BCBST Health Foundation

Established in December of 2003, the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation promotes the philanthropic mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.

The Foundation awards grants focused on high-impact initiatives and that work with civic and economic partners to promote healthy lifestyle choices across the state. This, in turn, helps control health care costs for all Tennessee residents.

According to the state Department of Health, about 40 percent of Tennessee children are overweight or obese. Children who are obese are more likely to grow into obese adults, studies show. Obesity dramatically increases a person’s risk for dangerous health conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The Shape the State program is another important leap forward in our efforts to combat childhood obesity in Tennessee,” says Calvin Anderson, BlueCross senior vice president of corporate affairs, and executive director of the BCBST Tennessee Health Foundation. “The SPARK physical education curriculum gives students fun tools they can use to achieve fitness through active play and healthy eating.”

The Tennessee Health Foundation has for years funded anti-obesity programs for children, including:

• Helping put the Growing Healthy curriculum into more than 50 schools in northeast Tennessee
• Hosting a best practices forum in Nashville, bringing together experts and organizations dedicated to fighting the childhood obesity problem in Tennessee
• Paying for the “Good For You: Healthy Fun on the Run,” exhibit to tour children’s museums across the state.

Click here for more information about the BCBST Tennessee Health Foundation.

About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

For more than 60 years, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has been centered on the health and well being of Tennesseans.

Today, more than 2 million people across the state turn to us for health plan coverage and insurance products. And more than 5 million people nationwide benefit from the services we provide.

Click here for more information about BCBST and its privacy policy.