BCBSND Caring Foundation Recognizes 2024 Community Champion Award Recipients

Young health care worker at senior center laughing together

Fargo, ND. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation has awarded the second annual Community Champion Awards to Rolette County Public Health District, Spectra Health and USpire ND. These awards are given to organizations that are making significant efforts to address health disparities and targeting social determinants of health across the state of North Dakota.

This year, the BCBSND Caring Foundation received numerous statewide nominations indicating the tremendous effort that organizations are making to improve health care for North Dakotans. Each of the chosen organizations will receive a $5,000 grant to support their data-driven, community-based programming that addresses health care inequalities.

Rolette County Public Health District, Rolla, is leading the way in preventive care in rural North Dakota. They are working diligently to decrease health inequities of children in Rolette County by bringing prevention resources to children at school and other community locations.

Spectra Health, Grand Forks, is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that is dedicated to serving all patients, regardless of their situation. Alongside their physical health support, Spectra Health is integrating a Social Services team that helps patients navigate housing, health care, nutrition and social services in order to address social determinates of health.

USpire ND, Dickinson, has an initiative called Healthy Families North Dakota (HFND) which is a program that focuses on maximizing the potential that lies within everyone. Through HFND, USpire ND is conducting home visits to support families becoming economically self-sufficient and reducing family violence.

Amber Blomberg, BCBSND Caring Foundation Executive Director said, “We are proud to support these champions as they exemplify the true spirit of community-driven health care, going beyond traditional medical intervention to address the underlying factors that influence health.”

About the BCBSND Caring Foundation
Established in 1989, the BCBSND Caring Foundation (www.BCBSND.com/Caring-Foundation) is a private 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Through giving and investing, the Caring Foundation focuses on key health issues that help improve the health and well-being of North Dakotans and their communities. Caring Foundation staff work with grantees to support nonprofit sustainability, collaborate on shared outcomes and create lasting change.