Blue KC, YMCA of Greater Kansas City partner to support healthy kids
From sports clinics and STEAM activities to kids boot camps and wellness checks, there was free family fun everywhere you looked at Healthy Kids Day 2026, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) at the North Kansas City YMCA. The event was part of a national initiative hosted by more than 1,300 YMCAs across the country to improve the health and well-being of kids and their families.
“I got to play some sports, like pickleball and soccer,” 10-year-old Frankie said. “That was really fun.”
“I loved how they offered dental screenings, so I don’t always have to hound my kids about brushing their teeth, “Frankie’s mom Faith said. “They made it fun. It was an all-around great experience.”
“Here in Kansas City, we’ve been celebrating Healthy Kids Day since 1992,” said Mark Hulet, President and CEO at the YMCA of Greater Kansas City. “We had over 2,000 kids and families here just having a great time understanding about kids’ health and how there are opportunities and resources throughout Kansas City here to help them.”
“This was an important day to get kids energized and excited about healthy behaviors that really do start at a young age,” said Miranda Coffey, Supervisor of Community Health at Blue KC.
Healthy Kids Day supports four major health issues facing kids
Childhood obesity and physical activity
“Currently, 19% of children are obese in the United States,” said Coffey. “Childhood obesity drives health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes that carry into adulthood if they are not addressed. On days like Healthy Kids Day, we’re working to expose kids to new physical activities that they might be interested in while being connected with their families and their neighbors.”
Food insecurity and nutrition
Healthy Kids Day provided free food and drinks, and families were encouraged to donate food items to the YMCA food pantries.
“One in five U.S. children experiences food insecurity,” said Coffey. “Healthy Kids Day helped kids be connected to those healthy foods. They had a greenhouse where they’re planting food, so being able to participate in those things might inspire someone to start a garden in their own home.”
“YMCA of Greater Kansas City food pantries distribute about 750,000 pounds of food every year to the community,” said Hulet. “Anybody that needs those resources can come in to use the pantry. It’s not about membership; it’s about access and providing that to families.”
Social determinants of health
“The Healthy Kids Day event really brings together some of those healthy behaviors with some of the resources in the community,” said Coffey. “A lot of families in Kansas City face tough decisions with their social determinants of health and struggle to pay for things like medical resources, transportation, food, clothing, rent and utilities.”
Mental and behavioral health
“One in five adolescents has a mental, emotional, behavioral or developmental disorder,” Coffey said. “At Blue KC, we try to address those mental health stigmas.”
“We try to put an emphasis on kids’ health, and that’s more than just physical health,” Hulet said. “It’s mental health and emotional health.”
Blue KC cares about the YMCA of Greater Kansas City
Why is it important for Blue KC to support local organizations, like the YMCA of Greater Kansas City?
“As the only locally based, not-profit health insurer for close to 90 years in Kansas City, we are Kansas City,” said Macaela Stephenson, Director of Community Investment and Relations at Blue KC. “These are our neighbors. These are our family members. These are the people that we care about. We want to support them. We want to support local organizations. We live here. We work here. So, it’s important for us to make sure that we’re giving back in our own community.”
“Our community health workers refer people to the YMCA of Greater Kansas City as a way for families to get connected to new experiences, lower costs and physical activity, “said Coffey. “The YMCA offers scholarships for kids to be able to participate if families can’t afford a membership. I’ve had YMCA memberships in the past, and they’re really a great place where it’s not just adults working out, but it’s also kids, families and everyone together, which is really the future of Kansas City.”
“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City has been a partner for us for a long time,” said Hulet. “They’re about healthy communities. We’re about healthy communities. And when you get an A+ partner and an A+ organization together, that’s A++. The resources and what we can do together, it’s amazing what happens. This is what happens when resources come together, so Blue KC, you rock!”
