Supporting a Healthier Granite State

MANCHESTER, N.H., Feb. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In support of some of the Granite State's most pressing health issues, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire, along with its corporate foundation, proudly continued the company's tradition of philanthropy by contributing over $700,000 to a broad range of key non-profits throughout New Hampshire in 2010.

"As a local company who has served New Hampshire for more than 70 years, we strongly feel that community support is a major part of our mission," said Lisa Guertin, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire.  "In addition to financial support, our associates provide countless hours of volunteer service on an annual basis."

Anthem's support included sponsorships, charitable donations, foundation grants, and the plan's annual associate giving campaign in which Anthem associates direct their giving to their choice of numerous health-related 501(c)(3) organizations. The funds pledged receive a 50 percent match from the parent company's Foundation.  

"Our associates work hard every day to support the needs of our customers throughout the state," Ms. Guertin noted. "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 those in need."

Organizations supported include: the Foundation for Healthy Communities, Catholic Medical Center, Easter Seals New Hampshire, Families First of the Seacoast, the Greater Manchester Family YMCA, Breathe New Hampshire, the Granite State Senior Games, the American Diabetes Association, Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, the Manchester Boys and Girls Club, the Granite State Immunization Partnership, March of Dimes, American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society.

Other agencies included:

Anthem associates were also involved in a number of direct support programs during the year which included: food and clothing drives for the Salvation Army Santa Fund, Emily's Place, and New Horizons for New Hampshire, and community service projects for Families in Transition, the Greater Manchester YMCA, and the Manchester Boys and Girls Club.  Last November, Anthem also brought its "Health Bus" to Manchester to provide free health screenings for the city's homeless population.  

"A major portion of our giving is dedicated to health care agencies which comprise New Hampshire's 'safety net,'" said Richard Lafleur, M.D., Anthem's medical director.  "These organizations provide a host of vital services to those less fortunate and we're pleased to be able to support their caring efforts."

For more information about the social responsibility of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its parent company, please go http://www.wellpoint.com/corporateresponsibility.

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 Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.  ®ANTHEM is a registered trade mark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.  The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.  Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.  

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire