Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio and Its Foundation Commit More Than $1.8 Million in 2010

Mason, Ohio, – December 20, 2010– 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 Ohio's communities by contributing $1,858,736 to philanthropic and civic organizations throughout the state in 2010.

Anthem's community efforts this year were highlighted by a more than $336,000 contribution from its own employees that will support hundreds of community-based non-profit organizations throughout Ohio. 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 over $504,000.

"Our associates work hard every day to provide health care benefits to more than three million people throughout the state," said Erin Hoeflinger, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio. "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 $980,150 in grants to organizations in Ohio in 2010, including The Gathering Place, Center on Closing the Health Gap in Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, University Hospital Health System in Cleveland, YMCA of Greater Cleveland and Cuyahoga Community College Foundation. Additional grants were awarded to the following national organizations which will directly benefit Ohio: American Diabetes Association, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, Boys and Girls Club of America, Engleberg Center for Healthcare Reform at Brookings Institute, Center for Medical Technology, Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 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 Ohio's community relations commitments totaled more than $373,000, including support to the following organizations:

American Cancer Society
American Heart Association
American Lung Association
American Red Cross
Cancer Free Kids, Cincinnati
Central Ohio Diabetes Association
Cincinnati Museum Center
Columbus Zoo/Nationwide Children's Hospital Teddy Bear Safari
Dayton Junior League POWER program
Diabetes Association Dayton Area
Hamilton County Education Foundation
Leukemia Lymphoma Society
LifeCenter Organ Donor Network
March of Dimes
Melanoma Research Foundation
Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges
Orthopedic Center of Excellence Foundation
Speaking of Women's Health, Cleveland and Dayton
THINK TV
Wellness Council of NE Ohio
Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
YMCA, Youngstown

Anthem associates are also conducting local projects and contributing to several organizations to provide assistance around the holidays. Projects include Adopt-a-Family; Toys for Tots; food drives; and coats, hats, gloves and mittens for the homeless, children and families in need.

The community commitments by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio, its Foundation and parent company Foundation total $1,858,736 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.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Insurance Company, 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 Ohio 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:  Kim Ashley (513) 445-0191

/PRNewswire -- Dec. 20, 2010/

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio