Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas employees, retirees and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation donated a total of $303,282.18 to United Way campaigns in Hutchinson, Salina, Topeka and Wichita this fall.
“Our efforts celebrate the power we can have as an individual and as a group to make a positive impact on the communities where we live and serve,” said Matt All, president/CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation.
“Our campaign resulted in not only a generous monetary donation to United Way organizations across the state, but also provided meals to 4,060 individuals,” he said. Employees assembled sack lunches during their United Way meetings.
In addition, the company will fund United Way-related special projects in Hutchinson, Salina, Topeka and Wichita.
To assist the Hutchinson community, BCBSKS will provide financial support to the United Way of Reno County's Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The program provides one book per month to any child in Reno County age birth to 5 years old. The books are free to the children but the United Way is required to pay for shipping. Blue Cross will donate $5,000 to mail the books to the children and employees will help the United Way distribute the books.
In Salina, the company will donate $5,000 to purchase hygiene supplies and employees will help by packing kits either on-site at its Salina office or during a community-wide packing event. The kits will go to students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch at school. These types of supplies are in high demand among this population as they cannot be purchased using food vouchers.
Employees in Topeka voted to improve the playground at the TDC Parent-Child Learning Center at Highland Park High School. The company will donate $7,000 for playground equipment and employees will help by installing, painting, gardening and other general beautification projects to improve the playground area for the children.
In Wichita, the company will fund the purchase of essential household items for the United Way of the Plains' Give Items of Value Distribution Center. Employee volunteers will help sort and organize the items which are then made available to a number of community organizations. The total donation for this need is $5,000.
In Topeka, where 1,512 employees work, All presented the United Way of Greater Topeka with a check in the amount of $269,315.06. The amount includes an employee and retiree contribution of $219,365.06, as well as a $50,000 donation from the BCBSKS Foundation.
In Hutchinson, thirteen employees and the BCBSKS Foundation raised $8,168 for the United Way of Reno County. In Salina, home to 47 employees, donations totaling $8,233.52 have been made to the Salina Area United Way by employees and the BCBSKS Foundation. In Wichita, where the company has 27 people, $17,565.60 has been donated by employees and the BCBSKS Foundation in support of the United Way of the Plains’ annual campaign drive.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
For more than 75 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has built a reputation of trust with its members and contracting providers by providing outstanding customer service while quickly and accurately processing claims; fairly administering benefit plans and contracts; offering programs, services and tools to help members improve or maintain their health; and operating under the highest ethical standards while being good stewards of premium dollars. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and is the state’s largest insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. For more information, visit bcbsks.com.
About the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation promotes the good health of Kansans who live in the Foundation’s 103-county service area. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the largest health insurer in the state, incorporated the Foundation in 2005 as a way to further deepen its commitment to helping all Kansans lead healthier lives, an effort which both entities believe is an essential factor in keeping health care affordable. Through its giving, the Foundation focuses on key health issues that can impact the lives of many Kansans. It funds programs and activities that are, at their core, health-related and in particular, promote health improvement, community health access and/or education, healthy behaviors, prevention initiatives and direct health services to the uninsured. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Both entities serve all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. For more information on the Foundation, visit bcbsks.com/foundation.