Toolkits from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation to be distributed to Lions Clubs
MILWAUKEE – Feb. 18, 2011 – Lions of Wisconsin District 27-A2 is joining the American Diabetes Association and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation to encourage their communities to join the Stop Diabetes movement by educating them about the seriousness of diabetes, the importance of prevention and proper management of the disease.
To accomplish this, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is providing 50 Stop Diabetes Community Outreach Toolkits to District 27-A2 to help local Lions Clubs develop strategies and ideas built around the tenants of the Stop Diabetes (Share, Act, Learn, and Give) movement. The toolkits provide information to help educate community-based organizations about diabetes and to enable them to implement Stop Diabetes programs among their constituents. The year-round toolkit was made possible by a three-year, $1.5 million grant to the American Diabetes Association from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s parent company foundation.
“We are excited to be part of the Stop Diabetes movement and to help community organizations like the Lions of Wisconsin educate their communities about diabetes,” said Larry Schreiber, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. “Getting these toolkits out into the communities we serve helps us get one step further in changing the future of this deadly disease.”
“Diabetes is a devastating disease that affects nearly 24 million Americans. Every minute, three people are diagnosed with diabetes,” said Penny Kasprzak, Program Director for the Wisconsin Area American Diabetes Association. “Nearly one-quarter of those affected by diabetes are not aware that they have the disease. If current trends continue, one-in-three American adults will face a future with diabetes. In addition, approximately 57 million, or one-in-five Americans have pre-diabetes which means that their blood glucose (sugar) is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Without intervention, individuals with pre-diabetes are at a much higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.”
“We are truly grateful for the dedication of many Wisconsin Lions Clubs which educate their communities about the seriousness of diabetes,” Kasprzak said.
“Our efforts in the community to educate our constituents about the importance of preventing and managing diabetes will be further enhanced with the resources from the Stop Diabetes Community Outreach Toolkit,” said Katherine Rosenkranz, Diabetes Awareness Chair for Lions of Wisconsin District 27-A2. “We are thrilled to join the Association’s Stop Diabetes movement by helping to spread the word about the seriousness of this disease within Wisconsin.”
The toolkits will be distributed to local clubs at the Lions of Wisconsin District 27-A2 Convention taking place from Feb. 18 to 20 at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center in Oconomowoc, Wis.
More information about Stop Diabetes is available from the American Diabetes Association at http://www.diabetes.org or http://www.stopdiabetes.com.
About Lions of Wisconsin District 27-A2/Lions International
Lions of Wisconsin’s District 27-A2 is comprised of 49 Lions Clubs, 11 Lioness Clubs and 4 Leo Clubs with a combined membership of approximately 2,500 service minded individuals. District 27-A2 is located in southeast Wisconsin covering 3 counties – Dodge, Washington, Ozaukee – the upper half of Milwaukee county and portions of Waukesha and Jefferson counties. District 27-A2 is part of Lions International, the largest service organization in the world with the motto “We Serve.” Lions members are dedicated to serving those in need, whether in their own community or halfway around the world. Wisconsin Lions serve the state in areas that include: Wisconsin Lions Camp for Children and Adults with Disabilities, Diabetes Awareness, Leader Dog, Eye Glass recycling and Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin, as well as other worthy programs in each clubs local communities.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit http://www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s annual associate giving campaign and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates’ campaign pledges.
®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. To learn more about the Foundation please visit http://www.wellpointfoundation.org.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (“BCBSWi”) underwrites or administers the PPO and indemnity policies; Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (“Compcare”) underwrites or administers the HMO policies; and Compcare and BCBSWi collectively underwrite or administer the POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin is available at http://www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.
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Contact: Scott Larrivee, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, 262-523-4746
