Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut and its Foundation Contribute $610,253 in 2010

NORTH HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To address ongoing health disparities and hardships encountered by millions of American families, the men and women of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and its corporate foundation, proudly continued the company's tradition of caring for the people it serves and the health of our communities by contributing $610,253 to philanthropic and civic organizations throughout Connecticut in 2010.

Anthem's 2010 community efforts were highlighted by $209,896 in contributions from its employees, which will support hundreds of community-based, non-profit organizations throughout Connecticut. Through its annual Associate Giving Campaign, Anthem associates directed their giving to their choices among numerous health-related 501(c)(3) organizations. The funds pledged received a 50-percent match from the parent company's foundation, increasing the total contribution to $314,845.  

"Our associates work hard every day to provide health care benefits to more than 1.4 million people throughout the state," said David Fusco, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut. "These same associates are also very committed to the communities where they live and work, particularly during these challenging economic times. I couldn't be more proud of their efforts to help make a difference for people in need."

In addition to the Associate Giving Campaign, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation funded more than $173,651 in grants to organizations in Connecticut in 2010, including:

American Diabetes Association

Boys & Girls Club

Farnam Neighborhood House

March of Dimes

Oasis Institute

Saint Mary's Hospital

Additional grants were awarded to the following national organizations, which will directly benefit Connecticut: Foundation for Health Coverage Education, Trustees of Dartmouth College, New England Healthcare Institute, Engelberg Center for Healthcare Reform at Brookings Institute, Center for Medical Technology Policy, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, and the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy. In addition to the Foundation grants and generosity of Anthem associates, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut's community relations commitments totaled $145,454 including support to the following organizations:

Alzheimer's Association

ALS Association CT Chapter

American Cancer Society (Relay for Life)

American Diabetes Association (Expo Screening)

American Diabetes Association (Tour DeCure)

American Heart Association (Walk, Heart Ball, Go Red)

American Liver Foundation

American Lung Association (Breath Express)

Connecticut Food Bank

Connecticut Public Radio & TV

Connecticut Sports Management Group (CT Senior Games)

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation (Take Steps Walk)

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Great Strides Walk) -  West Haven & Old Saybrook

Easter Seals Goodwill Industries (Celebrate Campaign & Fantasy of Lights

Farnam Neighborhood House

Fellowship Place

Gateway Community College (Hall of Fame Dinner)

Gateway Community Foundation (nursing scholarships)

Governor's Prevention Partnership

Greater New Haven NAACP (Freedom Fund Dinner)

Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective (One Big Night)

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Walk to Cure)

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Lymphoma Research Foundation (Lymphomathon)

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (Red Ribbon Campaign)

Myelin Project (Hammerfest Triathlon)

National Kidney Foundation (Medic Alert Jewelry program)

National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Citizen of the Yr Gala)

Special Olympics (Opening Ceremony)

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

Urban League of Greater Hartford

Women's League Child Development Center

Anthem associates also conducted local projects and contributed to several organizations to provide assistance around the holidays. For example, Connecticut associates volunteered on Dec. 11, 2010 to staff the Easter Seals/Goodwill Industries' 16th Annual Fantasy of Lights display at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven.  More than 900 cars passed through the gates that day raising more than $9,000 for Easter Seals in a single day!   All proceeds from the event are used to support the Easter Seals/Goodwill mission of enhancing employment, educational, social and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities and other challenges. Also, for the past three years during the holidays, Anthem's Northeast Market Operations Team has participated in the "Adopt A Platoon" campaign and sent care packages to soldiers serving overseas.  This year they adopted an army platoon of 110 soldiers in Afghanistan.  Thanks to donations from Anthem associates, a total of $2,040 was raised in support of the program, and a total of 454 pounds of items were collected to send to the soldiers this holiday season.   In addition, Anthem recently gave a charitable donation of $5,000 to the Connecticut Food Bank and donated food items on behalf of Anthem and its producers to support those in need during the holiday season.

For more information about the social responsibility of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its parent company, go to http://www.wellpointcorporateresponsibility.com/cr/index.html

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 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 Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans, 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 and Blue Shield Association.  Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut is available at www.anthem.com.

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation