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How our foundation is investing in the future of Hamilton County students

In Chattanooga, only 38% of residents earn a degree or certificate after high school, but by 2030, 82% of jobs in the area will require one. Just like other places across the country, the high cost of post-secondary education and career training in the area is a barrier to access for many families.

At BlueCross, we’re committed to helping our members and neighbors across Tennessee improve their overall health. And we know higher educational attainment not only supports thriving communities but also positively affects overall wellbeing. That’s why we’re partnering with Chattanooga 2.0, a local nonprofit focused on literacy, childhood education and career pathways, in the Chattanooga Future Fund.

One of the first corporate partners to join the initiative, the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation is investing $1 million in this innovative program  to enhance educational opportunities for students throughout Hamilton County.

“We know investing in education is one of the most impactful ways we can support the future and overall wellbeing of the communities we serve,” said Dalya Qualls White, executive director of the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation. “We’re proud to partner with the Chattanooga Future Fund to help Hamilton County students access opportunities and reach their full potential.”

What is the Chattanooga Future Fund?

The Chattanooga Future Fund will provide every kindergarten and middle school student in Hamilton County with a $100 education savings account. The money will grow over time, and students and their families can contribute to the account whenever they are able. Program organizers estimate that if a student’s family contributes just $1 per month beginning in kindergarten, their account will have more than $500 by the time the student completes high school.

When students graduate, they can use the funds to help with a variety of education-related expenses, including:

  • Tuition to two- or four-year colleges and universities
  • Apprenticeships in trades, technology or other fields
  • Technical training for high-demand, high-wage jobs
  • Other related expenses like housing, technology and transportation

An ongoing commitment to education

The partnership with the Chattanooga Future Fund is the latest in a long list of educational investments BlueCross has made in Tennessee students.

In Chattanooga, the company has supported the BlueCross Technology Academies at Red Bank and Soddy Daisy High Schools, preparing students to enter post-secondary educational tracks for information technology. The BlueCross Foundation is also contributing to the Chattanooga Future Fund accounts of students at Red Bank and Soddy Daisy Middle Schools.

The BlueSky Tennessee Institute, established in 2021 in partnership with East Tennessee State University, provides students with an accelerated degree path in computing and a job offer in enterprise information technology with BlueCross upon completion of the program.

Additional investments in education include the Project SEARCH and SWITCH Academy programs, which provide workforce readiness training and experience for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Each year, the BlueCross Foundation also funds the BlueCross Power of We Health Equity Scholarship, offering $10,000 scholarships to six Tennessee college students pursuing health care careers with an interest in improving access to care and health equity statewide. The foundation will begin accepting applications for 2025 scholarships on February 1.

To learn more about the Chattanooga Future Fund, visit the program’s website. Area students and their families interested in participating will need to claim their child’s account online. Additional information on how to activate and contribute to these accounts is available on the site.

About Amanda Haskew, Senior Communications Specialist

A photo of the authorAmanda joined the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee corporate communications team in 2017. Born and raised in Chattanooga, she has a decade of experience in writing for print and the web, as well as digital marketing.

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