FORT WORTH, Texas, (Sept. 9, 2024) – The LiiNK Project, housed within the LiiNK Center for Healthy Play at Texas Christian University's Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, announced that it has received a $25,000 Blue Impact grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX). This grant will support the project’s initiative to increase physical activity through recess in underserved communities.
The grant recognizes the crucial role of local organizations in fostering positive change, tackling underlying factors that influence health, including socio-economic challenges and promoting economic opportunities.
The LiiNK Project focuses on improving children’s physical and mental health by promoting unstructured, outdoor play. This grant will enable the project to provide equipment and training for 10 Title I schools in Hidalgo and Tarrant counties, aiming to enhance recess and overall child development.
We are so excited to have been awarded the Blue Impact Grant because of the impact this funding will have to improve the physical and mental health of underserved children in school settings,” said Debbie Rhea, Ed. D., founder of the LiiNK Center for Healthy Play. “The school setting is an optimal place to promote brain-body development and safe spaces through recess; lots of children will benefit from these funds.”
Participating schools will receive $1,000 worth of loose parts equipment after completing 8.5 hours of online training. The LiiNK Project will evaluate the effectiveness of these changes by monitoring physical activity and emotional well-being of children throughout the year, along with gathering teacher feedback.
BCBSTX has awarded more than $25 million in grants to community organizations statewide since 2011, touching the lives of millions of Texas children and families.
“Blue Impact grants help pave the way for healthier futures for children and families across Texas,” said Sheena Payne, director of BCBSTX community affairs. “We are proud to collaborate with this year’s recipients and look forward to witnessing the impact of their innovative programs on the communities we both serve.”
About Texas Christian University
Founded in 1873, TCU is a world-class, values-centered private university based in Fort Worth, Texas. The university comprises nine schools and colleges offering 117 areas of undergraduate study, 62 master’s level programs and 39 areas of doctoral study. Total enrollment stands at 12,785, including 10,915 undergraduates and 1,870 graduate students. The student/faculty ratio is 13.5:1, and 88% of TCU’s 735 full-time faculty members hold the highest degree in their discipline. TCU consistently ranks among the top universities and colleges in the nation, and the Horned Frog family consists of more than 100,000 living alumni. For more information, please visit TCU’s website.
About Harris College of Nursing and Heath Sciences at TCU
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences is the original nursing school of Fort Worth, training the next generation of health care professionals since 1946. Today, with more than 1,950 students enrolled, the areas of study include applied health sciences, communication sciences and disorders, kinesiology, nursing, nurse anesthesia, occupational therapy, social work and the future area of study, physician associate (PA) studies Harris College aims to transform global health through equitable, accessible and inclusive education, scholarship and innovation. To learn more, please visit Harris College’s website.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) — the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas — is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with more than 168,000 physicians and health care practitioners, and 550 hospitals to serve nearly 8 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico). Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.