Centene Foundation's grant to the Little Bit
Foundation will support the expansion of programs benefitting more
than 14,000 St. Louis
students
St. Louis CITY SC and the Pro Football Hall of
Fame will work with the Centene Foundation and the Little Bit
Foundation to support programs focused on physical, mental and
social well-being
ST.
LOUIS, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/
-- Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm
of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) focused on
investing in initiatives with holistic approaches to dismantling
barriers to health, and The Little Bit Foundation ("Little
Bit"), an organization that works to eliminate barriers to learning
for under-resourced students in the St.
Louis region, today announced a partnership with the Pro
Football Hall of Fame ("PFHOF") and St. Louis CITY SC ("CITY SC")
to support the physical, mental and social well-being of youth in
the St. Louis region. Funding from
the Centene Foundation will allow Little Bit – with the
participation of community partners PFHOF and CITY SC – to support
the 14,000 students it serves and expand its programming focused on
providing mental health and physical fitness support, literacy
services, school supplies and access to food to address food
insecurity.
![Centene Foundation and The Little Bit Foundation Partner with St. Louis CITY SC and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Enhance Health and Wellness of St. Louis Students Centene Foundation and The Little Bit Foundation Partner with St. Louis CITY SC and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Enhance Health and Wellness of St. Louis Students](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2210283/Centene_Foundation_Combined_Logo.jpg)
The Centene Foundation's grant will help ensure Little Bit can
provide essentials for academic success, to students in all of the
47 St. Louis area schools it
serves, address the shortage of mental health counselors and
behavioral health services and offer a community support program
that will bring vision services and wellness events – including
inspirational speakers and martial arts training – to area
students. The grant builds on Centene's decade-long partnership
with Little Bit and will support expansion of programming to reach
additional schools in the future. Additionally, within a select
number of Little Bit partner schools, the two organizations over
time will create "self-care and wellness centers" to provide
educators a space for relaxation that prioritizes mental health.
This supports the full-service model many schools are adopting,
focusing on access to food, essential items and wellness resources
for families.
"Little Bit, an organization that deeply understands and has
diligently met the needs of St.
Louis public school students, is a trusted partner in our
efforts to create positive impacts in our community. This new
collaboration with Little Bit and community partners like CITY SC,
the PFHOF and Saint Louis Public
Schools will provide both tangible and inspirational resources for
our youth," said Chief Charitable Giving Officer of Centene
Corporation and President of the Centene Foundation, Keith
Williamson. "We look forward to seeing this partnership unfold and
its positive impact on the whole-health of students across
St. Louis – ensuring they have
what they need to pursue success."
Added Little Bit's President and Chief Executive Officer,
Miranda Walker Jones: "Together with
the Centene Foundation, the PFHOF and CITY SC, Little Bit will
extend our reach and impact to even more schools and neighborhoods
across St. Louis. Too many of our
city's students continue to fall behind, sometimes because of lack
of resources. We believe it requires all of us pouring into every
child to provide the support, guidance and opportunities to change
that trajectory and create a healthier community for all."
CITY SC and the PFHOF, in collaboration with other community
partners, will participate in community programs that offer
students exposure to inspirational experiences that support health,
wellness and leadership development. The first experience will be a
launch event at Saint Louis Public
Schools' Yeatman-Liddell Preparatory Middle School
("Yeatman-Liddell"). The event, "Teaming Up for Healthy Futures,"
will feature the PFHOF's Aeneas
Williams and CITY SC defender Jonathan "JB" Bell. Williams
and Bell will address the students and Williams, now a pastor and
St. Louis community leader, will speak
about resiliency, the importance of preparation and pursuing
success. The rally will include supplies and resources for
teachers, faculty, and students. Students at Yeatman-Liddell and
several other schools supported by Little Bit will also receive a
special invitation to attend the St
Louis CITY2 match on September
17 at CITYPARK.
"Success, whether on the pitch or in the classroom, is about
teamwork and perseverance," said CITY SC Director of Community
Relations, Barbra Silva. "CITY SC is
committed to being an exceptional club and neighbor by working with
our partners in the community to inspire and encourage our young
people, improve access to soccer, promote health and wellness and
invest in the future of St.
Louis."
"PFHOF members know what it takes to succeed when the odds seem
stacked against you. We're grateful to our partners for the
opportunity to share our stories and make connections with
St. Louis youth to help them reach
their full potential," said Jim
Porter, president of the PFHOF. "Aeneas Williams has demonstrated championship
qualities, both on and off the field. We are grateful for his
commitment to the St. Louis
community."
About the Centene Foundation
The Centene
Foundation (the "Foundation"), a private nonprofit focused on
investing in economically challenged communities, is the
philanthropic arm of Centene
Corporation ("Centene"). The Foundation supports projects
and initiatives strategically aligned with Centene's mission-driven
culture and enhances the work Centene is doing to remove the
barriers to wellness underserved and low-income populations face.
The Foundation is committed to addressing social determinants of
health and improving health equity in three distinct areas of
focus: healthcare access, social services and education. To learn
more, visit the Centene Foundation's website.
About The Little Bit Foundation
Founded in 2001, The Little Bit Foundation works to eliminate
barriers to learning and provide enrichment opportunities for
under-resourced students in the St.
Louis region. Embedded in school communities, we bring
programs and partnerships into the lives of students across every
grade level that address basic needs, provide health and nutrition
education and intervention, and expand academic and career
opportunities. Our vision is to be a source of support for students
during their educational journey, so that they may graduate and go
on to become successful members of a stronger St. Louis. Follow The Little Bit Foundation
online at www.thelittlebitfoundation.org, on Facebook, Instagram,
and LinkedIn.
About St. Louis CITY SC
St. Louis CITY SC, one
of the few majority female-led ownership groups in all of
professional sports, was awarded Major League Soccer's 28th
expansion team in 2019. The St.
Louis-based ownership group unveiled the club's crest, logo
and branding in 2020 and began their historic, inaugural season in
2023. CITYPARK, a St. Louis-made
22,500-seat world-class soccer-specific stadium is part of the new
stadium district which includes a practice facility and team
headquarters all within the same 30+ acre urban campus in downtown
St. Louis to help further the
region's continued growth and revitalization.
About the Pro Football Hall of
Fame
Located in Canton,
Ohio, the birthplace of the National Football League, the
Pro Football Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution
with the Mission to Honor the Greatest of the Game, Preserve its
History, Promote its Values, & Celebrate Excellence Together.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is accredited by the American
Alliance of Museums. AAM accreditation is national recognition for
the museum's commitment to excellence and the highest professional
standards of museum operation and public service. Hundreds of
thousands of fans from across the globe travel to Canton annually
to experience an inspirational, interactive museum that
chronicles America's most popular sport. Fans can also enjoy the
Hall of Fame Store at the Hall, and online
at www.profootballhof.com/store, for merchandise from all 32
NFL clubs plus the Hall of Fame. Proceeds from the Store support
the Hall's Mission.
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SOURCE Centene Foundation