MASON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With roots dating back to 1944, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio (Anthem) has a proud tradition of serving not only its members, but also the broader community. In 2012, this legacy continued as the health insurer, its charitable foundation and local associates contributed nearly $2.5 million and hundreds of volunteer hours to vital organizations and causes across the state.
“More than three million Ohio residents – and about 1-in-3 Americans – carry a Blue Cross and Blue Shield card,” said Erin Hoeflinger, president of Anthem. “An important part of our mission is to make a difference in our communities. We understand how health issues impact people at a very personal level, and we are walking the walk.”
Through its State Health Index – a compilation of public health measures – and Healthy Generations grant program, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its foundation work to identify the health issues most in need of attention and then direct charitable support and volunteer efforts toward improving those areas. Major areas of focus for Anthem in 2012 included promoting active lifestyles and working to reduce the devastating impact of cancer and chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease and lung disease on Ohio children, adults and seniors.
Grants provided by the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation in 2012 included:
- $75,000 to the American Cancer Society
- $298,080 to the American Heart Association
- $315,892 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America
- $27,777 to Disabled Sports USA
- $35,000 to the Gathering Place (Cleveland)
- $209,000 to the March of Dimes
- $196,233 to the Oasis Institute
- $25,000 to Reach Out Montgomery (heart health)
- $12,500 to the US Association for Blind Athletes
Ohio communities also benefit from grants made by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s parent company to national and regional organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and OASIS Institute.
Formal grants and sponsorships are supplemented by informal charitable activities and donation drives organized by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s offices and business units over the course of the year. Beneficiaries of these efforts include local food banks, the American Heart Association and Cancer Society, and Toys for Tots. Ohio associates also proudly serve as community volunteers and board members for a broad range of non-profits.
On an annual basis, Ohio’s local associates enthusiastically support two of the parent company’s signature social responsibility programs: Community Service Day and Associate Giving Campaign.
Community Service Day – On April 28, 2012, nearly 250 company associates and their families also volunteered at community organizations throughout Ohio during the company’s Community Service Day. Taking place at 18 sites throughout the state, the annual effort benefitted nonprofits dedicated to improving the quality of life in local communities, including Akron/Canton Food Bank, Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati, Camp Joy, Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, March of Dimes, Mid-Ohio Food Bank, Ohio SCPCA, Second Harvest Mahoning Valley and Shared Harvest Food Bank.
Associate Giving Campaign – Each November, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield associates make one time contributions and ongoing pledges to health-focused charities through the company’s Associate Giving Campaign. The six charities in the 2011-2012 campaign were: American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Community Health Charities, Feeding America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and United Way. Contributions made through the campaign are backed by a 50 percent match from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, bringing the total paid out in 2012 to more than $640,000.
“The health causes we are supporting are not quick-fix issues,” said Hoeflinger. “However, our hope is that by improving the lives of individuals we can make inroads on the major health challenges of our time and create brighter futures for families across the state.”
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Insurance Company, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s annual associate giving campaign and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates’ campaign pledges. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.