DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 9, 2024 — The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), is pleased to announce six community health mini-grant awardees, totaling $45,000. These grants will help community organizations and companies to improve heart health among those who are most at risk for cardiovascular disease, including stroke in North Carolina.
Mini-grant projects range from $4,000 to $10,000 and focus on access to healthy food, nutrition education, hypertension awareness and management and/or cardiac emergency preparedness.
Community organizations in the Triangle (Wake, Durham, and Orange counties) and Charlotte (Mecklenburg, Gaston, and Union counties) were encouraged to apply for the mini-grants to support heart health policies and environments, and programs providing support for community health.
The American Heart Association received 180 applications. The applications were vetted through the Association’s volunteer committees and evaluated on specific criteria meeting community needs in under-resourced populations. Grantees were asked to show how their applications would reach under-resourced communities and were linked to sustainable policy and systems changes.
“It is very exciting to have Blue Cross NC sponsor our efforts to address health equity issues in our communities and to offer community mini-grants to bolster existing programs and inspire sustainable strategies to improve health outcomes throughout North Carolina,” said Shannon Emmanuel, vice president of community impact for the American Heart Association, Charlotte Metro Region.
Community health mini-grant awardees include:
Charlotte: (Award $22,500)
- Champion House of Care: Funding will provide a refrigerated cooler, freezer unit, shelving and procurement policy for weekly meal delivery to three hotels, serving 5,000 people annually, in a high-priority zip code.
- Charlotte Gaymers Network: Supports an at-risk community that serves 4,300 people annually with Tobacco Free Policy implementation and a cardiac emergency response plan that includes a Community CPR Kit and funds for an onsite Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
- Yokefellow Ministry: Provide funding for a refrigeration cooler, freezer unit and procurement policy to support resources and services for 22,000 people annually in Statesville, NC.
Raleigh-Durham: (Award $22,500)
- Boys & Girls Club of Wake County: Funding the purchase of cold storage and freezer units to increase capacity to serve healthy meals and providing educational resources to promote healthy nutrition and cardiovascular health.
- Inter-Faith Food Shuttle: Supporting the expansion of community health education curriculum to include Food as Medicine. The in-person and virtual educational series will educate community members about heart health, blood pressure and general health.
- LGBT Center of Raleigh: Funding the purchase of a self-monitoring blood pressure station and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED); supporting quarterly community health fairs.
Since January 2020, the American Heart Association, through sponsorship from Blue Cross NC, have awarded 71 community health mini-grants across North Carolina, totaling more than $345,000. Visit www.heart.org/NorthCarolina for more American Heart Association community impact stories.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
American Heart Association Contact:
Dawn Hall: dawn.hall@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org