BlueCross employees are committed to serving their neighbors and communities, and each year, they give thousands of hours of their time to the causes and organizations that matter to them.
To recognize their efforts, BlueCross randomly selects two employees each quarter as winners of the TeamBlue Gives volunteer recognition program. To thank them for giving back, each winner receives a $500 donation from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation to a qualified organization of their choice.
We spoke to the Q4 2024 winners, Michele Myers and Janet Seiber, about where they’re sending their donations, the organizations they support and why volunteering with TeamBlue is important to them.
Michele Myers
Michele is an account executive based in Memphis. This April, she’ll celebrate 30 years with BlueCross.
Growing up, Michele and her family didn’t have much, but her family and friends would constantly show up to support them when they needed it most. These experiences taught her the importance of volunteering.
“At Christmas time, they would give us meals, clothes, presents and even a Christmas tree. They saw someone in need and wanted to help us. It is a feeling I’ll never forget.”
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization that treats and supports children with cancer, has a special place in Michele’s heart. Michele and her husband have donated to St. Jude for many years, and in 2024, she volunteered with TeamBlue at the St. Jude Children’s Hospital Memphis Marathon, directing participants through the registration line.
Michele has chosen to give her $500 donation to Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc., an organization that works primarily with homeless veterans, helping them get into transitional and permanent housing.
“I wanted to give to veterans,” she says. “They have done so much for us, and we should always do what we can to help them.”
Michele appreciates that BlueCross encourages its employees to give back to their communities. “Working for an employer that values volunteering and allows their employees to take a few hours during the workday to give their time is special,” she says.
Janet Seiber
Janet is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Educator in Population Health. She lives in Knoxville, and this January marked her one-year anniversary with BlueCross.
Last year, Janet volunteered with Love Kitchen, an organization that provides meals, clothing and food packages to homebound, homeless and unemployed residents in the Knoxville area.
She helped organize their food pantry and packaged cooked meals to give to the community. Since Janet spent most of her time volunteering with Love Kitchen, she decided to give her $500 to this organization. She believes their mission to help feed those in need is important and appreciates that they provide meals directly to those who need them most.
“I have heard stories of BlueCare members receiving food from Love Kitchen’s meal delivery program,” she says. “Seeing the positive impact this organization has made reinforces why volunteering means so much to me, and I continue to suggest this as a resource for our members.”
Marie is a senior Public Relations and Advertising major at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. She joined the BlueCross corporate communications team as an intern in July 2024.