The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has announced grants totaling $1.8 million in support of initiatives designed to reduce tobacco use, expand access to healthy food, and improve access to active living amenities in communities where health disparities are greatest.

Grants were awarded through the organization's Center for Prevention to thirteen nonprofit organizations. Recipients include the American Indian Cancer Foundation, which will use its grant to introduce initiatives aimed at reducing tobacco use in Native American communities statewide; CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio), which works to address disparities in tobacco use, healthy eating, and active living among Latinos; and the Eagan Resource Center, which will use its grant to make healthy food more readily available to Dakota County residents struggling with food insecurity.

"Until Minnesota addresses health disparities, our state will continue to struggle with preventable disease, and its associated costs, at unnecessary levels," said Center for Prevention director Janelle Waldock. "In order to change this, we must create communities where all residents not only have access to health care, but also to basic things — like walkable and bikeable streets, healthy food, and smoke-free air — that reduce their likelihood of developing illnesses before they begin. The initiatives we're supporting will play a vital role — but it's only a start."

For a complete list of grant recipients, visit the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Web site.