Foundation awards two grants in Pike

WILKES-BARRE — The Blue Ribbon Foundation of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania recently awarded eleven (11) grants totaling $124,405 to support community health projects throughout its 13 county service area. Two nonprofit organizations in Pike County received a combined $15,800 to help fund health-related programs that will benefit Pike County residents. Safe Haven of Pike County received $8,500 for its “Safe Haven School Program.” The initiative will provide personal safety education to more than 3,625 K through 12 students and 100 faculty members in Pike and Wayne Counties. Penn State Cooperative Extension in Pike County received $7,300 for its “Up for the Challenge” Program. This summer program is designed to provide nutrition and fitness education to 75 at-risk children in partnership with existing youth programs. “These are exactly the kind of health and wellness programs our Foundation looks to fund,” said Cynthia A. Yevich, The Blue Ribbon Foundation’s executive director. “Our goal is to help improve lives and change the conditions that impact the health of our region’s residents.”