The Blue Impact Grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma will strengthen HPNRI's Building Healthy School Communities Project ECHO bridging the gap in health care access for underserved communities.

BCBSOK awards HPNRI grant to improve education programs

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Media Contact: Sydney Trainor | Communications and Media Relations Specialist | 405-744-9782 | sydney.trainor@okstate.edu

The Oklahoma State University Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute has been selected as a recipient for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma’s Blue Impact grant program. These grants focus on addressing the social and economic factors that influence the health and wellness of Oklahomans.

“We are incredibly honored to receive a Blue Impact grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, which allows us to further our mission of improving the health and well-being of all Oklahomans," said Lance Walker, Rick and Gail Muncrief HPNRI executive director.

As HPNRI continues to fulfill the land-grant mission through intentional sharing of knowledge with Oklahoma communities, this grant will strengthen Project ECHO, a guided-practice model that reduces health disparities in underserved and remote areas of the state. Expert teams share their knowledge via virtual clinics to help local providers deliver best-in-practice care to rural communities.

"By expanding our Project ECHO Building Healthy School Communities line and sharing best practices in areas such as nutrition and physical activity, we can continue to bridge the gap in health care access, especially in underserved and rural communities,” Walker said. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to fostering healthier lives through education, research and community outreach, ensuring that all Oklahomans have the opportunity to thrive."

Through the Blue Impact grant program, BCBSOK invests in and partners with nonprofits that offer sustainable, measurable programs to reach Oklahomans in five focus areas. The impact areas and 2024 awardees are: economic opportunity and stability, nutrition, neighborhood and built environments, locally defined health solutions, and optimal health outcomes.

“As a company that is member-owned, we seek to improve and promote the health of all Oklahomans every day,” said Stephania Grober, BCBSOK president. “We recognize the role certain factors play in someone’s everyday life — having opportunities for a good-paying job, access to nutritious food and affordable housing to name a few. These grants directly target those barriers to health and wellness and support the organizations working to make an impact across the state.”

“Our investment into these organizations isn’t a one-time effort,” Grober said. “We continually partner with and volunteer at these organizations and many others throughout the year. We are committed to improving the health and wellness for all Oklahomans.”