Boys & Girls Clubs In Florida Awarded New Grants By Simply Healthcare Foundation

MIAMI, Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Through Triple Play, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Simply Healthcare Foundation are delivering education and programming that promotes the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition, and enables 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 Simply Healthcare Foundation, more youth will have access to health and wellness programming in Florida.

Through the partnership, Boys & Girls Clubs in Florida have made significant strides in enabling youth to reach their full potential as healthy, productive adults. When comparing Florida Club kids to national youth averages, 71 percent of Clubs kids never drank alcohol while 37 percent of national youth reported never drinking alcohol. Thanks to the Amerigroup Foundation, the following Clubs will receive grants to implement the Triple Play program:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade

"At Simply Healthcare, we are excited to continue our support of programs that educate and motivate the youth of Florida to ensure they have an opportunity to live a healthier life," said Lourdes Rivas, Simply Healthcare Medicaid Plan President. "Through our Foundation, we are 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 fosters a 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.

"Simply Healthcare 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 Florida youth in all communities statewide the opportunity 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, Simply Healthcare 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 SIMPLY HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
Simply Healthcare Foundation is a philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc. Together, with local, regional and national organizations, Simply Healthcare Foundation works to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem and its affiliated health plans serve. Simply Healthcare 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.

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America