Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island Associates Give 3,970 Volunteer Hours to Thirteen Community Projects

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – They built a sunporch at a safe haven
for behaviorally challenged adults. They packed boxes of shoes for 712
homeless schoolchildren. They transformed the walls of a community center
with fresh coats of paint and an intricately designed mural.

Nearly 700 volunteers – all employees of Blue Cross Blue & Shield of Rhode
Island (BCBSRI), fanned out across the state today for a fourth year
running as part of the company’s Blue across Rhode Island day of service.
Collectively, in 13 teams, including one on-site at company headquarters,
BCBSRI donated 3,970 hours to 13 community projects statewide, and provided
$65,000 in grant funding and in-kind gifts.

Blue across Rhode Island stands as the largest single-company volunteer day
in the state, and more than 72% of BCBSRI associates participate.

All of the 13 projects align with the company’s push to create a healthier
Rhode Island. The headquarters project team was hard at work for eight
hours assembling “Flu Fighter” kits that were distributed to 18 agencies
statewide. The kits included “cough spot” temporary tattoos to encourage
children to cough into their elbows, along with information on free flu
clinics.

“During the past four years, Blue Cross team members participating in Blue
across Rhode Island have given more than 10,000 hours of service and more
than $65,000 in grant and in-kind funding to community agencies working
tirelessly to support Rhode Islanders in need,” said Michele Lederberg,
executive vice president and chief administrative officer, BCBSRI.
“Together, we’ve demonstrated the power of teamwork to make a difference in
the lives of our neighbors.”

Company President and CEO Peter Andruszkiewicz was among nearly 700 BCBSRI
employees who participated in Blue across Rhode Island, which featured the
following projects (see full list below):
·    Sorting and assembling emergency infant and toddler hygiene kits for
families in crisis throughout Newport County at The Changing Table,
and packaging footwear for homeless RI children with Gotta Have Sole
·    Providing upgraded spaces for disadvantaged and LGBTQ youth at sites
including the Boys & Girls Club of East Providence, Youth Pride,
Inc., Newport County YMCA, YMCA of Greater Providence and Boys Town
New England
·    Supporting adults with developmental disabilities through greenhouse
updates at The Groden Network and teaching classes and beautifying
space at the J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center

Project sites by location:
Cranston
–    Gotta Have Sole

Newport
–    The Changing Table
–    Newport County YMCA

Pascoag
–    Community Care Alliance

Portsmouth
–    Boys Town New England

Providence
–    Boys & Girls Club of East Providence
–    Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation
–    The Groden Network
–    YMCA of Greater Providence
–    Youth Pride, Inc.

Warren
–    Highlander Charter School

Warwick
–    J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center

Flu Fighter Kit recipient agencies:

Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland/Lincoln
Boys & Girls Club of Newport County
Boys & Girls Club of Providence
Boys & Girls Club of Woonsocket
Boys & Girls Club Warwick – Norwood Section
Boys & Girls Club Warwick – Oakland Beach Section
Federal Hill House
Highlander Charter School
Newport Community School
Paul Cuffee (Lower School)
St. Mary’s Home for Children
The Learning Community
YMCA Bayside
YMCA Cranston
YMCA Kent County
YMCA Pawtucket
YMCA South County
YMCA West Bay

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is the state’s leading health
insurer and covers more than 450,000 members. The company is an independent
licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more
information, visit www.bcbsri.com, follow us on Twitter @BCBSRI, and like
us on Facebook at fb.com/bcbsri.

Leave a comment