CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation announced today new Ohio grants totaling $260,000 to Ohio-based Boys & Girls Clubs, Feeding America organizations and the Children’s Hunger Alliance to address food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19. The grants are part of a $2 million commitment that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its Foundation have made to support nonprofit organizations on the front lines of the pandemic.
The Foundation has been working with partner nonprofit organizations to support emergency response, food access, personal protective equipment supplies, education, cancer support, and virtual youth programming. Approximately $1.1 million has already been committed to organizations across the state, with another $900,000 slated for emerging needs in the coming weeks and months.
“We have nearly 4 million members and 4,200 associates working and living in every corner of this state – we’re deeply committed to improving lives and communities here,” said Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio President Steve Martenet. “We’re in this together and in addition to supporting Ohio’s nonprofit heroes, we will always stand with Ohio’s health care providers, communities, employers and elected officials.”
Highlights of the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation’s COVID-19 response include:
- Directed $135,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Cincinnati, Columbus, Wooster, Marietta, Toledo, Hamilton, Youngstown and Orrville to support expanded supplemental food programs, virtual programming, technology and staff.
- Committed $100,000 to Ohio-based Feeding America food banks to fund emergency food programs.
- Provided $50,000 to the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio’s Pandemic Emergency Fund to help homeless shelters achieve social distancing and purchase sanitation and hygiene supplies to protect residents.
- Directed $25,000 to the Children’s Hunger Alliance to support meal distribution efforts through community action agencies, recreation centers, schools, libraries and Panera Bread locations across Ohio.
- Granted the Community Shelter Board $25,000 to support food and safe housing programs for those impacted by COVID-19.
- Provided $50,000 to the Cancer Support Community of Central Ohio’s Distress Screening program to identify and address heightened anxiety among cancer patients and survivors. These individuals are uniquely impacted by social isolation and COVID-19’s threat to people with compromised immune systems.
- Directed $50,000 to the YMCA of Greater Cleveland to support child care services for essential workers.
“We are grateful to partners like Anthem Foundation who have supported our programs for many years and have stepped up to help us help kids throughout Ohio during this unprecedented time,” said Judy Mobley, president and CEO of Children’s Hunger Alliance.
The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation also continues to work with national partners including the American Red Cross, Americares, Direct Relief and numerous others to ensure access to emergency assistance for individuals and families, and personal protective equipment and training for health workers.
Additionally, in observance of National Volunteer Month in April, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is doubling its matching contributions to $2 for every $1 donated by Anthem’s 70,000 associates across the country through May 5. It is also doubling Anthem associate volunteer credits to $20 per hour, which associates can earn and donate to the nonprofit of their choice.
Anthem associates in Ohio have logged nearly 1,000 volunteer hours and donated $110,000 to support local nonprofit organizations. Volunteer efforts have included providing meals to frontline healthcare workers and engaging in virtual volunteering such as online teaching and telephone outreach to people who are isolated.
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 make up its Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets: maternal health, diabetes prevention, cancer prevention, heart health and healthy, active lifestyles, behavioral health efforts and programs that benefit people with disabilities. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s year-round Dollars for Dollars program which provides a 100 percent match of associates’ donations, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. ®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.
