Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Commits More Than $3.3 Million to Health Improvement in 2014

RICHMOND, Va.--()--Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s work to improve health and strengthen local communities continued in 2014, as the company directed more than $3.3 million and hundreds of volunteer hours to health-improving causes, organizations and programs in Virginia.

“Anthem is committed to transforming health care with trusted and caring solutions, and that extends directly to our work in communities throughout Virginia,” said C. Burke King, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “We’re proud to support the organizations and programs that are working to help our friends and neighbors live their healthiest lives possible.”

Through its State Health Index – a compilation of public health measures – and Healthy Generations grant program, Anthem and its foundation work to identify the health issues impacting our local communities and in most need of attention and then direct charitable support and volunteer efforts toward improving those areas.

Major areas of focus for Anthem in 2014 included promoting active lifestyles and working to reduce the devastating impact of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer on Virginia children, adults and seniors.

“We know that as our local communities change and grow so do the diverse needs of our residents,” said King. “What hasn’t changed is our commitment to serving our members and advancing health in Virginia. It is a true honor to work with so many great people and organizations and we look forward to doing so again in the year ahead.”

2014 SUMMARY:

VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

     
National Grant Programs Examples  

Virginia communities benefit from grants made by Anthem and Blue Shield’s parent company foundation to national and regional organizations:

 

  • Oasis: $128,000 grant to support for the CATCH Health Habits, a program that pairs older adult volunteers with children to teach about healthy eating and active living.
  • American Heart Association: $383,884 grant to support for the training of hands-only CPR in Virginia
  • March of Dimes: $148,600 grant to support seven Centering Pregnancy Centers in Virginia
  • Boys & Girls Clubs: $717,000 five-year grant to support the Triple Play After School program at nine clubs in Virginia
  • American Lung Association: $107,000 to support for the Quitter in You smoking cessation program

Virginia Grant
Examples

 
  • Metro Richmond Sportsbackers: $150,000 to support the Active RVA Fitness Oasis, which promotes the importance of physical activity in lower income areas.
  • CHIP of Virginia: $100,000 to increase the percentage of pregnant women who deliver healthy weight full-term babies
  • American Diabetes Association: $97,840 to support program to educate individuals with high risk of Type 2 diabetes on the importance of physical activity, healthy eating and basic health education
  • Fit4Kids: $90,325 to support the Learning Gardens program, which engages and educates elementary school students on the importance of health eating through gardening.
  • Sportable: $75,000 to support the I Am Athlete program that helps individuals with physical disabilities participated in health and fitness activities
  • St. Mary’s Health Wagon: $60,000 to support the Remote Area Medical Event in Wise, VA
  • Virginia Health Care Foundation: $40,000 to support the Pharmacy Connection Web Conversion Project making it easier to track cardiovascular medicines distributed
  • Girls on the Run: $10,000 grant to support the Girls on the Run program, which promotes the importance of physical activity and healthy eating to girls at Title I schools in Hampton Roads
Community Relations Sponsorship Examples  
  • American Heart Association: $75,000 sponsorship of Heart Walks in Richmond, Roanoke and South Hampton Roads
  • Children’s Miracle Network / Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters: $130,000 sponsorship of Anthem LemonAid in Hampton Roads and Richmond to fight pediatric cancer locally
  • ASK: $10,000 sponsorship of ASK Fun Run & 5k where money raised goes to treat pediatric cancer in Central Virginia
  • City of Roanoke: $25,000 sponsorship of the GoOutside Festival, which promotes the importance of physical activity by embracing the outdoors
  • American Cancer Society: $5,000 sponsorship of Relay for Life in Roanoke
  • Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation: $10,000 sponsorship of the Hampton Roads Race for the Cure
  • Metro Richmond Sportsbackers: $247,500 sponsorship of Anthem Richmond Marathon, Anthem Moonlight Ride and Monument Ave. 10k
  • James River Association: $15,000 sponsorship of Anthem James River Splash & Dash in Lynchburg and Richmond, which promotes importance of physical activity
  • SpeakUp 5k: $5,000 sponsorship of the Anthem presents SpeakUp 5k, in honor of Cameron Gallagher
Associate Volunteerism   Through the company’s Dollars for Doers Program, associates are able to turn their volunteer hours into contributions for the charities which they support.

 

Through this effort more than 35 local organizations across the state received $112,900.

Associate Giving  

Anthem associates’ contributions made through the company’s year-round Associate Giving Campaign are backed by a 50 percent match from the Anthem Foundation, bringing the total paid out in 2014 to more than $449,500.

 

The charities in this year’s program were:

  • American Cancer Society;
  • American Red Cross;
  • Community Health Charities;
  • Feeding America;
  • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and
  • United Way

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia

Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliated HMO HealthKeepers, Inc. are independent licensees 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 Virginia 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% 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.

Contacts

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Scott Golden
804-354-5252
Scott.golden@anthem.com
Twitter: @anthempr_va

Release Summary

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield directed more than $3.3 million and hundreds of volunteer hours in 2014 to health-improving causes, organizations and programs in Virginia.

Contacts

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Scott Golden
804-354-5252
Scott.golden@anthem.com
Twitter: @anthempr_va