Anthem Blue Cross And Blue Shield Foundation Committed Nearly $3.5 Million To Health-Improvement, Other Community Causes In 2014

INDIANAPOLIS – Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s work to improve health and strengthen local communities continued in 2014, as the company directed nearly $3.5 million to health-improving causes, organizations and programs in Indiana.

“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is committed to transforming health care with trusted and caring solutions, and that extends directly to our work in communities throughout Indiana,” said president Robert W. Hillman. “We’re proud to support the organizations and programs that are working to help our friends and neighbors live their healthiest lives possible.”

Through its State Health Index – a compilation of public health measures – and Healthy Generations grant program, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its foundation work to identify the health issues impacting our local communities and in most need of attention and then direct charitable support and volunteer efforts toward improving those areas.

Major areas of focus for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 2014 included promoting active lifestyles and working to reduce the devastating impact of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease and lung disease on Indiana children, adults and seniors.

“We know that as our local communities change and grow so do the diverse needs of our residents,” said Hillman. “What’s not changed is our commitment to serving our members and advancing health in Indiana. It is a true honor to work with so many great people and organizations and we look forward to doing so again in the year ahead.”

2014 Summary: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana Community Committment
Program Contribution

National Grant Programs

Indiana communities benefited from grants made to national and regional organizations, including:

  • Boys and Girls Clubs of America
  • American Cancer Society
  • American Red Cross
  • March of Dimes
  • American Heart Association

Indiana-specific Grants

Some of the Indiana organizations that received support from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation in 2014 included:

  • Special Olympics Indiana
  • YMCA of Greater Indianapolis
  • WFYI’s 5-2-1-0 Countdown to Health
  • Cancer Support Community of Central Indiana

Community Events & Sponsorships

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield sponsored dozens of charitable events and organizations in 2014, including:

  • American Lung Association
  • Indiana Sports Corp.’s Corporate Challenge
  • Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
  • Autism Society of Indiana

Associate Volunteerism

Through the company’s Dollars for Doers Program, associates turned more than 6,000 volunteer hours into contributions for the charities they support. Through this effort more than 46 local organizations across the state received thousands of dollars.

Associate Giving

Contributions made through the company’s year-round Associate Giving Campaign are backed by a 50 per cent match from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, bringing the total paid out in 2014 to nearly $710,000.

The charities in this year’s program were:

  • American Cancer Society;
  • American Red Cross;
  • Community Health Charities;
  • Feeding America;
  • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and
  • United Way

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation
Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates’ campaign pledges, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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