PHOENIX - The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Foundation for Community & Health Advancement (the Foundation) awarded the Cartwright School District as the inaugural recipient of the Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant. The district is set to receive $75,000 in resources to directly address mental health and well-being challenges for students, teachers, and staff at their schools.  

The Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant is multi-dimensional and includes:  

• A direct grant of $25,000 for the Cartwright School District to address and improve the mental health and well-being of students and employees. 
•  $35,000 to Teen Lifeline to provide Cartwright School District with expert guidance on policies and practices to bolster well-being and resilience. Teen Lifeline is providing resources to all applicants and additional services that include two hours of direct consultation to the top five finalists
• $15,000 to M2 Well-Being to provide training and skill-building sessions for Cartwright School District, designed to build teacher and staff capacity that strengthens their mental health. M2 Well-Being is also providing resources to all applicants.  

“Mental health remains a pressing topic in our community,” said Dr. Christine Bracamonte Wiggs, President and Board Chair of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Foundation for Community & Health Advancement. “With the support of the Thiru Family Trust, the Foundation is able to provide Cartwright School District the much-needed resources and tools to help foster well-being in every classroom.”  

Located in the heart of Maryvale, Cartwright School District serves 14,000 students from PreK-8^thgrade across 20 schools. The district hopes to utilize the Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant to continue its efforts to prioritize mental health support for its students and employees. The district is committed to ensuring all learning spaces within their schools produce both a real and a felt sense of safety and belonging.  

“We are grateful for this generous grant,” said Cartwright Superintendent Dr. LeeAnn Aguilar-Lawlor. “These funds and resources will address one of the district’s top priorities – the health and well-being of our students and staff." 

Thiru Thangarathinam, CEO – Salesforce Business Unit at Mastek added, “This donation holds immense significance for us. Giving back is integral to our family values, and we’re honored to contribute to enhancing mental health in our communities.” 

The Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant underscores the Foundation’s dedication to addressing mental health in Arizona. Each year, this grant will identify a specific area of mental health-related need and provide resources and funding valued at $75,000 to address this need.  

To learn more about the Thiru Family Trust Momentum Maker Grant and other Foundation grant opportunities, please visit:https://www.azbluefoundation.org/grants/thiru-family-trust-momentum-maker-grant.   

ABOUT THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY & HEALTH ADVANCEMENT

The Blue Cross^® Blue Shield^® of Arizona Foundation for Community & 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. For more information, visit: azbluefoundation.org.

PHOENIX  – The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Foundation for Community & Health Advancement is funding 10 grant projects totaling more than $1 million to address mental health statewide. Through these grants, organizations will work to enhance programs and offer services that address access to mental healthcare, suicide prevention, youth mental health, the intersection of mental health and substance use disorder or health equity, and the COVID-19 effect.  

“Being healthy isn't just about your physical health, but your mental health, too,” said Dr. Christine Bracamonte Wiggs, Foundation President and Board Chair. “That’s why we aim to raise awareness, remove stigma and eliminate barriers by funding organizations that help make Arizona’s communities stronger and healthier.”

The Foundation is awarding more than $1 million to the following organizations for mental health outreach in Arizona. To learn more about how each will use its grant funding to enhance its mental health outreach efforts, visit: azbluefoundation.org/grants/grantees.

• Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University - two funded projects (statewide)
• Child Crisis Arizona (Maricopa)
• Childhelp, Inc. (Maricopa)
• Friends of Navajo County Anti-Drug Coalition, Inc. Nexus Coalition (Navajo)
• Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, Inc. (Apache, Coconino, Gila, Graham, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Yavapai)
• NotMYkid (Mohave, Pima, Pinal)
• Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children (Maricopa)
• Soldier’s Best Friend (Cochise, Coconino, Maricopa, Pima, Yavapai)
• Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired (Maricopa, Pima)

“Behavioral health is something that affects every one of us, said Dr. Cara Christ, Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. “Through the Foundation, we are committed to doing our part to encourage conversation, forge connection, and make change for Arizonans.”

The Foundation focuses on key health issues impacting Arizonans including mental health, substance use disorder, chronic health conditions, and health equity. In direct response to escalating anxiety, depression, and suicide in Arizona, the Foundation’s flagship focus is mental health. In its first year of operation, the Foundation invested nearly $3 million through 88 grants in all 15 counties across the state.  

To learn more about the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Foundation for Community & Health Advancement, visit azbluefoundation.org.

ABOUT THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY & HEALTH ADVANCEMENT  

The Blue Cross^® Blue Shield^® of Arizona Foundation for Community & 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.  For more information, visit: azbluefoundation.org.

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