Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri and Its Foundation Commit More Than $1.13 Million in 2010

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 22, 2010 /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 more than $1.13 million to philanthropic and civic organizations throughout Missouri in 2010.

Anthem's community efforts for 2010 were highlighted by a more than $185,000 contribution from its own employees that will support hundreds of community-based non-profit organizations throughout Missouri. Through its annual Associate Giving Campaign, 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, increasing the total to more than $277,000.  

"Our associates work hard every day to provide health care benefits to more than 1.2 million people throughout the state," said Dennis Matheis, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. "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 $714,000 in grants to organizations in Missouri in 2010, including National MS Society, American Lung Association of the Central States, Independence Center and the City of St. Louis. Additional grants were awarded to the following national organizations that will directly benefit Missouri:  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, OneSight 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 Missouri's community relations commitments totaled more than $140,000, including support to the following organizations:

City of St. Louis
CHIPS Health and Wellness Center
Crider Health Center
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Harris-Stowe State University
Jack Buck Paralyzed Veterans
JDRF
Komen St. Louis
March of Dimes
Missouri Botanical Gardens
Muscular Dystrophy Association
<span class="prnews_span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">St. Luke's Hospital
YMCA St. Louis

Anthem associates are also conducting local projects and contributing to several organizations to provide assistance around the holidays, including a food drive for the St. Louis Area Food Bank and a Giving Tree to help families in Cape Girardeau.  

The community commitments by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri, its Foundation and parent company Foundation total $1,135,557 for 2010.

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 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.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri

In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name for RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Independent licensees 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.

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SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri