Led company’s charitable giving to a record $14.5 million in 2014
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Dawn Abel Weber has been promoted to director of community relations and foundations for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. In this role she leads the health insurer’s charitable giving and company sponsored volunteer efforts.
Weber joined BlueCross in 2013 as manager of Community Relations and Foundations. Before that, she was Tennessee region foundation director for Alexian Brothers Health System, a Catholic health care ministry.
“As the state’s leading health insurer and a major employer, BlueCross has a responsibility to, and a longstanding practice of investing in organizations working to improve the health of Tennesseans,” said Calvin Anderson, BlueCross senior vice president of corporate affairs. “Dawn has done a great job of educating organizations about our funding focuses and how those align with their efforts. Her leadership is helping us make a bigger impact for all Tennesseans.”
In 2014, BlueCross reached a record level of charitable giving, $14.5 million. The company financially supports causes through the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, BlueCross Community Trust and corporate donations.
In addition to financial support of good causes, Weber’s team coordinates and measures the impact of volunteer work performed by members of BlueCross’ workforce of 5,200. BlueCross’ employees collectively give tens of thousands of hours of their time annually to social service agencies across Tennessee.
Through its charitable giving, BlueCross supported more than 270 Tennessee organizations last year. The foundation has more than 40 active grants ranging from $15,000 to $3 million.
In addition to charitable giving, the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation’s own signature Shape the State program recently announced it is making available in 1,100 elementary schools across Tennessee the web-based GoNoodle classroom tool at no cost for three years. Developed by Nashville-based Health Teacher, GoNoodle provides fun “brain breaks,” short bursts of physical activity that help restless students re-focus on learning.
And this year, the number of middle schools receiving the Shape the State physical education grant will reach 100. Each year 20 schools are awarded a grant valued at $10,000 which supplies the acclaimed SPARK physical education curriculum, training for teachers and hundreds of pieces of equipment.
The foundation was begun in 2003 and since then has issued more than $50 million in grants and services to benefit Tennesseans.
About BlueCross
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s mission is to provide its customers and communities with peace of mind through affordable solutions for health and healing, life and living. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based company is focused on reinventing the health plan for its 3 million members in Tennessee and across the country. Through its integrated health management approach, BlueCross provides patient-centric products and services that drive health improvement and positively impact health care quality and value. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.bcbst.com.