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Minnesota Grantmaker Health News
and Notes
May 14,
2007
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Mayo Clinic and General Mills each received a Gold
Award from the National Business Group on Health for commitment to
providing a healthy work environment and encouraging employees to
live healthier lifestyles. Mayo Clinic was recognized for its "LiveWell"
program, which helps employees achieve the best quality of life
possible by promoting the extensive resources available to focus on
health and wellness lifestyle choices. General Mills offers a broad
spectrum of health education and wellness programs, preventive care
and medical treatment, including the successful program
TriHealthalon.
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Minnesota business and policy leaders launched the Fittest State in the Nation program, a statewide initiative to improve the health of all Minnesotans and control rising health-care costs by supporting and creating science-based programs that promote increased physical activity and healthy living. Companies involved include Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Carlson Companies, General Mills, Marvin Windows and Doors, and Medtronic. Other supporters include the local chapters of the American Cancer Society
and the American Heart Association.
Fittest State will reach Minnesota employees, families and communities, spreading employer-led health improvement initiatives to spark new innovation and programming to reach all Minnesotans. In addition, the initiative's partners will host forums to allow business leaders to share best practices and informational resources.
Achieving the program's goals will reduce cancer deaths, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other costly chronic diseases. Progress will be measured yearly against the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's standards for the percentage of adults who achieve 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days a week, and the percentage of adults who eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Minnesota currently ranks 19th and 18th, respectively, on those two measures.
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The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community donated
$10,000 to the National Kidney Foundation for its K.E.E.P. program
for the second straight year. The Kidney Early Evaluation Program
will use the funds for screening and early intervention in high-risk
communities for chronic kidney disease. Individuals with diabetes or high blood pressure or a
close family member with diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney
disease should be tested for kidney disease, which can cause serious
health problems or death if left untreated. Native Americans are
particularly at risk for kidney disease and its complications, due
in part to the epidemic rates of diabetes found in Native American
communities.
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The W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded $4.5 million in grants to nine projects nationwide to help communities embrace active living and healthy eating. Each community group will receive a two-year, $500,000 grant to create a community action plan that maps out ways the community can support healthy children, help youth and families have access to local healthy food, and provide safe spaces and structures for physical activity and play.
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The Los Angeles-based Conrad N. Hilton Foundation selected
Reuben Lindh Family
Services of Minneapolis as one of three projects for its national initiative to
improve housing, health and development of young homeless and
at-risk children and their mothers. Each will pilot and evaluate
innovative programs, then
share the effective strategies and services to provide
a roadmap to enhance services nationally. Reuben Lindh will partner with Wayside House and St.
Stephen's Human Services to integrate housing, child development
services, chemical dependency and mental health into a single
delivery system.
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