A recent $20,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) to the Oklahoma City Community College Foundation will help feed hungry students and provide professional development support for faculty members in the school’s Division of Health Professions.

“We’re grateful for the investment by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma in the students at Oklahoma City Community College,†said Von Allen, chief development officer and executive director of the OCCC Foundation. “Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma continues to be an invaluable partner in the effort to improve our community’s health.â€

OCCC President Jerry Steward recognized Blue Cross and Blue Shield at a recent Board of Regents meeting.

The gift is part of BCBSOK’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® (HKHF) signature community investment initiative. HKHF is part of an ongoing commitment to support and partner with nonprofit organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs to reach children and their families in four key areas: nutrition, physical activity, preventing and managing disease, and supporting safe environments.

The Division of Health Professions at OCCC prepares students for a wide range of careers in the industry, including anesthesia technology, emergency medical sciences, nursing, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant, respiratory care and speech-language pathology assistant. Maintaining cooperative relationships with hospitals and health care providers in the metro area ensures valuable clinical learning opportunities for OCCC students.

The OCCC Pantry is part of the school’s ongoing mission to improve health outcomes at a personal level by providing food to any student who needs it. Tax-deductible gifts to the OCCC Foundation help provide food through a collaboration with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. For information on supporting the OCCC Pantry, contact the OCCC Foundation at (405) 682-7591 or visit online www.occc.edu/foundation.