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Creating a community commitment to health and wellness is part of the vision of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. In keeping with this vision, a recent grant to Belhaven University is broadening access to physical activity and health education for its students, as well as residents of the historic Belhaven neighborhood.

"Belhaven University is working diligently to promote health and wellness on their campus and in the surrounding community," said Sheila Grogan, Executive Director of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. "We applaud their efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles."

In 2010, the Foundation awarded $350,000 to Belhaven University for a comprehensive campus wellness initiative, including the construction and marking of a one-mile walking trail encircling the campus perimeter and a half-mile trail at the campus center. The trail is available to students, faculty and even members of the community. The University has also transformed vacant building space into a 1,800-square-foot student wellness center. Faculty and employees also will have access to exercise programs, and the center will be used as a resource for the Exercise Science and Sports Medicine academic programs.

"The overall enthusiasm about health and wellness matters has increased dramatically since we received the grant," said Kevin Russell, Vice President of Belhaven University. "Students and staff members have been eagerly anticipating the exercise center and I'm amazed to see how many of them are now making exercise a priority each day."

Community health programs, which began in January, are open to the public and will be offered three to four times each semester, featuring local and regional health experts discussing exercise and healthy lifestyle habits. Also included in the community health initiative is an exercise challenge, which also began in January.

"Our goal is sustainability," Russell adds. "We know many people commit to being healthier at the beginning of the year and we want to encourage that same level of commitment all year long."

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