Helping Families Get Healthy and Stay Healthy

The tradition of community support runs deep at BCBSTX. We’ve earned a reputation for caring about Texas communities by demonstrating a commitment to helping build healthy communities over the last eight decades. After more than 80 years, we still believe in creating long-term value through social responsibility.

An essential component of that value is achieved through our grant and sponsorship programs, which fund community organizations that have expertise and strong relationships with underserved populations. We continue to promote the health and wellness of our members and communities through accessible, cost effective, quality health care.

Our employees continually demonstrate their caring spirit by being active in their communities and volunteering for and supporting hundreds of causes each year. In 2011, 870 employee volunteers donated more than 14,000 personal volunteer hours to community organizations across Texas.

Matching Dollars Program
Additionally, BCBSTX has a matching dollars program. For every verified volunteer hour a BCBSTX employee spends with a qualified nonprofit organization (also known as a community partner), that organization can receive $20 per hour up to a total of $2,000 annually. In 2011, 75 community partners received a total of $65,430.

Volunteer of the Year
Our Volunteer of the Year award celebrates the dedication and community service of employee volunteers, and gives coworkers the opportunity to nominate each other to help outstanding volunteers receive the recognition they deserve.

Tonie Smith was chosen as the 2011 Volunteer of the Year for her involvement with the Texas Care Van Program, Marathon Kids and Friends of Wednesday’s Child, which have all made an important difference in the lives of countless individuals and families. “Tonie’s commitment to her community is unwavering, and she’s an outstanding community ambassador for BCBSTX,” said BCBSTX President Darren Rodgers.

Tonie was awarded $1,000 to donate to a nonprofit organization of her choice. Tonie divided the donation, with $500 going to the Caring for Children Foundation and $500 going to Friends of Wednesday’s Child.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Volunteer of the Year Tonie Smith (center) with
BCBSTX President J. Darren Rodgers and HCSC President and CEO Pat Hemingway Hall