A Date With Angels

Blue Cross & Louisiana First Lady honor outstanding volunteers at Angel Award ceremony

October 29, 2008

BATON ROUGE – Louisiana First Lady Supriya Jindal was surrounded by "angels" Monday night as she joined the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation in recognizing eight volunteers who do extraordinary work for at-risk children.

Jindal was the mistress of ceremonies at the Blue Cross Foundation's annual Angel Award ceremony, held Oct. 27 at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center.  The Angel Award, created in 1995 to honor outstanding Louisiana volunteers who improve the welfare of children, includes a $20,000 Foundation grant for a charitable organization chosen by each recipient.

"Louisiana and Blue Cross are both working toward the same goal:  We're trying to create a healthier Louisiana, and that includes investing in our children," Jindal said.  "It was a pleasure to help recognize this year's eight Angel Award honorees, who are truly making a difference in Louisiana communities."

Peggy Scott, president of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, said the Angel Award is part of the company's commitment to improving the quality of life in Louisiana.  "In addition to recognizing the often unsung heroes in our communities, the Angel Award helps increase awareness of children's needs throughout the state and provides resources to help address them," she said.

Efforts of the 2008 Angel Award recipients range from launching innovative school programs to helping abused or neglected children.  This year's winners are Chris Broussard of Minden, Dr. Raymond Hicks of Shreveport, Cherry Seal of Glenmora, Ellen "Deedee" Suthon of Covington, and Baton Rouge residents Carolyn Carnahan, Shirley Porter, Dee Robinson and Ella Rein Wheeler.  For more information about these winners and the Angel Award program, as well as a searchable database of past winners and nominees, please visit www.bcbsla.com and click on Community.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and the Blue Cross Foundation
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, promotes health and education in Louisiana communities through philanthropic programs and contributions.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is Louisiana-owned and -operated.  Marking its 75th anniversary in 2009, the company is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.  It is a tax-paying mutual company, owned by its policyholders.  Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana also has district offices in Alexandria, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport.  The company's subsidiaries include HMO Louisiana, Inc. and Southern National Life Insurance Company, Inc.  For more information, visit the company's website at www.bcbsla.com.