Below is a press release from the The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi:
The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation announced two cities as 2023 Healthy Hometown Award winners today at the Mississippi Municipal League Annual Conference in Biloxi. The cities of Baldwyn and Wesson both earned the title “Healthy Hometown” in recognition of exemplary community health and wellness. Each will receive a $100,000 grant award from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation to assist in continued efforts to ensure their respective communities are healthy places to live, work and play.
The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation established the Healthy Hometown Awards Program in 2010 to encourage and reward cities that have made the most progress and displayed the highest level of commitment in creating a healthy community culture. Since 2010, the Healthy Hometown Awards Program expanded to incorporate approaches shown to be effective in creating healthy communities such as demonstrating municipal leadership and involvement, adopting environmental ordinances and policies, providing access to healthier foods, promoting physical fitness activities, reducing tobacco use and ensuring healthy school environments. The Healthy Hometown Awards are each $100,000, regardless of municipality population, and one or multiple cities may be awarded.
“The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation celebrates the achievements of Baldwyn and Wesson city leaders and Healthy Hometown committee members, respectively, for creating and sustaining opportunities for residents to make healthy decisions,” said Eugenia King, Foundation Director. “Adopting health and wellness as a key community initiative improves well-being and sets a positive example for building healthy hometowns across Mississippi.”
The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation has a vision for a healthy Mississippi and provides leadership and targeted grant funding for sustainable initiatives and programs to improve the overall health and well-being of Mississippians. Learn more about the Healthy Hometown Awards Program and the Foundation at www.healthiermississippi.org.
