DES MOINES, IA – The Wellmark Foundation recently announced 13 recipients of its 2016 Healthy Communities small grant program. The Healthy Communities small grant program supports projects of $25,000 or less with the goal of encouraging new collaborations focused on improving the health of a community. This includes ensuring all residents have access to nutritious food and safe places to be active where they live, work, play and learn.

"These 13 projects in Iowa and South Dakota provide their communities support to increase physical activity and enhance access to healthy, affordable food," said Stephanie Perry, The Wellmark Foundation manager. "We are pleased to support these projects that will have long-term sustainability in the communities."

A total of 111 applications were received for this year’s Healthy Communities small grant program. The 11 selected to receive funding in Iowa include:

• Carver Community School, $25,000
  Project: Healthy Lifestyles in the Carver Community
  
  
• Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, $20,580
  Project: Our CHANCE: Our Community’s Health, Activity and Neighborhood Change Exercise
  
  
• City of Burlington, $25,000
  Project: Flint River Trail
  
  
• City of Kingsley, $25,000
  Project: Kingsley Park Improvement Project Phase I
  
  
• City of Maquoketa, $25,000
  Project: Maquoketa River Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Engineering
  
  
• Des Moines County Conservation, $25,000
  Project: North Gorge Trail System
  
  
• Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, Clarke County, $25,000
  Project: Clarke County Nutrition Education and Vending Program
  
  
• Jones County, $25,000
  Project: Wapsipinicon Trail Engineering
  
  
• Lutheran Services in Iowa, $25,000
  Project: Global Greens
  
  
• Alta/Aurelia Community School and the City of Alta, $25,000
  Project: Pedestrian Trails and Safe Routes to School
  
  
• Waukee Foundation, Inc., $25,000
  Project: Waukee Trailhead Project – Raccoon River Valley Trail

The two selected to receive funding in South Dakota include:

• Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, $25,000
  Project: 12th Street South Park Playground Project
  
  
• Community Advancement for Roslyn and Eden, $25,000
  Project: Playground/City Park

The Wellmark Foundation is proud to award more than $320,500 to these 13 grant recipients. View a summary of each recipient’s Healthy Communities small grant.

About The Wellmark Foundation
The Wellmark Foundation is a private, non-profit foundation created by Wellmark, Inc., doing business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and The Wellmark Foundation are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

For more information regarding the Wellmark Foundation and its grant programs, contact Stephanie Perry, (605) 373-7429.