Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Issues Community Repor...( Report Details Support f...),Health

Report Details Support for Community Organizations

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield donated more than $1.4 million to community organizations throughout Maine in 2007. The health insurers' Maine-based charitable activities are detailed in the recently released Maine Community Relations Report - 2007. The report can be found online at http://www.anthem.com/maine/communityreport.

"All associates at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield are committed to improving the health of the people of Maine," said Dan Corcoran, Anthem Maine president. "One of the ways we do this is by supporting those community-based organizations that share our vision of a healthy Maine."

Among the larger gifts given in 2007 through the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation were:

-- $125,000 to the Healthy Community Coalition

-- $100,000 to restore the Back Cove Trail in Portland

-- $100,000 to set up an allied health services lab at Northern Maine Community College

-- $100,000 to "Let's Go," a Greater Portland coalition focused on kids' health

-- $90,000 (the fourth year of a five year grant) to help fund the Miles for Smiles Mobile Dental Clinic

-- $80,000 to the Preble Street Resource Center

"In total, more than 70 Maine-based organizations received grants from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield or our foundation, Corcoran said. "Just as importantly, our associates volunteered thousands of hours of their own time and made personal contributions to support many worthy community organizations -- part of our commitment to improving the communities in which we live and do business."

Funding priorities for 2008 will focus in the following areas:

1 - Kids and Obesity

2 - Adults and Obesity

3 - Cancer

4 - Uninsured Support

5 - Access to Care

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