Outreach Receives $150,000 Grant from BlueCross BlueShield Foundation

Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Services, Inc. has received a major grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation in support of its Wellness Center.

The Outreach will receive $50,000 each year for the next three years to support the operation of the Wellness Center. The Outreach’s Wellness Center provides women’s health, prenatal and dental services to residents of James, Johns and Wadmalaw Islands. During fiscal year 2008-2009 the Wellness Center provided 1,260 patient visits for women’s health and prenatal services, and 2,574 patient visits for dental care.

In 2008 the Outreach completed a $4.6 million dollar capital campaign to fund the construction of a new 5,000 square foot wellness facility to replace its 1,500 square foot temporary facility. The Center opened in November of 2008. The grant from BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation will provide the Outreach with additional time and resources to expand its development capacity while the Wellness Center continues its services.

Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation (www.bcbsscfoundation.org) is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Its mission is to promote the health of South Carolinians and to expand access to health care for the economically disadvantaged by supporting integrated research, education and community service.