Anthem Blue Cross Pledges $10 Million in Support of Southern California Communities Affected by Wildfires

Anthem Blue Cross, Foundation, partner with national and local agencies on response efforts

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For more than eight decades, Anthem Blue Cross has been deeply connected to California, placing people at the center of our work. Our enduring commitment reflects our shared health journey with Californians, and we recognize the profound impact of disasters on the well-being of our associates, members, care providers, and communities. As a lifetime trusted health partner, our family of companies is dedicated to delivering essential resources and relief, upholding our long-standing support for Californians in times of need.

Today, Anthem Blue Cross and the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Elevance Health Foundation, announced an initial $10 million in new grants to aid community resiliency and disaster response efforts in Southern California. This funding will help bolster partnerships with national and community organizations focused on assisting those whose lives have been upended by the disaster, providing resources such as food, shelter, and medical care, while also addressing long-term recovery aspects like mental health services, economic assistance, infrastructure repair and rebuilding efforts.

“We are deeply committed to California's residents with more than 6,800 of our associates calling California home,” said Beth Andersen, President Anthem Blue Cross Commercial Plans. “We want our associates, members, care providers, and communities to know we stand with them. Together with our partners, Anthem Blue Cross and the Foundation will continue offering support now to help our neighbors impacted by wildfires rebuild their lives, businesses, livelihoods, and communities.”

The $10 million pledge adds to the Foundation's existing funding, which enables the following disaster-relief partners to respond immediately when disasters strike:

• American Red Cross and their national Annual Disaster Giving Program, which has mobilized to provide immediate response in California.
• Team Rubicon to equip them with the necessary support to provide services within days of a disaster.
• Direct Relief allowing for quick and direct response to specific requests from local partners, as coordinated with government authorities to ensure efficient use of resources.

Associates donating to the Foundation’s signature disaster relief charities receive a dollar-for-dollar match. Additionally, associates can donate to Elevance Health CARES Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity to help colleagues who need financial assistance because of disasters or personal hardships, such as the Southern California wildfires. Anthem Blue Cross and the Foundation will continue to monitor the Southern California wildfires and work with partners to provide help wherever needed.

About Anthem Blue Cross (Blue Cross of California)

As a long-time trusted health partner, Anthem Blue Cross has been providing high-quality, affordable health care for Californians for more than 86 years. Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Elevance Health, Inc. Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. To learn more, visit www.anthem.com/ca. Also, follow us on LinkedIn, X, or Facebook.

About Anthem Blue Cross Foundation

The Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association, is a philanthropic arm of the Elevance Health Foundation. The Foundation works to address health equity by focusing on improving the health of the socially vulnerable through strategic partnerships and programs in our communities with an emphasis on maternal child health; mental health; and food as medicine. Additionally, the Foundation also responds to disasters when our communities need us the most. The Foundation coordinates the company’s year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides a 100 percent match of associates’ donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross names and symbol are registered marks of the Blue Cross Association. To learn more about the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation and the Elevance Health Foundation, please visit www.elevancehealth.foundation and its blog at www.medium.com/elevancehealthfoundation.

About Elevance Health Foundation

Elevance Health Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Elevance Health, Inc. The Foundation works to advance health equity by focusing on improving the health of the socially vulnerable through partnerships and programs in our communities with an emphasis on maternal child health; substance use disorder; and food as medicine. Additionally, the Foundation also responds to disasters when our communities need us the most. Through its key areas of focus, the Foundation strategically aligns with Elevance Health’s focus on community health and becoming a lifetime, trusted health partner that is fueled by its purpose to improve the health of humanity. The Foundation coordinates with the company’s year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides 100 percent match of associates’ donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about Elevance Health Foundation, please visit www.elevancehealth.foundation or follow us @ElevanceFND on X and Elevance Health Foundation on Facebook.