitter.

About the 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.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America