Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield In Kentucky and Its Foundation Commit More Than $1 Million In 2010

Statewide commitments include $156,000 pledged through company's Associate Giving Campaign

Louisville, Ky. – December 22, 2010– To address ongoing health disparities and hardships encountered by millions of American families, the employees of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its corporate foundation proudly continued their tradition of caring for the people it serves and the health of their communities by contributing $1,070,666 to philanthropic and civic organizations across Kentucky in 2010.

Anthem's community efforts for 2010 were highlighted by a more than $156,000 contribution from its own employees that will support hundreds of community-based non-profit organizations throughout the Commonwealth. Through its annual Associate Giving Campaign, Anthem associates direct their charitable donations 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, increasing the total to more than $235,000.

"Our associates work hard every day to provide health care benefits to more than a million people throughout the state," said Deb Moessner, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky. "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 Foundation funded more than $680,000 in grants to organizations in Kentucky in 2010, including The Kentucky Diabetes Network, University of LouisvilleResearch Foundation and Women 4 Women.  Additional grants were awarded to the following national organizations which will directly benefit Kentucky: American Diabetes Association, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Boys and Girls Club of America, Engleberg Center for Healthcare Reform at Brookings Institute, Center for Medical Technology, Trustees of Dartmouth College, Foundation for Health Coverage Education, March of Dimes, New England Healthcare Institute, Nurse-Family Partnership, Oasis Institute 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 Kentucky's community relations commitments totaled more than $153,000, including support to the following organizations:

American Diabetes Association

American Heart Association

American Lung Association

Apple Patch

Center for Women and Families

Community Health Charities

Elderserve

Foundation for Health

Fund for the Arts

Health Kentucky

Jefferson CountyPublic Schools

Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's

Kentucky Derby Festival

Kentucky Exposition Festival (Kentucky State Fair)

Leadership Louisville

Louisville Zoo

Maryhurst

Neighborhood House

Radio Disney

Spirit of Louisville Foundation

Women 4 Women

YMCA of Greater Louisville

Anthem associates are also conducting local projects and contributing to several organizations to provide assistance around the holidays, including a food drive for Dare to Care Food Bank.

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

About the Anthem Foundation, Inc.

Anthem Foundation, Inc. is a private, non-profit foundation. Through charitable contributions and programs, the Foundation promotes Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities in Kentucky. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting 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 Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, an independent licensee 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 Kentucky 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.

Media Contact:

Tony Felts, 317-287-6036

/PRNewswire -- Dec. 22, 2010/

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky