ICC Gets $355,000 Health Grant

FULTON, Miss. (Press release) — A $355,048 grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation will enable Itawamba Community College to enhance its role in the promotion of a healthier institution and community through WellFIT 365.

Sheila Grogan, executive director of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, will be on the Fulton Campus on Tuesday, Mar. 17, for a check presentation.

“Itawamba Community College is extremely grateful to the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation for this grant that will enable us to provide expanded health and wellness opportunities not only for our faculty, staff and students but also for those in K-12 as well as our community,” said President Mike Eaton. “It will further enhance the College’s role in the promotion of a healthier institution and community.”

The grant opportunity originated from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation Health and Wellness Summit, attended by Dana Hale, chair of ICC’s Health, Physical Education and Recreation Division and Dr. Buddy Collins, Vice-President of Student Services.

The Foundation’s University and College Health and Wellness Model is designed to support the development of health and wellness cultures that extend from campuses into the surrounding communities and schools.

WellFIT 365 will provide new cardio equipment including spin bikes, a nine-week health and nutrition program each semester and a youth summer health and wellness camp, according to Hale who is also leading the ICC Health and Wellness Executive Committee.

“My passion is health and wellness, and I am both honored and excited to be a part of the WellFit 365 program,” Hale said. “Our goal is to create healthier lifestyles with an emphasis on better nutrition practices and more active lives of our faculty, staff, student body and the surrounding communities.”

Other members of the committee in addition to Hale and Collins include Dr. Jan Reid-Bunch, James Harris, Nicole Pierce, Deborah Stone, Sungja Collins, Treny Emison, Lynette Weatherford and Patricia Heflin. The grant period extends from March 2015-August 2016.

“The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is committed to supporting wellness programs designed to enhance health and quality of life for Mississippians,” said Sheila Grogan, executive director of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. “We’re proud to support Itawamba Community College and its efforts to promote healthy lifestyle habits to its students, staff and faculty and the community.”

To learn more about the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, visit www.healthiermississippi.org.

Categories: Local News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *