Jan. 8, 2015

Operator of BCBSOK Nationally Recognized For Outstanding Commitment to Community

The operator of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) was recognized on Dec. 8 as one of America’s most community-minded companies as part of The Civic 50. The Civic 50, an initiative of Points of Light, in partnership with Bloomberg LP, honors the 50 most community-minded companies in the nation each year.

Honored for our work to improve health and wellness in our local communities, we were specifically recognized for our commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities where we do business, as evidenced though the following initiatives:

• Healthy Kids, Healthy Families^® invests in and partners with nonprofit organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs to reach children and their families in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management, and supporting safe environments. More than 7 million children have been impacted by this effort;
• Blue Corps^SM, our employee volunteer program, promotes and encourages volunteerism across the organization in addition to providing regular recognition and appreciation activities for volunteers. In 2013, more than 45,000 volunteer hours were captured, resulting in more than $200,000 in matching grants to nonprofit community partners; and
• Be Covered works to educate the estimated 9 million uninsured individuals that reside in four of the states where the operator of BCBSOK does business (Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas) about the important changes occurring as a result of health care reform. The campaign has hosted more than 550 events with more than 250 established community organizations, schools, religious institutions and doctors to provide easy-to-understand educational information, in both English and Spanish, as well as practical tools and tips to help individuals navigate the changes within the health care marketplace.

Created in 2012, The Civic 50 measures corporate civic engagement and recognizes companies that incorporate socially responsible practices and community leadership into their culture. Points of Light, the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service conducted the survey in partnership with Bloomberg LP. The survey was developed under the guidance of an academic panel of nine experts from leading universities throughout the country. The survey evaluates companies based on several criteria including how extensively and strategically resources are applied to community engagement, how a community engagement program supports business interests and integrates into business functions.

To view a complete list of The Civic 50 companies for 2014 and to learn more about the importance of civic engagement in corporate America, please visit Civic50.org.