Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Its Foundation Contribute More Than $1.25 Million In 2010

ATLANTA, Dec. 22, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- To address ongoing health disparities and hardships encountered by millions of American families, the men and women of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, (BCBSGA) and its corporate foundation, proudly continued the company's tradition of caring for the people it serves and the health of our communities by contributing $1,279,779 to philanthropic and civic organizations throughout Georgia in 2010.

BCBSGA's community efforts for 2010 were highlighted by a $226,003 contribution from its own employees that supported hundreds of community-based non-profit organizations throughout Georgia. Through its annual Associate Giving Campaign, BCBSGA employees directed their giving to their choice among numerous health-related 501(c)(3) organizations. The funds pledged received a 50 percent match from the parent company's Foundation, increasing the total to $339,004.  

"Our associates work hard every day to provide health care benefits to more than 2.5 million people throughout the state," said Morgan Kendrick, president, BCBSGA. "These same associates are also extremely committed to the communities where they live and work, particularly during these challenging economic times. I couldn't be more proud of their efforts to help make a difference for people in need."

In addition to the Associate Giving Campaign, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia Foundation funded $750,857 in grants to organizations in Georgia in 2010, including:

American Diabetes Association

Boys & Girls Clubs

Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Grady Memorial Hospital

Health MPowers

March of Dimes

Oasis Institute

One-Sight

YMCA Metro Atlanta

Additional grants were awarded to the following national organizations which will directly benefit Georgia:  Foundation for Health Coverage Education, Trustees of Dartmouth College, New England Healthcare Institute, Engleberg Center for Healthcare Reform at Brookings Institute, Center for Medical Technology Policy, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research and the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy.  In addition to the Foundation grants and generosity of BCBSGA associates, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia's community relations commitments totaled $189,133, including support to the following organizations:

Alzheimer's Association

American Cancer Society

American Diabetes Association

American Heart Association

American Lung Association

Arch Foundation for the State Botanical Garden Ball

Arthritis Foundation

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta

Champions for Change

Hosea Feed the Hungry

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

BCBSGA associates are also conducting local projects and contributing to several organizations to provide assistance around the holidays. Projects include:

Adopt-A-Family – Three Adopted Families

Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless Christmas Day Dinner

House of Mercy Food Drive

Operation Gratitude Holiday Packages and Candy Donations

Radio Disney Heritage Holiday Christmas Community Event

Salvation Army Holiday Drive

Second Harvest Food Bank

Toys for Tots Toy Drive

The community contributions by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, and its parent company Foundation total $1,279,779 for 2010.

For more information about the social responsibility of Blue Cross Blue and Shield of Georgia and its parent company, visit http://www.wellpointcorporateresponsibility.com/cr/index.html

About the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia Foundation

Through charitable grant making, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia's inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that the company 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.  The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. To learn more about the Foundation please visit www.wellpointfoundation.org.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Inc. and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association^® . The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.  Additional information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is available at www.bcbsga.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinInBCBSGa, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia