Fletcher nursing program receives grant

L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College’s nursing program received more than $37,000 in grant monies, courtesy of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

Blue Cross’s corporate charitable giving program handed out more than $640,000 to 54 not-for-profit state organizations in the first quarter of 2008.

Fletcher received a $37,250 grant to implement its newly approved Associate of Science nursing program at its Houma campus.

The Blue Cross program focuses on initiatives to affect residents’ health and physical well-being and to invest in education and the intellectual wellbeing, according to Christy Reeves, director of community relations at Blue Cross and executive director of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation.

“Blue Cross is honored to give back to the communities we serve and to support local organizations that improve the lives of all Louisiana residents,” she said. “We believe putting dollars back into the communities we serve helps make Louisiana a better place to live for everyone.”

In addition to Fletcher, grants were awarded to the American Cancer Society ($25,000), Special Olympics Louisiana ($25,000), American Red Cross ($16,850), American Society of Hypertension ($77,604), Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana ($25,000), Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America ($20,000), Dillard University ($9,800), Miles Perret Cancer Services ($75,000), Ochsner Clinic Foundation ($23,044), St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy ($22,500) and YWCA Greater Baton Rouge ($9,503).