<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW124201876 BCX8" style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<p class="Paragraph SCXW124201876 BCX8" paraid="1473992128" paraeid="{0275f61d-9ccc-4b76-a831-ce71d33f0e7f}{186}" style="background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 10.6667px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">PHOENIX &ndash; <a class="Hyperlink SCXW124201876 BCX8" href="https://www.azbluefoundation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Foundation for Community &amp; Health Advancement</a> has opened applications for its 2024 Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker grant. This year&rsquo;s grant will tackle the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation.
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The grant will provide $75,000 to a project that builds social connections and community that, ultimately, improves health. Nonprofits and schools in Arizona can apply from July 1 to July 31, 2024.&nbsp;
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW124201876 BCX8" style="color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<p class="Paragraph SCXW124201876 BCX8" paraid="827104709" paraeid="{7090693f-39d5-468c-8382-b1472b79ef63}{4}" style="background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 10.6667px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">In 2023, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared a <a class="Hyperlink SCXW124201876 BCX8" href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">national epidemic</a> of loneliness and social isolation. The issue affects at least <a class="Hyperlink SCXW124201876 BCX8" href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">one in two adults</a> in the US, impacting their physical, mental, and social health.&nbsp;
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&ldquo;Loneliness is a widespread issue that impacts the health of individuals, families, and communities,&rdquo; <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW124201876 BCX8" data-ccp-charstyle="normaltextrun" data-ccp-charstyle-defn="{'ObjectId':'aaa75716-53b9-43c8-9d71-5b5193b96b0f|35','ClassId':1073872969,'Properties':[201342446,'1',201342447,'5',201342448,'1',201342449,'1',469777841,'Aptos',469777842,'Arial',469777843,'Aptos',469777844,'Aptos',201341986,'1',469769226,'Aptos,Arial',268442635,'24',469775450,'normaltextrun',201340122,'1',134233614,'true',469778129,'normaltextrun',335572020,'1',469778324,'Default Paragraph Font']}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">said Dr. Christine Bracamonte Wiggs, President and Board Chair of the Foundation. &ldquo;We thank the Thiru Family Trust for their generous support to help strengthen social connections within our state.&rdquo; 
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The grant began in 2023 with a donation from the Thiru Family Trust to inspire new paths to mental health and well-being. Each year, the grant identifies a specific area of mental health-related need, designed to uplift Arizona&rsquo;s communities.
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&ldquo;Our family believes that mental health is a key component of overall well-being, and early intervention can reduce the severity of mental health issues,&rdquo; said Thiru Thangarathinam, CEO, Salesforce Business Unit, at Mastek. &ldquo;By addressing loneliness and isolation, we can help tackle key mental health challenges. Communities with strong mental health support and social connections enjoy healthier lives, both mentally and physically, and are more united as a society.&rdquo;
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For more information and to apply for the Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker grant, visit: <a class="Hyperlink SCXW124201876 BCX8" href="https://www.azbluefoundation.org/grants/momentum-maker-grant" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">https://www.azbluefoundation.org/grants/momentum-maker-grant</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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&nbsp;
ABOUT THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY
&amp; HEALTH ADVANCEMENT&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Blue Cross&reg;&nbsp;Blue Shield&reg;&nbsp;of
Arizona Foundation for Community &amp; Health Advancement invests in the health of Arizona by tackling mental
health, substance use disorder, chronic health conditions, and health equity. A 501(c)(3) private, non-operating
foundation, the Foundation works in service of the public good through grant funding for programs and applied
research that align with its focus areas. The Foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue
Shield Association.&nbsp; For more information, visit:&nbsp;<a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.azbluefoundation.org/" target="_blank" style="color: #1c739c;">azbluefoundation.org.</a>
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AZ Blue Foundation Announces $75K Grant Opportunity to Address the Loneliness Epidemic 

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Momentum Maker Grant 2024

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