American Lung Association Presents Distinguished Service Award to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

MILWAUKEE, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Lung Association in Wisconsin presented its Distinguished Service Award to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in recognition of the health insurer's ongoing commitment to promoting lung health and raising greater awareness of lung disease at the Oxygen Ball on Saturday April 24 in Milwaukee.

"Through grants, sponsorships and volunteer hours, the men and women of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield have demonstrated a true commitment to improving lung health in our state," said Sue Swan, executive director of the American Lung Association in Wisconsin. "The Distinguished Service Award recognizes Anthem for its more than two decades of work with our organization, which has enabled the American Lung Association in Wisconsin to take on life-changing projects we could not have otherwise pursued."

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's mission is to improve the lives of the people it serves and the health of its communities. For the past two years, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has served as the presenting sponsor of the American Lung Association's Fight for Air Climb, an event which challenges participants to scale the steps to the top of the U.S. Bank Building in Milwaukee to raise funds for education and research, and promote greater awareness of lung disease. Additionally, multiple grants to the American Lung Association from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation have worked to support programs designed to help adults and teens stop smoking.

"Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield proudly supports the American Lung Association because they share our commitment to improving lung health and ensuring everyone has clean air to breathe," said Larry Schreiber, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. "We are humbled by this award, and thank the American Lung Association for recognizing the small way Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has been able to contribute to the Lung Association's ongoing success and outstanding track record of moving Wisconsin forward on critical health issues."

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name used by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin ("BCBSWi") and Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation ("Compcare"), independent licensees of the Blue Cross 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 and Blue Shield Association.

Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin is available at www.anthem.com.

About the 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 reduce the number of uninsured as well as organizations and nonprofit charities that promote 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 annual associate giving campaign and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges. ®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. To learn more about the Foundation please visit www.wellpointfoundation.org.

About the American Lung Association

Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lungusa.org.

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin