The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale was awarded a $25,000 grant in 2010 to provide a comprehensive health and wellness initiative for youth served by the organization on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC). The Walmart Foundation’s Arizona State Giving Program is focused on funding much-needed community programs, especially those that address hunger, homelessness, education, job training and other basic needs.
In partnership with the United Food Bank located in Mesa, Club members have been receiving daily snacks after school at the Red Mountain and Lehi Branches, both located on the Salt River community. Each day approximately 160 healthy snacks were provided to Club members upon arrival from school. In addition, meals were served to Club members and their families twice a week as part of Kids Café, a national program that provides free meals and snacks to low-income children through a variety of community locations where children already congregate, such as Boys & Girls Clubs.
Another component of the Walmart Foundation grant focuses on diabetes prevention education. Today, the Pima Indians (one of the two tribes residing on the Salt River community) have the highest rates of diagnosed type-2 diabetes in the world. Approximately 50% of the population ages 30-64 have already been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, typically brought on by obesity and inactivity.
Through a partnership with the National Congress of American Indians, these two branches provide year-round obesity and diabetes prevention activities and classes to Native American youth. The program focuses on development of healthy lifestyles through daily exercise, proper diet and nutrition.
A final component of this initiative focuses on delivery of prevention programs that help at-risk youth successfully avoid dangerous behaviors that can negatively affect their health and futures – including avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. These programs also help youth develop future goals, improve self-esteem and arm them with practical tools to help them avoid negative influences.
This summer, this grant will continue to serve youth enrolled in the summer camp program. Over the course of 10-weeks, camp participants will be served both breakfast and lunch, in addition to participating in daily sports and fitness activities and enrolling in diabetes and other critical prevention programs.
About The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
Since 1954, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale has provided more than 100,000 Northeast Valley youth with a positive, supervised environment to explore the power of their potential. Today we serve 16,000 children and teen through the organization's nine branches and 12 outreach sites located in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Hualapai Indian Community and other Northeast Valley neighborhoods. The Club offers more than 100 youth development programs emphasizing five core areas: the arts; character & leadership development; education & career development; health & life skills; and sports, fitness & recreation. For more information please visit www.bgcs.org.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. The Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From Feb. 1, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.
