$100,000 donation will aid Red Cross recovery efforts
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross to help Nashville-area residents and Middle Tennesseans recover from a devastating tornado that swept through the region early Tuesday morning.
“We were saddened to learn of the devastation in Nashville and surrounding communities, and we will support relief efforts financially and through BlueCross employee volunteer opportunities for our neighbors here in Tennessee,” said Roy Vaughn, executive director of the BlueCross Foundation. “Our thoughts go out to the families who have lost loved ones and to all those who were affected by this storm.”
A state of emergency has been declared in Tennessee.
As of Wednesday, the storm, which ripped through parts of downtown, East Nashville and the Germantown neighborhood, as well as surrounding areas in Davidson, Putnam, Benton and Wilson counties, had killed at least 24 people and left at least 48 buildings in ruins in Nashville.
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has facilities in the area. There were no reports of building damage or injuries to employees, and the company is conducting business operations as normal.
About BlueCross®
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a taxpaying, not-for-profit health plan serving more than 3.5 million members in Tennessee and around the country. The Chattanooga-based company was founded in 1945 and is celebrating its 75th anniversary of bringing peace of mind to its members and local communities. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s news center at bcbstnews.com.
About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation, Inc.
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee 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 provides funding for the BlueCross Healthy Place program, which creates active, healthy spaces across Tennessee.