The Wellmark Foundation Funds Community Diabetes Education and Prevention Program in Van Buren County

April 16, 2007

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Contact:
Angela Feig
515.245.4551
feigab@wellmark.com

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Wellmark Foundation provided a $46,143 grant to Van Buren County in Keosauqua to develop a community-wide diabetes education, prevention, and support program.

The Van Buren County Community Diabetes Program will strive to improve the health of individuals living and working in Van Buren County who have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes, says Dixie Daugherty, Van Buren County Hospital administrator. “Program goals include educating county residents about the signs and symptoms of diabetes and lifestyle factors that contribute to the disease. We will also work to establish a free diabetes health screening program and a certified diabetes self-management program through the hospital,” says Daugherty.

According to Daugherty, numerous medical professionals including staff from local providers, hospitals, county health departments, local employers and Iowa State University Extension will be involved in development and implementation of the multi-faceted program. Many volunteers from the community will also provide assistance.

Program partners include Van Buren County Rural Health Clinics, Van Buren County Public Health, Van Buren County Extension, Barker Ltd., Riverside Plastics, Senior Meal Sites and Lee Pharmacy. For more information on the Van Buren County Community Diabetes Program, contact Daugherty at dbd76@yahoo.com or (319) 293-3171 ext. 278.

The Wellmark Foundation has provided nearly $12 million to fund 350 health-related grants in Iowa and South Dakota since 1997, including $574,147 this cycle. “The Wellmark Foundation collaborates with non-profit and governmental organizations in Iowa and South Dakota to build healthier communities,” says Matthew McGarvey, director of The Wellmark Foundation. “We are happy to support this comprehensive diabetes education, prevention and support program designed to reach many individuals in Van Buren County who have diabetes or are at risk for developing the disease,” says McGarvey. 

The Wellmark Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation created by Wellmark, Inc., doing business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Visit The Wellmark Foundation's Web site at www.wellmark.com/foundation for a list of grant recipients and grant application instructions.  Applications for the next round of community responsive grants are due June 19, 2007. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and The Wellmark Foundation are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.