The Anna Westin Foundation was created by the Westin family as a result of the outrage and outpouring of public support that followed Anna’s suicide at the age of 21 following a five-year struggle with anorexia.

The Anna Westin Foundation also was funded, in part, from proceeds of a June 2001 out-of-court settlement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. The Westins were among families named in a lawsuit filed by former State Attorney General Mike Hatch charging BCBSMN with misconduct for denying, delaying and withholding mental health, chemical dependency and eating disorder treatment for children and young adults. As a result of that settlement, many state insurance companies now offer greatly improved access to care.

Like the Anna Westin Foundation, the Emily Program Foundation is dedicated to fighting eating disorders through education and prevention, advocacy, support and treatment. The Emily Program Foundation also is focused on building a better understanding of all weight-related issues and their wide-ranging effects on today’s society, including childhood obesity.

The Emily Program Foundation’s educational services and training are available to schools, health professionals and others who want to know more about eating disorders, prevention and treatment. Contact Dr. Jillian Croll at 651.379.6133 or jillian@emilyprogram.com for more information or to schedule an educational seminar.