The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation has approved grant applications totaling $1,710,933 for health-related programs in South Carolina.
The grants are for periods of one to three years.
Since the Foundation was established in 2003, it has granted more than $29,866,088 to address such issues as childhood health, community health, the increasing need for free medical clinics, mental health, obesity, diabetes, nursing and health research.
The Foundation decides on its grant awards twice a year. The latest round includes funding for groups located throughout the state. The recipients in our area are:
• Girl  Scouts of Eastern South Carolina (Florence) for “Reality Works” education and teen pregnancy  prevention.
•American  Heart Association (Allendale, Bamberg,  Clarendon, Dillon, Hampton, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg and Williamsburg  counties) for “Mission:  Lifeline in South Carolina’s Poorest Counties.”
• Rural  Area Leadership Institute (Dillon  County) for operations support.