JACKSONVILLE, FL - June 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF), has approved $1,062,424 in grants to be awarded this summer to 14 nonprofit Florida organizations that are successfully addressing health care needs in their communities.

"The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida is proud to support organizations dedicated to improving access to quality health-related services for Floridians who are uninsured or underserved," said Susan Towler, executive director of The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida. "These 14 organizations offer community-based solutions for breaking down barriers many Floridians face when seeking services that are important to their overall health and wellbeing."

Recipients, grant totals and program areas funded are:

-- Broward Regional Health Planning Council, Inc. -- $95,000 -- increased access to affordable primary care for uninsured and underserved residents throughout Florida.

-- Calhoun County Health Department -- $90,000 --three satellite clinics in rural areas of Calhoun County for primary care, screening and monitoring of chronic conditions.

-- Catholic Charities of Central Florida -- $100,000 -- free medical clinic providing primary care, preventive health education and prescriptions to Sumter, Lake and Marion counties.

-- Faith Health Clinic -- $75,000 -- full-time ARNP, diabetes and nutritional programs for Marianna residents.

-- Florida Community Health Centers, Inc. -- $87,124 -- full-time bilingual health navigator to help Hendry County residents access medical coverage and medical care.

-- Good Samaritan Health Clinic of West Volusia, Inc. -- $20,000 -- medical tests, specialty care and education for in-need Volusia County residents.

-- Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network, Inc. -- $93,800 - health services and outreach for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth in Jacksonville.

-- Lupus Foundation of America, Southeast Florida Chapter -- $50,000 -- Spanish and Haitian Creole translation services to educate Lupus patients and their families.

-- St. Vincent de Paul Community Health Care, Inc. -- $100,000 -- physician assistant and pharmaceuticals for free clinic serving Charlotte and DeSoto counties.

-- Susan B. Anthony Recovery Center, Inc. -- $100,000 -- part-time nurse, full-time case manager and part-time acupuncturist who support both homeless women living with mental health disorders and substance addictions and their children in Pembroke Pines.

-- UNIDAD of Miami Beach, Inc. -- $100,000 -- dental screening, cleaning and treatment for children in Overtown and Little Haiti sections of Miami.

-- Urban League of Greater Miami -- $85,200 -- asthma screening, case management, family education and disease management for children living with asthma in Liberty City.

-- We Care of Polk County -- $26,000 -- pharmaceuticals and diagnostic services for the uninsured of Polk County.

-- WomanKind, Inc. -- $40,300 -- licensed mental health professional to expand mental health program in Key West.

The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida awards grants during two grant cycles per year. With the completion of the 2008 summer grant cycle, The Blue Foundation will have presented 158 grants and 20 awards totaling more than $10.5 million since its founding in 2001.

The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida is a separate, philanthropic affiliate of BCBSF incorporated in the state of Florida. The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, and its parent, BCBSF, are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information on The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, please visit its Web site at www.bluefoundationfl.com .

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation is a separate, philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) incorporated in the state of Florida. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, and its parent, BCBSF, are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information on the foundation, please visit its website at www.bluefoundationfl.com.

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