The MolinaCares Accord Partners with Cooking with Kids to Launch Nutrition Education Program in New Mexico
Media Contact: Caroline Zubieta, Caroline.Zubieta@MolinaHealthcare.com, 562-951-1588
SANTA FE, N.M. – Feb. 8, 2023 – The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of New Mexico (“Molina”), has awarded Cooking with Kids (“CWK”) a $35,000 grant to launch the BIG little Project pilot program in New Mexico. The grant, which is part of the MolinaCares for Families initiative, will increase access to nutritious foods, a key social determinant of health, and will positively impact health outcomes for New Mexico families who participate.
CWK is a Santa Fe-based organization dedicated to empowering and educating northern New Mexico families on healthy cooking habits and will use the grant funding to support the implementation of its BIG little Project. The project will connect educators and mentors with families across the state, providing access to CWK’s healthy cooking curriculum, resources, and support. Additionally, through the partnership with MolinaCares, CWK will be able to expand its consultation services with monthly virtual training sessions.
“Helping kids learn about healthy and nutritious foods is important to their overall health and well-being,” said Carolyn Ingram, plan president for Molina Healthcare of New Mexico. “It helps to create a strong foundation to fend off illness and disease. We’re honored to work with Cooking with Kids to improve access to healthy food education, with the goal of improving long-term health outcomes for New Mexicans across all socioeconomic backgrounds.”
“We are thankful for MolinaCares’ support in expanding our programs to reach additional children and families throughout the state,” said Anna Farrier, executive director of Cooking with Kids. “We know that access to healthy food and nutritional cooking knowledge can lay the foundation for a healthier, happier life, and we’re excited to launch our pilot program to equip and empower the future generations of New Mexicans across the state. As we go through the pilot program, we will be compiling data and use it to inform the nationwide expansion of the BIG little Project.”
Learn more about the MolinaCares for Families initiative and all of the community based organizations supported by Molina here.
About The MolinaCares Accord:
Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.
About Molina Healthcare of New Mexico:
Molina Healthcare of New Mexico has been providing government-funded, quality health care since 1998. The Company serves members through Medicare and Health Insurance Marketplace programs throughout New Mexico. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, served approximately 5.2 million members as of September 30, 2022. For more information about Molina Healthcare of New Mexico, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.
About Cooking with Kids
Founded in 1995, Cooking with Kids educates and empowers children and families to make healthy food choices through hands-on learning with fresh, affordable foods. Cooking with Kids provides lessons to more than 5,000 kids in Northern New Mexico in school classrooms and cafeterias. For more information, visit www.cookingwithkids.org.
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