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"Every day our associates work to bring value to the health care systemand our health plan members. The generosity shown during this year's campaignis truly remarkable," said Leslie A. Margolin, plan president and generalmanager, Anthem Blue Cross. "This year's campaign demonstrated the generosityof our associates and their compassion and commitment to supporting thecommunities where we live and work."
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Nationwide, associates of Anthem's parent company pledged more than $16million to nearly 10,000 charities.
During 2008, Anthem Blue Cross and the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation willhave provided nearly $7 million in associate contributions, charitabledonations and sponsorships here in the state of California. Its parentfoundation provided more than $2.2 million of that total in grants to agenciesacross the state.
In California, Foundation grants were awarded to the Governor's Council onFitness and Sport to promote school-based programs to combat the state'sgrowing problem of childhood obesity. Other notable initiatives included thecompany's sponsorship of a Health Fair Screening Bus that toured regionally inthe fall and December holiday season offering 'the Gift of Health' in the formof preventive health screenings and flu shots to the uninsured.
Professional health organizations and academic foundations also benefitedin 2008 from Foundation grants. The California Latino Medical Association(CaLMA) received more than $265,000 as part of a multi-year million-dollar-plus commitment while the Dodgers Dream Foundation and the Los Angeles Timesin Education received support of $210,000 and $150,000 respectively. TheCalifornia Dental Foundation received a grant of $50,000 while the Universityof Southern California's School of Pharmacy received $138,000 and theUniversity of California Los Angeles 'Fit for Residence' program received$136,500.
"Partnering with many community agencies, other foundations and not-for-profits allows us to reinforce important programs that are vital to the publicsafety net and health in general," noted Margolin. "In difficult economictimes such as these, the role of these agencies is more important than ever inhelping communities maintain important and vital services for those in need."
Other examples of community involvement she cited included Anthem BlueCross associates supporting the 2008 AIDS Walk/Los Angeles campaign, theAmerican Diabetes Association's Walnut Creek Walk, and sponsorship of cyclingteams that rode hundreds of miles in support of the Multiple Sclerosis Societyof San Diego and the Best Buddies Foundation, which supports the needs ofintellectually disabled individuals.
Statewide, more than 650 associates and family members participated in thecompany's first-ever 'Community Service Day' on April 26th. They volunteeredto work on community projects such as building fitness trails, clearing hikingtrails, painting community centers and supporting the March of Dimes 'Marchfor Babies' annual fund-raiser.
The company has also been a major corporate sponsor of the Governor'sCouncil on Fitness and Sport, where it has underwritten the 'Live Like aChampion' tour. The statewide program consists of interactive exhibits thatencourage children and young adults to participate in popular sports as partof its 'Stay Active. Stay Healthy' message.
"Through the efforts of our foundations across the country we can helpaddress local health concerns," said Caroline 'Caz' Matthews, president of theAnthem Blue Cross Foundation. "But we go beyond simply providing dollars bygiving of our time through our national Community Service Day, whereassociates volunteer in our communities to have an even greater impact. In theend, our focus allows us to have a measurable and sustainable impact oncritical health care needs in the communities we serve."
About Anthem Blue Cross
Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. AnthemBlue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company areindependent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. (R) ANTHEM is aregistered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross namesand symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Association.
About the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation:
Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation LLC, anindependent licensee of the Blue Cross Association promotes Anthem BlueCross's inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being ofindividuals and families in communities that the company serves. TheFoundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address andprovide innovative solutions to reduce the number of uninsured as well asorganizations and nonprofit charities that promote the Healthy GenerationsProgram, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease statesand medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester,low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities thatdecrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adultpopulations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smokingcessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's annual associategiving campaign and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match ofassociates' campaign pledges. (R) ANTHEM is a registered trademark of AnthemInsurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross names and symbol are registered marksof the Blue Cross Association. To learn more about the Anthem Blue CrossFoundation please visit www.wellpointfoundation.org.Statewide, Not-for-Profit Organizations Large and Small Receive Support from Annual Associate Giving Campaign
SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross
