Model Grants
Following are just three examples of how we work with grantee partners to achieve measurable results toward improving access to the key components of Healthy Living:
LiveWell Colorado
LiveWell Colorado is a statewide initiative aimed at reducing overweight and obesity rates and related chronic diseases. A partnership among foundations, health care organizations, nonprofit organizations, and state and local public health agencies, LiveWell Colorado works with communities to promote healthy eating and active living through policies, programs and environmental changes. LiveWell Colorado invests in community programs where every sector is engaged in ensuring there are opportunities for physical activity and healthy food choices in neighborhoods, child care settings, schools, workplaces and older-adult sites, among others. In 2007, we awarded a $2.7 million, two-year grant to support the initiative, which is also sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Children's Health Foundation
As part of its mission to "advance preventive and integrative health initiatives that benefit the mind, body and spirit of children," the Children's Health Foundation is working to prevent childhood obesity through better nutrition in schools. It rallies schools, community organizations and government officials to support schools' efforts to ban junk food and has created a "blueprint for change" that provides school administrators with the tools, technology and resources needed to improve meal preparation and content, while educating the public and school children about the benefits of healthy eating and fitness. In 2008, the Colorado Health Foundation granted the Children's Health Foundation $134,769 to improve the school food program for the 4,277 students in the Garfield Re-2 School District.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
As part of its Action Plan for Older Adult Wellness, The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment created the Healthy Aging Unit to ensure that all older Coloradans receive quality health and wellness services to increase their independence, reduce their health care use and improve their quality of life. In 2007, the Colorado Health Foundation granted the Healthy Aging Unit $895,000 to enable older adults who are not serviced through private health organizations to participate in chronic disease self-management programs, where they can learn how to improve their health (such as through better nutrition and increased exercise), communicate with health care providers, cope with anger and frustration, manage pain and fight fatigue. This project is in collaboration with the State Unit on Aging.