From classrooms to communities, Capital Blue Cross is helping support youth health programs across Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, distributing nearly $900,000 in 88 Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Live Healthy School Grants.

“At Capital Blue Cross, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and build healthy habits that can last a lifetime,” said Capital President and CEO Todd Shamash. “These programs help make that possible by creating more opportunities for students to stay active, eat well, explore new interests, and succeed both in and out of the classroom. When we invest in our children, we’re investing in stronger, healthier communities for everyone.”

EITC grants use state business-tax credits to fund scholarships and enrich educational opportunities through donations to innovative programs. Live Healthy School Grants provide up to $2,500 per school for innovative, student-focused programs that strive to increase physical activity, enhance nutrition, and encourage healthier lifestyles.

Through its support, Capital has helped fund schools, summer camps, and learning initiatives benefiting thousands of children.

Here are some of the programs that Capital’s support is making possible this year in the Lehigh Valley: 

• Allentown School District | What’s in This?!: An interactive nutrition game that introduces elementary students to fruits and vegetables through familiar recipes, sampling, and challenges that encourage curiosity and healthier food choices.
• Circle of Seasons Charter School | Healthy Daily Snacks: A hands-on program where kindergarten students and teachers prepare healthy snacks from scratch, building basic kitchen skills and early appreciation for whole foods.
• Diocese of Allentown | St. Ignatius Loyola School Emergency Preparedness: A safety initiative that provides CPR and AED training, practiced emergency procedures, and a new AED to strengthen readiness for cardiac emergencies.
• Diocese of the Susquehanna | Grace Montessori School Stay Healthy With Yoga: A weekly yoga program that helps students build coordination, balance, and mindfulness while reducing stress and improving focus.
• Immaculate Conception Academy | AED Installation Initiative: An emergency preparedness effort that installs an AED and integrates it into school safety practices to enable rapid response to cardiac events.
• John Paul II Center for Special Learning | Community Wellness Group: A wellness program that uses adaptive exercise, nutrition education, and meal preparation activities to promote healthy habits and independence for students with intellectual disabilities.
• Mercy School for Special Learning | Healthy Lunch Initiative: A daily nutrition program that provides students with consistent, balanced meals to support their physical health and academic success.
• Bethlehem Area School District | Spring Garden Elementary Healthier Nutrition Hub: A weekend food pantry that provides students and families with fresh, whole foods and simple recipes to support healthier meals at home.
• Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 | Special Education Wellness Initiative: An inclusive wellness program that promotes healthy habits and physical activity for students with diverse needs through adaptive movement and sensory-based learning.
• Easton Area School District | Cardiovascular Health & Wellness Education: A schoolwide initiative that builds awareness of heart health and encourages preventive habits through training and wellness check-ins.
• Wilson Area School District | Bottle Filling Station Hydration Upgrade: A hydration upgrade that replaces a traditional fountain with a modern bottle filling station to improve access, hygiene, and water consumption. 

About Capital Blue Cross

Capital Blue Cross serves a 21-county region in Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley by offering health insurance products, services and technology solutions that provide peace of mind and promote health and wellness for our members. We focus on simplifying and personalizing the health experience and using innovative solutions – including patient-focused care models, actionable data, and digital health technologies – to create healthier lives and lower healthcare costs. Our Capital Blue Cross Connect health and wellness centers provide in-person service and inspiration to help people reach their health goals. Capital Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Information provided to TVL by:
Jeff Wirick