Aug. 4—MINNEAPOLIS — The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation recently awarded $3.4 million in grants to 16 nonprofit organizations across Minnesota, including the
Northwest Minnesota Foundation
of Bemidji.
NWMF received a $200,000 Healthy Start grant that will support the Step Up program, collaboratively run with Peacemaker Resources.
“Step Up provides tools and resources for childcare providers across the northwestern region of the state to address prejudice, stereotyping, bias and inclusion in their programs,” a release said. “The overarching goals of the program are to retain childcare providers and reduce or eliminate early childhood expulsions — a critical racial equity issue in early childhood programming.”
Bukata Hayes — chair of the Blue Cross Foundation board, vice president of racial and health equity, and chief equity officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota — noted the Foundation’s 20-plus year focus on ensuring that kids have a healthy start in life.
“The connection between education and health is well known, and quality early childcare and education helps pave the way for the youngest Minnesotans to live their healthiest life,” Hayes said in the release. “We’re proud to support our grantee partners in this work and in their efforts to advance racial and health equity across the state.”
The full list of grant recipients can be found at
www.bluecrossmnfoundation.org.
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