Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine Associates Lend a Helping Hand During Third Annual Community Service Day

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 90 Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine associates and their friends and families joined forces to participate in the company's annual Community Service Day held on Saturday, April 24.  These efforts helped support three organizations across the state: the Cumberland County YMCA, the American Cancer Society, and Special Olympics of Maine.

"We've been proud to do business in Maine for more than 70 years," said Daniel Corcoran, president and general manager, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine.  "A large part of our mission is to support the health and well-being of those who live in our great state and we strongly feel that our annual community service day is a great extension of that effort."

Anthem's volunteer work included:

• Partnering with the Cumberland County YMCA to refurbish its playground and locker rooms, painting and cleaning, building picnic tables, and planting flowers
• Working with the American Cancer Society on a variety of projects including: creating a photo wall to tell stories of various events, painting a mural for the Road to Recovery program, and helping ACS staff prepare for the annual Living with Cancer Conference
• Helping support the Special Olympics' Fun and Fit Day by working with athletes during an indoor soccer tournament

"These fine agencies and hundreds like them throughout Maine provide a range of caring services day in and day out and we are thrilled to be able to support them," added Mr. Corcoran.  He went on to say that in addition to the volunteer projects, Anthem's corporate parent – WellPoint – would be making monetary donations to each organization.

In 2009, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine contributed over $500,000 in charitable contributions, foundation grants, and associate donations to agencies throughout the state.

About the Cumberland County YMCA

The Cumberland County YMCA, with its Portland, Casco Bay Regional and Pineland YMCA branches, is committed to building strong kids, individuals, families and communities through programs and services that promote a healthy spirit, mind and body for all, regardless of ability to pay.  To learn more, please visit www.cumberlandcountyymca.org.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.  To learn more, please visit www.cancer.org

About Special Olympics Maine

Special Olympics Maine provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continual opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.  To learn more, please visit  www.specialolympicsmaine.org

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Maine, 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 Maine is available at www.anthem.com.

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine