The grant will expand the YMCA’s Watershed Education by Bicycles program to an after school program in the City of Camden.
The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, in its first round of grants for 2017, awarded $721,500 to 19 non-profit organizations for health and cultural programs throughout New Jersey, including the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties.
The Foundation — the philanthropy arm of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey — has awarded 1,338 grants totaling more than $48.5 million since its inception in 2004.
“The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey is proud to support community-based organizations that are transforming the lives of residents through programs which are making individuals healthier and improving the quality of life in the communities Horizon serves,” said Robert A. Marino, Horizon BCBSNJ chairman and CEO and chairman of The Horizon Foundation Board.
Locally, the YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties in Mt. Laurel received a $25,000 grant to expand its Watershed Education by Bicycles program to a YMCA after school program in the City of Camden.
The program promotes physical activity through bicycling, nutrition education, environmental education, and includes community engagement events and a mentoring program.
The new nutrition education component will also be implemented in all other program sites throughout Burlington and Camden counties.