Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation continued their long-standing tradition of working to improve health and strengthen Nevada communities in 2016, supporting a variety of events, organizations and programs across the state.

Through sponsorships, grants, volunteerism and charitable donations, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, its foundation and associates directed nearly $800,000 and close to 600 volunteer hours to events and causes making a positive difference.

“For over 50 years, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has served our neighbors and our communities here in Nevada,” said Mike Murphy, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada. “Investing in and giving back to our community is directly tied to our mission and we’re proud to work each year with those making Nevada a healthier place.”

Highlights of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s 2016 efforts in Nevada include:

  • Supported health causes and organizations such as the American Lung Association’s Scale the Strat, through more than $133,000 in sponsorships.
  • Partnered with the American Heart Association to train 1,925 individuals in Hands-Only CPR.
  • Continued support for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation TypeOneNation Summit, a program that provides tools, resources, and activities to more than 400 individuals with Type 1 diabetes and their caregivers to reduce and/or prevent the harmful effects and complications of uncontrolled diabetes.
  • Worked with the American Lung Association to engage 100 people in smoking cessation programs.
  • Engaged 400 youth in healthy, active lifestyles through four Boys & Girls of America Triple Play Club grants.
  • Through Anthem’s Safe Routes to School National Partnership, more than 20,000 children in Clark County School District increased their physical activity levels through Fire Up Your Feet, which advances safe walking, bicycling, and physical activity among youth. Winning schools use the award money to purchase PE and sports equipment, install bike racks, or support other physical activity programs, further supporting healthy, active lifestyles.
  • Dedicated 559 volunteer hours to nonprofit causes, resulting in nearly $5,200 in “Dollars for Doers” matching grants from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation.
  • Contributed more than $21,000 to health-focused nonprofits through the company’s Associate Giving Program and Foundation match.

In addition to these efforts, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation supported $616,000 in open and active grants impacting communities across Nevada in 2016.

“Among the many things the Silver state has to be proud of are the countless organizations working to get kids off to a healthy start in life and to address our most pressing health challenges,” said Murphy. “We’re proud to stand alongside so many of them and we look forward to continuing this work in 2017.”

For more information, see Anthem’s annual online Corporate Responsibility Report, which outlines the company’s commitment to making a difference in people’s lives through the work of its associates, the philanthropic efforts of the Anthem Foundation, its diversity and inclusion initiatives and its environmentally responsible business practices.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc., an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Nevada is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AnthemPR_NV.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation

Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s year-round Associate Giving program and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates’ pledges. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.