About The Foundation

The BET Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 2003 by BET Networks with a grant from General Mills to create a national healthy lifestyle campaign. The mission of the BET Foundation is to promote healthy lifestyles among African-Americans, focusing primarily on the issues of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some forms of cancer, mental health disorders and other associated health conditions. The BET Foundation highlights behavioral factors in the African-American community that lead to these health conditions in the order to effectively alleviate these concerns among community members.

A Healthy BET is a national multi-platform public health education campaign. Its initiatives are a series of program components designed to promote healthier lifestyles as an effective means for reducing overweight and obesity, and related chronic diseases among African-American women ages 18-54+ and girls ages 10-12.

National Media and Information Outreach                                                                                 Disseminates information about minority health disparities with an emphasis on obesity and the benefits of a healthier lifestyle into the African-American community

Public Service Announcement: Public service announcements provide healthy lifestyle information, practical health-related tips, a toll-free phone number to obtain free brochures and journals, and information on BET Foundation programs. Public service announcements are aired on BET, BETJ and BET on Blast, and featured on the select BET Official DVD releases.

Special Programming Segments (Vignettes): Programming vignettes include in-depth information on obesity and cardiovascular disease etc., related health consequences, steps to be taken to promote healthy lifestyles, and tips on healthy eating habits. Segments also features updates on the progress of the national contest winner and outcomes from other BET Foundation programs.

Printed Materials: Free brochures containing practical guidance on various healthy living topics produced and distributed throughout the year. Content support is provided by the Bell Institute of Health in Minneapolis, MN.

Toll-free Hotline: A 24-hour, scripted toll-free phone number, 1-866-2LOSE-IT, to handle inquiries and to process requests for the free brochures. Callers may also leave a message with comments about the program and hear healthy eating and weight loss tips with a sponsor tag.