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Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge Program awards $526,000 in grants to 65 Pennsylvania schools

PITTSBURGH (July 22, 2008)

Grants still available for programs that address bullying prevention and self-esteem, improve nutrition education, enhance nutrition choices and provide opportunities for physical activity
The Highmark Foundation, through the Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge, awarded nearly $526,000 in grants to 65 elementary, middle and high schools across Pennsylvania during the second quarter of 2008. The grants will support programs that address bullying prevention and self-esteem, improve nutrition education, enhance nutrition choices and provide opportunities for physical activity.

"Through the Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge, we have asked schools to be proactive and creative to help their students develop healthy lifestyles," said Highmark Foundation president Yvonne Cook. "We recognize that schools receiving these grants are making significant progress in implementing programs that they feel address the health needs of their students."

The board of the Highmark Foundation has committed the resources to award a total of $2.5 million in grants this year through the Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge. The program has generated an overwhelming response from the schools and has awarded a total of $1.5 million to 192 schools thus far in 2008.

"We know that schools play a vital role in the lives of children and adolescents and we are proud to provide them with the resources and tools that will improve the health status of their students," said Cook. "We would like to encourage schools that have not applied for a Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge to take the opportunity and time to do so."
The Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge has also expanded to award grants for programs that focus on bullying prevention and self-esteem this year. In past years, School Challenge grants were awarded only to physical activity and nutrition initiatives.

Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grants are awarded throughout the year. Schools are invited to apply for School Challenge grants by visiting the Highmark Healthy High 5 Web site at www.highmarkhealthyhigh5.org and clicking on "Grant Process for Schools," to download and complete the grant application.

The following schools received Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grants April through June 2008. For more information on the supported program at each school, visit www.highmarkhealthyhigh5.org and click on "Schools."

Allegheny
Bethel Park District — Independence Middle School
Bethel Park District — Neil Armstrong Middle School
Bethel Park District — Bethel Park High School
Deer Lakes School District — Curtisville Primary Center
Shaler Area School District — Shaler Area High School
Steel Valley School District — Franklin Primary School
West Jefferson Hills School District — Jefferson Elementary

Beaver
Aliquippa School District — Aliquippa Middle School

Berks
Wilson School District — Cornwall Terrace Elementary School

Blair
Altoona Area School District — Washington-Jefferson Elementary
Altoona Area School District — Baker Elementary School
Altoona Area School District — Juniata Elementary School
Altoona Area School District — Logan Elementary School
Altoona Area School District — McAuliffe Heights Program at Irving School
Altoona Area School District — Penn Lincoln Elementary School
Altoona Area School District — Pleasant Valley Elementary School
Altoona Area School District — Wright Elementary School
Altoona Area School District — Ebner Elementary School
Hollidaysburg Area School District — Allegheny One Elementary

Cambria
Northern Cambria School District — Northern Cambria Elementary School

Crawford
Crawford Central School District — Cochranton Junior-Senior High School
Crawford Central School District — Meadville Area Senior High School
Crawford Central School District - Meadville Middle School
Crawford Central School District — Neason Hill Elementary School
Penncrest School District — Cambridge Springs High School

Cumberland
The Harrisburg Academy

Dauphin
Lower Dauphin School District — Nye Elementary School
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School

Elk
Ridgway Area School District — Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School

Erie
General McLane School District — General McLane High School
General McLane School District — James W. Parker Middle School
Iroquois School District — Iroquois Elementary School
School District of the City of Erie — Glenwood Elementary School
School District of the City of Erie — Lincoln Elementary School
School District of the City of Erie — Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School
School District of the City of Erie — Woodrow Wilson Middle School

Forest
Forest Area School District — East Forest School
Forest Area School District — West Forest Elementary Secondary School

Greene
Southeastern Green School District — Mapletown Jr/Sr High School

Indiana
Marion Center Area School District — W.A. McCreery Middle School

Lawrence
Mohawk Area School District — Mohawk Jr/Sr High School
Shenango Area School District — Shenango Elementary School

Mercer
Farrell Area School District — Farrell Elementary School
Farrell Area School District - Farrell Senior High School

Northampton
Northampton Area School District — George Wolf Elementary School
Northampton Area School District — Lehigh Elementary School
Northampton Area School District — Moore Elementary School
Northampton Area School District — Northampton Borough Elementary

Perry
Greenwood School District — Greenwood Middle/High School
Newport School District — Newport Middle/High School

Schuylkill
Tamaqua Area School District — Rush Elementary
Tamaqua Area School District — Tamaqua Elementary
Tamaqua Area School District — West Penn Elementary
Tri-Valley Area School District — Tri-Valley Jr/Sr High School

Snyder
Selinsgrove Area School District — Selinsgrove Area High School
Selinsgrove Area School District — Selinsgrove Area Middle School

Somerset
Berlin Brothersvalley School District — Berlin Brothersvalley Middle School
Conemaugh Township Intermediate School
Windber Area School District — Windber Middle/High School
Windber Area School District — Windber Elementary School

Washington
California School District — California Area High School

Westmoreland
Ligonier Valley School District — R.K. Mellon Elementary School
Yough School District — Yough Intermediate Middle School

York
Red Lion Area School District — Red Lion Area Senior High School

About Highmark Healthy High 5
Highmark Healthy High 5 is a five-year, $100 million children's health promotion initiative of the Highmark Foundation. The mission of the initiative is to improve the health of children and adolescents ages 6-18 by providing them with the tools and practices needed to make informed decisions about living healthier lives. Highmark Healthy High 5 addresses five critical children's health promotion issues — nutrition, physical activity, self-esteem, grieving, and bullying prevention — by raising awareness, changing behavior through grants and programs, and providing resources to parents, schools and communities served by the Highmark Foundation.

Highmark Healthy High 5 is an initiative of the Highmark Foundation. For more information, visit www.highmarkhealthyhigh5.org or call 800-789-1726.

For more information, contact:
Kaitlin O'Brien
412-544-6006
kaitlin.obrien@highmark.com