The North Dakota Caring Foundation's Caring for Children program has been awarded a matching grant of $2,500 from Dakota Medical Foundation to help children who lack health care coverage.

Caring for Children provides access to primary and preventive health, dental and mental health services for eligible uninsured children in North Dakota from birth up to age 19. Through the program, 1,294 children in 2012 have received the care they need — at no cost to their families. These children are from working families who do not qualify for government-funded programs, but cannot afford private insurance.

Dakota Medical Foundation, based in Fargo, N.D., leads initiatives to measurably improve health and access to healthcare, helps build exceptional nonprofit organizations that produce superior results, and actively seeks and invests in breakthrough ideas to vastly improve health for people of the region.

Since 1996, DMF has invested $68 million to operate initiatives, provide funding and help improve the results of more than 400 organizations in the region. DMF and Impact Foundation jointly host Giving Hearts Day and the impactgiveback.org website that has processed more than $8 million for charities since 2008. For more information, see dakmed.org.

Founded and administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Caring for Children is a health, dental and mental health benefit program for eligible North Dakota children. The North Dakota Caring Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and receives funding from foundations, churches, individuals, businesses and civic organizations. BCBSND is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.