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Building
Healthier Schools
Since its inception, the Highmark
Foundation has been known for
providing support to thousands of
families in need as their children face
health concerns. In 2012, the orga-
nization formalized its efforts by
developing the Building Sustainable
and Lasting Changes in Schools
grant program, which is open to
MAGGIE MATSKO
all elementary, middle and high
schools throughout West Virginia.
“The Building Sustainable and Lasting Changes in Schools
grant program is a continued outgrowth of the foundation’s
landmark work through its Highmark Healthy High 5 pro-
gram,” says Yvonne Cook, president of the Highmark Founda-
tion. “Through extensive research of emerging health issues,
the foundation recognized a need for children’s health promo-
tion as a critical ingredient to addressing public health issues,
particularly in school. There were three overarching themes:
raising awareness, changing behaviors and creating supportive
environments.”
Applications for the Building Sustainable and Lasting Chang-
es in Schools grant program are sent to schools in January and
must be submitted by March. When applying, schools are re-
quired to choose between four priority areas in which to re-
ceive funding: bullying prevention, child injury prevention,
environmental health and healthy eating and physical activity.
If accepted, schools receive notification in May, and checks
are issued in August as the grant awards are to be used for the
next school year. West Virginia schools may apply for funding
up to $5,000 based on their program needs.
Twenty-three schools in the Mountain State applied for the
2017-2018 school year, and 11 schools were chosen with a
total of $48,380 divided among them.
“These schools were selected because they not only met the
criteria for the grant program but also demonstrated that the
programs they were requesting funding for would further the
Highmark Foundation’s commitment to creating healthier
Highmark
Foundation
Creates Positive
Change in
West Virginia
18
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
school environments,” says Kristy Cramlet, public relations
analyst for Highmark Health. “These efforts include provid-
ing an atmosphere in which students can practice what they
learn about making healthy decisions, advancing the work of
staff to practice and model healthy behavior and offering staff
an opportunity to network with parents and communities to
share best practices.”
When applying, Moundsville Middle School requested funds
for the priority areas of environmental health and physical ac-
tivity and healthy eating due to the rise of candy consumption
within the student population.
“We didn’t realize how many kids were eating candy until
we started following the concession sales,” says Donnie Gil-
bert Jr., physical education and hea