The Rose Awarded “Healthy Kids, Healthy Families” Grant From Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

HOUSTON, TX -- The Rose announced it was awarded a Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® (HKHF) grant by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) for $35,000. The HKHF funding will support BCBSTX’s commitment to community-based organizations supporting children and families who have been impacted by the health, economic, and social implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rose plans on using the funds to cover the cost of providing care to uninsured women in the Empower Her® Sponsorship Program.

“This generous grant from BCBSTX directly impacts The Rose in its mission to make breast health services more accessible to women in Texas,” said Dorothy Gibbons, CEO and co-founder of The Rose. “The Empower Her® Sponsorship Program has enabled The Rose to screen over 6,000 uninsured women annually for breast cancer. For women living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, these screenings would often otherwise be cost-prohibitive. The funds we receive will make a tangible difference in the lives of these women.”

The purpose of the Empower Her® Sponsorship Program is to ensure any woman has access to breast cancer screening, diagnosis and care. From the initial screening mammogram, through diagnostic procedures such as ultrasound and biopsies as well as access to treatment—all are a part of The Rose’s care for every woman.

Launched in 2011, HKHF started as a three-year project designed to improve the health and wellness of at least one million children through community investments. The program was extended as BCBSTX’s ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of the children and families across Texas.

“This year’s grant process was especially important given the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sheena Payne, BCBSTX’s director of Community Investments. “So, we are happy to award these grants that will support and nurture meaningful and transformational projects across Texas. Strategically, it is also important that we continue to aid community-based organizations that are directly supporting children and families who have been impacted by the health, economic, and social implications of this pandemic.”

The HKHF program – which centers on nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management and supporting safe environments – has awarded $14 million in funding and impacted the lives of close to three million children and their families in Texas.