Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is investing in strategic community partnerships to support families and children during the pandemic.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) is dedicating $550,000 to support comprehensive community and public health needs throughout the state of Kansas. This important work is focused on supporting 22 Domestic Violence Shelters and local public health departments with funding and resources they need during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In addition to BCBSKS corporate donating to causes across Kansas, The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation will add to the giving by contributing to Child Care Aware of Kansas.
“We are proud to provide relief where we can to organizations across our state that are working hard to meet the needs of all Kansans,” said Matt All, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. “We care deeply about our communities and are committed to providing assistance where we can.”
Through their Blue Health Initiatives, BCBSKS has also partnered with NetWork Kansas to provide $250,000 to support grants for small businesses and organizations that are manufacturing personal protection equipment (PPE) to support the healthcare community.
BCBSKS awarded a grant for $200,000 to the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments.(KALHD). KALHD passed through funds in $5,000 increments to local health departments across the state to assist with contact tracing. Funds are also being used to help strengthen the statewide system for contract tracing and disease investigation for COVID-19.
A grant for $37,562 was awarded to the City of Wichita to contract with MEI Foods to package and deliver 90 boxes of food each week to the senior properties managed by the Housing and Community Services Department to ensure 186 high-risk senior residents maintained access to nutritious food and to reduced their risk of exposure to COVID-19.
BCBSKS also provided $50,000 in grants directly to local community foundations that promote stories of frontline workers through the #AdAstraStrong campaign. This partnership is a collaboration with the Kansas Association of Community Foundations and all funds awarded will go to local community foundations' COVID-19 relief fund to support the recovery in their community.
BCBSKS is also contributing $44,000 to domestic violence organizations across the state. Funds will be dispersed to 22 different organizations in the BCBSKS service area and used to assist domestic violence shelters, support victims of domestic abuse and more.
BCBSKS has already donated $27,000 to Project Topeka, a campaign that supports eight Topeka organizations that offer food assistance.At Project Topeka, 100% of donations go toward purchasing food. Every dollar donated provides 1.5 pounds of food to the hungry.
Lastly, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation will contribute $50,000 to Child Care Aware of Kansas, a membership organization for all child care providers in Kansas. The donation will go to those providers in the BCBSKS service area and will be used to purchase cleaning supplies and curriculum to address behavioral health needs as children navigate the emotional impact of COVID-19.
“Child Care Aware of Kansas is working hard every day to ensure families have access to affordable, high-quality care, which is more challenging and important than ever before as we navigate this health crisis,” said Marlou Wegener, chief operating officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation. “These funds will help the organization continue its mission and provide much needed support to child care providers throughout Kansas.”
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.