PROVIDENCE – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is inviting local nonprofits with a health care focus to apply for its 2009 BlueAngel Community Health Grant program, which provides funds for new, existing and expanding programs that serve the uninsured, underserved and/or minority populations and focus on mental health, obesity or health literacy.
Blue Cross accepts and reviews proposals once a year. For this round of grants, it is accepting letters of intent (LOI) until June 27.
To qualify, organizations must be tax-exempt with 501(c)(3) status. Additional eligibility requirements, grant program information and an online LOI form are posted at BCBSRI.com/inthecommunity.
Blue Cross said it will review each LOI to determine its compliance with eligibility and funding priorities and notify applicants within about 30 days if it wants to invite them to submit a full proposal.
“The BlueAngel Community Health Grant program is a significant part of our overall effort to improve the quality of life of Rhode Islanders by improving their health,” said Linda Newton, vice president of community relations and diversity at Blue Cross, in a news release.
The specific focus areas have been chosen, Newton said, because Blue Cross is committed to efforts that help minimize the stigma of mental illness by increasing awareness and access to quality care; those that bring health and wellness programs to populations with limited access to information on nutrition and exercise; and those that educate Rhode Islanders on navigating the health care system and advocating for their own care.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island has been the state’s leading health insurer for 69 years, now covering more than 680,000 lives. For more information, go to www.bcbsri.com.
