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Jacksonville children with disabilities and medically complex conditions will now have access to their full doctor-prescribed speech, physical and occupational therapy thanks to The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.
This week, DLC Nurse & Learn received $99,000 from The Blue Foundation to fund the organization’s enhanced therapy program. DLC is the only facility in Duval County that provides year-round education and therapy to children with severe disabilities and medically complex conditions, regardless of their ability to pay. The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida grant enables the program to provide an additional 468 hours of therapy to these children.
“Economic barriers can prevent children from receiving all the therapy necessary for reaching their full potential,” said Amy Buggle, executive director of DLC Nurse & Learn. “The generous support from The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida enables us to serve more children who may otherwise not have access to their entire doctor-prescribed therapy regimen.”
The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida is dedicated to making a constructive contribution to the health and well-being of all Floridians, especially the uninsured and underserved. This grant is one of 11 — totaling nearly $1 million — The Blue Foundation has presented this winter to nonprofit health clinics and community outreach programs across Florida.
“DLC provides essential services for children with special needs and we are proud to support them,” said Susan Towler, executive director of The Blue Foundation. “It’s through collaborations like this that we are able to build lasting solutions to increase access to quality health care in our community.”
The Blue Foundation awards grants during two grant cycles per year. With the completion of the 2007 winter grant cycle, The Blue Foundation will have awarded 144 grants totaling more than $8.3 million since its founding in 2001.
For more information on The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, visit www.bluefoundationfl.com. For more information on DLC Nurse & Learn, visit www.dlcnl.org or call 387-0370.