Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Releases 2015 Community Report

EAGAN, Minn., April 25, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) supported numerous programs and initiatives in 2015 that helped to build healthier communities statewide. An overview of this work is showcased in Blue Cross' 2015 community report, "Moving Health Forward in the Community."

Blue Cross' Community Report showcases how company initiatives — and employee dedication to volunteerism — supported the health of all Minnesotans throughout the year.

"Blue Cross gives back to communities statewide as part of our commitment help all Minnesotans thrive," said Paula Phillippe, senior vice president of human resources and external relations. "Our employees are constantly seeking unique and meaningful ways to support the communities where they live, work and play. This commitment is a cornerstone of Blue Cross' culture."

Throughout 2015, Blue Cross' helped move health forward in Minnesota communities in many ways, including:

Blue Cross Employees' Philanthropic and Volunteer Efforts

• Nearly 1,600 employees participated in the company's Volunteer Paid Time Off program, donating more than 16,000 hours of service to Minnesota communities
• More than $1.1 million was raised through the 2015 Community Giving Campaign
• Combined donations of $33,000 to nonprofits in recognition of 132 Dollars for Doers volunteers (employees who contributed 40 or more hours of their personal time to their favorite nonprofits)
• Nearly $77,000 and more than 4,100 pounds of food donated to the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign

Access to Healthy Food

• Donating 700 pounds of fresh produce grown on the grounds of Blue Cross facilities grounds to local food shelves in Eagan and Gilbert, Minn.
• 8,000 packets of seeds packed by 70 Blue Cross volunteers, enough to support 400 inner-city families to grow their own produce

Youth and Education

• Employees donations of more than 9,500 supplies for backpacks to the Salvation Army in Virginia, Minn., supporting Iron Range students in need
• More than 60 employees volunteering as eMentors at schools in the metro area through BestPrep

Seniors

• More than 90 employees refurbished the exterior of two homes owned by seniors through the Metro Paint-A-Thon
• 19 employees from Blue Cross' Virginia and Aurora, Minn. offices volunteered weekly to deliver Meals on Wheels to local seniors

Community

• 190 employees contributed 1,400 volunteer hour to Habitat for Humanity worksites
• Hearts and Hands volunteers donated nearly 750 handcrafted items to community members, including chemo hats, baby items and winter hats, mittens and scarves

Environment

• Donating used office equipment to local classrooms and working with vendors to reduce the company's corporate footprint

Quality Care

• The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation awarded $1.2 million to help low-income Minnesotan enroll in state public health programs and navigate the health care system
• Countryside Public Health, with support from Blue Plus, tasked a public health nurse to specifically serve the Micronesian/Melanesian community in the Benson area

To see all the ways Blue Cross supported the health and wellness of Minnesota communities in 2015, view the full community report, including an interactive snapshot of funding initiatives, at:  www.bluecrossmn.com/communityreport.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (bluecrossmn.com), with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today as a health company: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. Blue Cross is a not-for-profit, taxable organization. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151020/278636LOGO

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota