Building a Healthy Mississippi

Mississippi continues to make progress toward a healthier future, and the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is facilitating this progress by providing the resources, funding and leadership needed to continue in our commitment to a healthier Mississippi.

The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is proud to have provided grant funding to these organizations:



Building Healthy Communities


University and College Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Strengthened

The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is providing ongoing support to Mississippi’s universities and colleges by encouraging strengthened tobacco-free policies that align with the Model Policy for a Smoke-free College/University as published by the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF). Grant funds are provided for support of general health and wellness at the university or college, excluding support of athletic teams. Blue Mountain Christian University and East Central Community College received grants from the Foundation in 2024 to strengthen its campus tobacco-free policies.



Building Healthy Schools


Healthy School Awards

N. H. Pilate Middle School and Petal Elementary School were honored as 2024 Healthy School Award winners by the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. The schools earned the title "Healthy School" in recognition of implementing exemplary school health and wellness initiatives and programs. Both schools used the grant funds to support ongoing efforts to create and sustain healthy school environments.


Building Healthy Schools | Playgrounds

The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation gifted new state-of-the-art playgrounds to elementary schools across the state. Schools selected to receive a playground either did not have a playground, or had an aged playground in disrepair. Each of the inclusive playgrounds include turf safety surfacing, shading systems and more than 24 pieces of play equipment. Teacher education curriculum was also provided. The evidence-based curriculum was created as a best practice guide for promoting overall fitness and fun through the use of outdoor play and aligned with national physical education standards. Schools awarded playgrounds in 2024 include:


School Garden Program


The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation is working to educate and empower students in grades K-12 to make healthy food choices by funding sustainable edible school gardens. The Foundation’s School Garden Program is designed to fully integrate into the fabric of participating schools and the academic experience of every student by putting nutritious food at their fingertips. In 2024, the schools listed below were awarded grants to implement school garden programs.


Physical Education Conferences

The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation hosted three Project Fit America Physical Education Conferences bringing together physical education teachers from elementary and middle schools around the state. The teachers participated in educational sessions and shared best practices for engaging students and making P.E. classes both exciting and effective. Provided with Foundation grant funds, participants received indoor physical fitness equipment and curricula designed to help P.E. teachers find imaginative and innovative ways to get students moving.


Access to Care


Access to High Quality Healthcare Services

Addressing health disparities of residents living in the most rural areas of our state, including gaps in access to care due to physician shortages, the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation adopted “Access to High Quality Healthcare Services” as a strategic goal to broaden access to care aligned with national guidelines and best practices. The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation provided generous grants to South Sunflower County Hospital Foundation to assist in improving access to care in the Mississippi Delta.