[March 20, 2013]

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation Helps Blind and Visually Impaired Teens

The Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments is pleased to announce its second year participating in the National Fitness Challenge sponsored by The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA). There are more than 20 agencies from across the United States participating in the National Fitness Challenge, which will provide more than 700 teenagers who are blind and visually impaired with an opportunity to increase their physical fitness levels and live a healthier and more active lifestyle. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation provided a $150,000 grant to make this program possible.

"We are extremely pleased and excited to host a second year of the National Fitness Challenge sponsored by the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation. With the renewal of this grant we will be able to reach more youth with the ultimate goal of helping each participating teen become more active and fit by using fun and challenging physical activities," said Mark Lucas, executive director of the United States Association of Blind Athletes. In order to keep track of each participant's success, every agency submits baseline data and monthly updates that are used to create achievable fitness and weight loss goals for the teens to help them decrease their body mass index.

This year, more than 20 members of the GRADS (Group Recreation and Developmental Support) program age 10 through high school graduation will participate in this initiative, according to Debbie Chapuis, family services coordinator of the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments. "This grant has helped us to focus on getting the participants excited about fitness and exercise. Whether sit ups or skiing, fitness can take many forms and be fun, especially with friends," she said.

The group in St. Louis meets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. monthly on Saturdays. In addition to participating in a variety of adapted sports, the young people commit to completing a fitness challenge on their own. Each month, they chart weight, BMI and progress on their fitness challenge, for example sit ups or push ups. The Delta Gamma Center is located at 1750 S. Big Bend Blvd., Richmond Heights.

Research has consistently shown that individuals who participate in regular physical activity to improve their health have higher energy levels, a lower risk of health-related diseases, improved psychological health, and lower rates of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, because of the many bariers and misconceptions about their abilities, approximately 70 percent of the nearly 56,000 children and youth who are blind and visually impaired in the United States do not participate in even a limited physical education curriculum.

"The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is committed to helping children and adults live active lives and avoid the health risks typically associated with sedentary lifestyles and obesity," said Bill Smith, president and general manager of Anthem's Disability and Life business. "We believe no one should ever be denied the right to enjoy the physical and emotional benefits associated with exercise, and we are proud to once again partner with USABA to ensure that vision impairments do not limit the recreational opportunities afforded to teenagers across the country."

The funds from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation grant will provide each agency with sports equipment as well as support for fitness and nutrition coaches for teens participating in the program.

About Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments

In 1951, a group of Delta Gamma alumni from Washington University started a local organization to serve the needs of young children with visual impairments and blindness. The founders of the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments set forth on a mission to provide educational services for children in the earliest years, prior to the start of school, with an emphasis on guidance and training for their parents. Early intervention services is at the core of our program and includes home-based educational services for infants and toddlers, birth to three years, who are blind or visually impaired and their parents/caregivers, as well as occupational, physical and speech therapy services as needed. In an effort to support the entire family, a wide range of individual and group support services are offered for family members and children with visual impairments of all ages, through high school graduation. The vision is that, as a result of services, children who are blind or visually impaired will develop to their full potential, enjoy healthy relationships with family members, and fully participate in their communities. For more information, visit the website at www.dgckids.org

About USABA

Since its founding in 1976, USABA, a community-based organization of the United States Olympic Committee, has reached more than 100,000 blind individuals. The organization has emerged as more than just a world-class trainer of blind athletes, it has become a champion of the abilities of Americans who are legally blind. USABA's mission: to enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired people by providing the opportunity for participation in sports and physical activity. For more information go to http://usaba.org/

About the 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.

Note: please contact Debbie Naucke if you would like to take photographs or do interviews for your story at the center in Richmond Heights.

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