HARRISBURG – Capital BlueCross today recognized company employees who go above and beyond when it comes to community service. The 1st annual Give Fearless Employee Recognition Event held at the company’s headquarters, honored forty employees from Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.

Nominated by their peers, each employee dedicates multiple hours each month to community service. Examples of their volunteerism include health, military, children’s, and animal organizations, as well as faith-based and women’s charities.

“As a community-based health insurer, Capital BlueCross is proud to have many employees who give their time and resources to help those in need,” said Gary D. St. Hilaire, Pres. and CEO, Capital BlueCross. “With so many things pulling at our time, including work and family commitments, going the extra mile to help a charity or other organization is commendable.”

Three employees received the special honor of being named 2018 Volunteer of the Year. They are:

Barbara Gertzen – Enola, Cumberland County

For over twenty years, Barb has volunteered 10-12 hours per week with Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association, also known as CATRA. She helps many adults and children with special needs as they experience and share time with the various therapy animals. Barb also spends numerous hours caring for the therapy animals and their habitats. Her dedication to CATRA demonstrates that she genuinely cares about helping people and animals.

Christine Kokinda – Mertztown, Berks County

Since 2011, Chris has invested many hours every month supporting Friend, Inc. Community Services, a food pantry in Kutztown, PA. Once a month, she goes right from work to the food pantry and volunteers all evening. She uses her own vacation time to return to the food pantry the next day to stock shelves and prepare boxes of donations for families in need. She also works to acquire extra donations around the holidays and assists with special fundraising events. During the holidays, Chris and her coworkers at Capital BlueCross fill boxes of items needed for a full holiday dinner for at least five families

Chris Lowe – Liverpool, Perry County

For over 15 years, Chris has dedicated at least 12 hours a month to the Perry County Food Bank, as well as her local church food bank. She currently serves as the food bank site coordinator at her church. Chris has a passion for feeding hungry children and was inspired by an appreciative mother who received snacks for her children, who would otherwise have gone without.  When she is not working in the food bank, she solicits grocery stores for gift cards or fresh food donations to add to the food bank distribution bags. Chris also works to secure a grant each year that supports the pantry’s efforts and helps with the clothing bank. And, Chris’ co-workers also lend their support by donating food for the kids’ backpack program over the holidays. Chris even prepares a warm breakfast for the families to enjoy when they come to the food pantry and has bagged lunches on hand to send home with them. If a family can’t make it to the food bank to pick up food, she will deliver the food to them.

Capital BlueCross encourages employees to become involved in the community. As a company, it provides time, resources, and financial support to organizations that improve local communities throughout its 21-county Pennsylvania service area. Specific areas of focus are health and human services, education, arts and culture, and -corporate citizenship.

About Capital BlueCross

Capital BlueCross, headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., is the leading health solutions and insurance company in Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. A partner in the community’s health for 80 years, Capital BlueCross offers health insurance products, services and technology solutions that provide peace of mind to consumers and promote health and wellness for our customers.

More than a health insurer, the company delivers innovative solutions through a family of diversified businesses that is creating a healthier future and lowering health care costs. Among these solutions are patient-focused care models, leading-edge data analytics, and digital health technologies. Additionally, Capital BlueCross is growing a network of Capital Blue stores that provide in-person service and inspiration to help people reach their health goals. Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit capbluecross.com.

All of the employee volunteers honored in the Give Fearless Employee Recognition Event are listed below:

Becky Bowser, Professional Contracting

Stacey Clark, Consumer Experience

Chris Davis, Ancillary Services

Elaine Deimler, Business Solutions Development

Cindy Drawbaugh, A & G Government Products

Jeanna Erb, Strategy & Business Operations

Julie Fake, Financial Services

Theresa Fazzolari, Claims & Support

Gail Fehnel, Corporate Re-engineering

Nancy Fouts, Claims & Support

Laura Gargiulo, Legal and Regulatory Affairs

Catherine Goeckel, Clinically Integrated Programs

Karen Gunnison, Market Strategy

Sharon Henderson, IT & D Delivery

Barbara Henry, Claims & Support

Patricia Higgins, Strategy & Business Support

Dat Hoang, Actuarial Operations

Carol Howard, Financial Planning & Analysis

Kathy Kelly, Legal and Regulatory Affairs

Stephanie Kohr, Internal Audit

Autumn Lang, Commercial Group Sales Major

Georganna Lerch, Provider Engagement & Innovation

Lillian Magaro, IT & D Delivery

Rebecca Mangol, Accounting Operations

Jonathan Maritch, Facilities

Rebecca McClure, Brand & Market Strategy

Tabatha McNeal, Case Management

Peter Mikhail, Pharmacy Services

Crystal Moffitt, Member Service

Sharon Nelson, A & G Government Products

Vanessa Parker, Large Group & Ancillary Underwriting

Sherry Rocuskie, Applications Services

Colleen Schlarp, Individual Sales Administration

Stephen Snyder, Accounting Operations *

AJ Stambaugh, Information Security

Amy Trump, IT & D Delivery

Keri Wright, Human Resources

 

* Posthumous Recognition