Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the Anthem Foundation, and its affiliated plan foundations remain committed to standing with our communities and helping those impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Because of our strong, proactive relationships with organizations that are on the forefront of prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, funding was swift and is at work supporting relief in impacted areas across the country.

OVERVIEW OF RESPONSE EFFORTS

  • $50+ Million committed for COVID-19 response and recovery efforts, broken into 3 phases:
    • $20M Respond: Emergency Response, Human Services, Food Insecurity
    • $10M Resolve: Information/Tech/Education, Mental Health, Food Insecurity
    • $20M Reimagine: Chronic Conditions & Health Disparities, Economic Recovery, Food Insecurity
  • Anthem associate giving has topped $75,000 and continues to grow

SPECIFIC ACTIONS TAKEN:

Empowering and Supporting National Partnerships: 

  • As a $1M level member of the American Red Cross’ Annual Disaster Giving Program, Anthem Foundation helps enable the American Red Cross to continue to safely deliver its vital disaster services nationwide as communities continue to face the impacts of the coronavirus.
  • $250,000 helps Americares and Direct Relief get medical resources where they need to be. For example, the organizations have distributed over 7.8M N95 masks to essential healthcare workers in the US.
  • Through funding of $1.8, the Anthem Foundation is a Feeding America Leadership Partner. Feeding America and its entire network of food banks are continuing to serve neighbors in need. Many food banks are adapting their programs to meet increased needs for kids and families impacted by school closures as well as addressing the issue of people needing food while quarantined. Since establishing the COVID-19 Response Fund on March 13, Feeding America has distributed $112.4 million and over 94 million pounds to food banks throughout the network, helping provide nearly 79 million meals to neighbors facing hunger. 
  • $2 million to local Boys and Girls Clubs supports virtual programming and helps distribute meals to children and families in need. 
  • Anthem Foundation gave Mental Health America (MHA), the nation’s largest independently held behavioral health organization, a $100,000 grant. The grant funds MHA’s Screening to Supports (S2S) program, an online platform offering free, anonymous mental health screenings to nearly one million people a year, with analysis of results and customized recommendations for next steps. S2S has seen a 20% increase in anxiety since COVID-19 began spreading across the world. In light of quarantines and social distancing, MHA is promoting, adapting, and improving access to the tool to address impacts of loneliness and isolation.
  • People with disabilities and those living in areas of food insecurity are disproportionately impacted by all disasters, and access to healthy eating is more important than ever during these uncertain times. Through a $25,000 grant, Anthem Foundation has enabled Kelly’s Kitchen and Portlight Strategies to create a cutting-edge, disability-focused response to COVID-19. The organizations are partnering with Centers for Independent Living and other disability and aging stakeholder organizations to support existing and new food pantry efforts.
  • United Way Worldwide is supporting communities across the world struggling to cope with COVID-19. To address rapidly escalating needs, United Way Worldwide has created the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund. This fund will help meet needs at the local level including, but not limited to, emergency food support, providing meals to school-aged kids, rental assistance, lost wage support and health/medical access support. Anthem Foundation has provided $430,000 to this fund. 

Anthem Blue Cross Employee (Associate) Engagement:

  • Volunteerism:
    • Anthem Foundation collected and vetted virtual volunteer opportunities for associates interested in safely giving back to our communities during this uncertain time. From remote teaching to delivering meals and mailing cards, there are plenty of needs that lend themselves well to a virtual context. Virtual volunteerism is eligible for Reward incentives that equate to $20/volunteer hour, to be directed back to nonprofits of their choice.
    • Associates have logged more than 35,000 volunteer hours.
    • Anthem also launched the Anthem Medical Associate Volunteer Program, allowing associates with professional medical training to take paid leave and volunteer to serve on the front line in communities in need.
  • Giving:
    • In addition to our year-round Associate Giving Program where we match at 100%, we launched a $2-to-$1 matching dollar COVID-19 Response Campaign, resulting in $1.5M.
       

Community Leadership and Collaboration: 

Beyond financial partnerships and employee engagement, Anthem Foundation is at the table at the national, regional and local levels and is a trusted part of the community fabric that is developing solutions. For example, at our Indiana headquarters, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its associates are engaging in the #INthistogether campaign, supported by the Governor, to bring the community together to help Hoosiers understand the importance of social distancing. The goal is to get people to make social media posts showing how they are practicing social distancing to drive home how important it is for Hoosiers to hunker down. Hoosier companies, community organizations and more can get involved and show their commitment to slowing the spread of COVID-19: INthistogethercampaign.com. 

Anthem is collaborating and benchmarking results with key Corporate Social Responsibility and industry leaders, including CDC Foundation, Council on Foundations, Regional Grantmaking Associations, Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals, Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose, Points of Light and Benevity.

Anthem was named to Forbes Corporate Responders: New Ranking Of Nation's Top Employers' Responses To Pandemic. 

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is a licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of 35 independent, locally operated Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield companies.