Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Michigan Foundation Wins Four National Awards For Excellence In Communications From Council On Foundations

March 21, 2009

DETROIT – The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) Foundation has won five coveted national awards (2 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze) – in the 2009 Wilmer Shields Rich Awards Program.  The awards, given by the Council on Foundations and the Communications Network, recognize outstanding communications efforts that increase public awareness of foundations and corporate giving programs.  The awards will be presented at the 60th Annual Conference of the Council on Foundations on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 in Atlanta.

The BCBSM Foundation received awards for the following communications:

Gold award for the website, bcbsm.com/foundation, which provides information about the BCBSM Foundation, funding criteria, available grants and guidelines for submitting letters of interest,

Gold award for their Newsletter (Fall 2008) BCBSM Foundation Highlights:  Health Care Access for the Uninsured through Grantmaking,

Silver award for the grant program promotional brochure "Addressing the Three Leading Causes of Death in Michigan",

Bronze award for the BCBSM Foundation's 2007 annual report entitled "Commitment to a Healthy Michigan,"

Bronze award for the grant program promotional brochure "Community Health Matching Program:  Access to Care for the Uninsured".

"We are honored to receive these coveted awards for our communications efforts," said Ira Strumwasser, Executive Director & CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation.  "It's a reflection of collaboration and teamwork, and the creativity of a dedicated staff at the BCBSM Foundation and BCBSM illustrating our high standards in supporting research and programs that benefits the people of Michigan to improve health care quality, costs, safety and access for all who live in Michigan."

About the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation is dedicated to improving the health of Michigan residents by supporting health care research and innovative health programs. The foundation's grant programs are conducted in Michigan by Michigan-based researchers and nonprofit community health care organizations. 

Over the past 25 years, the BCBSM Foundation has contributed approximately $25 million in grants for research and $6 million for community health programs. This funding has resulted in enhancements to quality, patient safety and access to care for the people of Michigan. The foundation also supports efforts to control the rising costs of health care through research, demonstration and evaluation projects. 

The BCBSM Foundation is the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit bcbsm.com/foundation.