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The Highmark Foundation announces 2007 Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant program

PITTSBURGH (Jan. 9, 2007)

The Highmark Foundation recently announced the Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge, a program that will award $500,000 in grants in May 2007 for schools to implement programs aimed at preventing childhood obesity.

Through the School Challenge grant program, schools are invited to submit proposals for innovative programming to improve nutrition education, nutrition services or increase opportunities for physical activity or education. All schools — including public, private, parochial and charter schools — within Highmark's 49-county service region are eligible to apply. Grants will be awarded based on the merit of the proposal. The deadline for schools to apply for a grant is March 16, 2007.

"Obesity in children and adolescents is a serious issue with many health and social consequences that often continue into adulthood," said Yvonne Cook, president of the Highmark Foundation. "That is why the Highmark Foundation is making an investment in a school-based program aimed to target students where they spend the majority of their time. We realize the limitations schools face in acquiring resources to implement programs that help students make healthy choices."

Schools interested in applying for a School Challenge grant should visit the Highmark Healthy High 5 Web site at www.highmarkhealthyhigh5.org and download the Challenge application packet. Applications must be received by March 16, 2007.

The School Challenge grant program is a component of Highmark Healthy High 5. Through Highmark Healthy High 5, the Highmark Foundation will improve the health and well-being of children by partnering with organizations to provide evidence-based programs that focus on the five key areas of the initiative.

About Highmark Healthy High 5
Highmark Healthy High 5 is a five-year, $100 million community initiative of the Highmark Foundation aimed to reverse the current trends in children's health and to promote lifelong healthy habits in children throughout its 49-county service area. Highmark Healthy High 5 will address five critical children's health issues including nutrition, physical activity, self-esteem, grieving and bullying — through education, communications, volunteerism, grants and programming.

About the Highmark Foundation
The Highmark Foundation is an affiliate of Highmark Inc. and was created to support initiatives and programs aimed to improve community health. The Foundation is a charitable organization and a private foundation. The Foundation seeks to improve the health, well-being and quality of life for individuals who reside in the 49 Pennsylvania counties served by Highmark.

For more information, contact:
Kristin Ioannou
412-544-7643
kristin.ioannou@highmark.com

Kimberly Scanish
717-302-4244
kimberly.scanish@highmark.com