Fallon Community Health Plan awards $20,000 to Whitin Community Center
Grant money to support healthy activities for at-risk youth
Worcester, Mass., December 11, 2007—Fallon Community Health Plan (FCHP) will award, as a matching grant, up to $20,000 to the Whitin Community Center, in Northbridge, Mass., through its Community Benefits Program. This funding will support a new, pilot program, The Boost Program, which will provide an opportunity for at-risk youth to learn about the importance of exercise and healthy eating.
“We designed this program to address the needs of at-risk youth ages 12-17 who will be impacted by the reduction of after-school clubs and activities, as well as athletic programs, in the school support system,” said Brett MacGowan, Outreach Director, Whitin Community Center. “We want to provide children who may fall through the cracks the ability to lead healthier lifestyles, have higher self-esteem and remain out of trouble.”
The Whitin Community Center has a rich history, dating back to 1922, of serving the Blackstone Valley. The center offers social, recreational, educational and outreach programs that bring community members of all ages and backgrounds together.
“Those youth who participate in The Boost Program will have a full membership to the center, which means they can access our two indoor swimming pools, health and fitness room, gymnasium, tennis and even racquetball,” added MacGowan. “They are also required to attend mandatory programs four days each week, and will be provided with healthy snacks and water when they are here.”
Every year, Fallon Community Health Plan seeks grant applications from non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of youth in communities throughout Massachusetts.
“At FCHP, we’re committed to doing all we can to help eliminate childhood obesity, and we are proud to support The Whitin Community Center’s Boost Program,” said Eric H. Schultz, President and CEO, FCHP. “This program not only encourages physical activity and healthy eating, but it also provides a safe place for children to have fun, stay out of trouble, and participate in exercise programs that will boost their overall health and well-being.”
Lauren M. Petit
lauren.petit@fchp.org
About FCHP
Founded in 1977, Fallon Community Health Plan provides health care services designed to meet the unique and changing needs of all we serve. FCHP is the only health plan in Massachusetts that is both an insurer and provider of care. Our product portfolio includes a variety of group and individual health plan options (HMO, POS, PPO, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans) featuring flexible and innovative benefit designs. We administer fully-insured and self-insured funding arrangements with customized services for employers. Our uniquely developed provider networks offer high-quality, cost-effective, coordinated care and give our members access to doctors and hospitals throughout Massachusetts. We also offer a broad spectrum of services and programs to ensure our members, at every stage of life, remain as healthy and productive as possible. FCHP is a provider of care through its Summit ElderCareSM program, an advanced and completely integrated program that offers seniors and their caregivers an alternative to nursing home placement. Our continued commitment to deliver high-quality health care and exceptional customer service has earned FCHP consistent ratings as one of the nation’s top health plans, and in 2007, placed our Medicare and Medicaid health plans as the best in the nation. FCHP is the only health plan in Massachusetts to have been awarded “Excellent” Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for our HMO, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid products.