Kansas City, MO – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) recently awarded its inaugural “Volunteer of the Year” prize to Charlotte Garrett, Broker Commission Analyst. Garrett was recognized at Blue KC’s all-staff meeting where they announced they would be donating $1,000 in her honor to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
In her role as Sponsorship Chair for the Kansas City chapter of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Garrett secured $683,000 to support the Network’s initiatives in fighting pancreatic cancer including: research, clinical services, patient services and advocacy. She’s an established advocate for advancing cancer research and has even lobbied in Washington, D.C. to urge congress to pass the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act.
In addition to her work with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Garrett also works with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in Kansas City which provides supportive services to sick children and their families. She is an ambassador for Shatterproof, an organization dedicated to ending the devastation addiction causes families, helping organize the annual Rise Up Against Addiction 5K fundraiser.
“We are extremely grateful to have a company culture in which we strive to give back to our community. Charlotte is a prime example of this and we could not be more proud of her work in and outside the office,” said Macaela Stephenson, Manager of Community Relations and Investment. “The health and well being of the Kansas City community is at the heart of everything we do at Blue KC.”
The announcement of the inaugural “Volunteer of the Year” award came just a week after National Volunteer Appreciation Week. Between April 8 through 12, Blue KC employees donated over 450 hours to organizations in the greater Kansas City community including Ronald McDonald House Charities, CASA, Harvesters Mobile Food Pantry, Kansas City Community Kitchen, Giving the Basics, Community Blood Center, Happy Bottoms, Pilgrim Center, Jewish Family Services, Girls on the Run and Hope House.
To learn more about Blue KC community-based initiatives visit https://www.bluekc.com/consumer/blue-kc/charitable-giving.html.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the largest not-for-profit health insurer in Missouri and the only not-for-profit commercial health insurer in Kansas City, has been part of the Kansas City community since 1938. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City provides health coverage services to more than one million residents in the greater Kansas City area, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and 30 counties in Northwest Missouri. Our mission: to provide affordable access to healthcare and to improve the health of our members. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information on the company, visit its website at BlueKC.com.