Northwestern Health Sciences University Receives Blue Cross and Blue Shield Grant

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Northwestern Health Sciences University was one of 15 Minnesota companies to receive a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The grant is part of the Workplaces On The Move program, which Blue Cross created as a way of helping Minnesota employers encourage better health among their employees by increasing physical activity. The grant provides up to $53,000 over a three-year period.

“This is a big deal,” emphasized Deborah Hogenson, BS, director of human resources, who leads the health and wellness initiative at Northwestern. “We are extremely proud that our efforts promoting employee wellness stood out among all the grant applications from across Minnesota,” Hogenson said.

Northwestern has a long-standing commitment to employee health and wellness, offering comprehensive benefits and programs promoting healthy lifestyles. The Workplaces On The Move program offers funding to select Minnesota companies, and facilitates collaboration among those companies to create and implement employee fitness initiatives within the workplace. Complementing the University’s monthly Get Up & Go! activities, which encourage staff to be physically active during the workday, grant monies were used to create and distribute customized fitness packs for employees. The fitness packs contain a jump rope, balance ball, and two resistance bands.

“We’re looking forward to getting at the root of the culture that is perhaps holding us back from embodying the healthy lifestyle that is at the core of what Northwestern students learn as part of their education here,” said Hogenson. “We hope to see a significant change in the culture at Northwestern, as it shifts toward an environment that is accepting and supportive of activity within the workday,” she noted.