$2.78 million donated to causes in the greater Chattanooga area
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. —BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee charitable giving in the Chattanooga area topped $2.78 million in 2016, representing more than a quarter of the $10.48 million given to organizations across the state throughout the year.
Included in the company’s 2016 local giving tally is a $500,000-plus donation to the United Way of Greater Chattanooga.
“A big part of what makes us different is the fact that we truly are ‘of Tennessee’, and our focus on the Volunteer State extends to our community impact,” said Roy Vaughn, chief communications officer for BlueCross and executive director of the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation. “We are proud that our support has benefited people in all 95 counties because we also serve people in every corner of the state.”
Beyond financial support
Approximately two-thirds of Chattanooga-based BlueCross employees volunteered their time to local causes in 2016.
The company’s philanthropic efforts, led by the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, center on three key goals: increasing access to health care for all Tennesseans, helping address the problem of addiction and substance abuse statewide, and supporting efforts to help residents increase their levels of physical activity.
Major Chattanooga-area charitable investments in 2016 included:
- $300,000 for equipment and installation of three Fitness Zones
- $300,000 for development of the Step-Up Chattanooga internship program in partnership with Public Education Foundation
- $125,000 to support program expansion of The House of Refuge
- $100,000 for a KaBOOM! playground build in Alton Park
- $100,000 for the Chattanooga 2.0 education initiative with the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
- $50,000 for Northside Neighborhood House’s Healthy Families family dinner nights and cooking classes
- $50,000 for the Helen Ross McNabb Center mental health facility
- $31,000 for GoNoodle activity breaks in Chattanooga-area elementary schools
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust supports nearly 300 charitable and civic programs and events, including fundraisers, in Chattanooga and around the state.
BlueCross employees also support a variety of Chattanooga charities. Staff raised more than $38,000 for the Tennessee Valley Heart Walk in 2016, and employee contributions combined with a corporate gift enabled the company to provide its significant donation to the United Way of Greater Chattanooga.
Human impact
For stories on how these charitable grants are changing lives, visit BetterTennessee.com.
And to see a detailed listing of all organizations supported by county, visit BetterTennessee.com/Partners.
About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust
The Community Trust is a 26 U.S.C. (c)(4) organization designed to allow BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee to offer additional support to charitable and civic causes in the communities we serve.
About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, Inc.
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, Inc. was established in December, 2003 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized to promote the philanthropic mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. The foundation awards grants focused on high-impact initiatives across the state, which promote healthy lifestyle choices and help control health care costs for all Tennessee residents. Working with civic and economic partners, the foundation is dedicated to the support of research, innovative programs and creative approaches to improve the health and quality of life of Tennesseans for generations to come.
About BlueCross®
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s mission is to provide peace of mind through better health. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based company is focused on serving more than 3.3 million members in Tennessee and across the country. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s website at bcbst.com.