ALBUQUERQUE — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico announced today it received a $15,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico’s (BCBSNM) Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® initiative. The grant will support Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Mentoring Outdoors program, which enhances Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based one-to-one mentoring model by providing outdoor physical activities and adventure opportunities to children who might not ordinarily have the chance to participate in activities outdoors and in nature.
“We are grateful to BCBSNM for providing us with resources to host events that get kids outside and moving. This program helps kids get equal access to the outdoors they might not have had otherwise,” said Angela Reed Padilla, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico. “We are actively recruiting mentors from the community for Mentoring Outdoors who are passionate about helping our youth access healthy activities.”
This funding from BCBSNM allows Big Brothers Big Sisters to host fun and educational Mentoring Outdoors events for the youth they serve. It will help with costs such as supplies for activities, food for attendees and facility fees. The money is essential to help Big Brothers Big Sisters continue offering the Mentoring Outdoors program free of charge to its matches and provide youth with the opportunity to spend time outdoors learning new skills and activities with their mentors.
“Spending time outdoors is essential to our mental and physical well-being,” said Janice Torrez, BCBSNM president. “Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico helps supports children’s well-being by investing in programs that provide access to fun and engaging activities.”
BCBSNM’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Families (HKHF) grant initiative is part of an ongoing commitment to invest in and partner with nonprofit organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs in nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management, and supporting safe environments. (A new major grant program — Blue ImpactSM — replaces HKHF in 2023.)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico’s commitment to igniting mentees’ passion for outdoor physical activities that their mentors continue to build on by engaging with them one-to-one with ongoing adventures and activities aligns with the vision of Healthy Kids, Healthy Families to improve the health of children and their families across New Mexico.
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About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico is a nonprofit organization that creates and supports high quality one-to-one mentoring relationships between caring adult volunteers and youth from our local communities. These mentoring relationships play a pivotal role in igniting the power and promise of our youth and helping them achieve their fullest potential. BBBS-CNM serves 1,500 active mentoring matches each year across the state, in proven and supported mentoring programs. Youth in BBBS’ programs are statistically more likely to have higher aspirations and greater confidence, develop better relationships, avoid risky behaviors, and graduate from high school. BBBS’ mentoring programs are free of charge to the youth and families they serve.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico is one of the largest commercial health insurers in New Mexico with more than 700,000 New Mexicans carrying a Blue Cross and Blue Shield card. Since 1940, BCBSNM has been committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSNM is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.