While 2020 brought about unprecedented change, the one thing that didn’t change was Blue Cross NC’s commitment to communities across North Carolina. It’s who we are and how we operate – 85 years and counting.
Healthy communities are caring communities. And when we have a safe place to live, good food to eat and people we can depend on, it’s easier to be healthy and compassionate.
While COVID-19 impacted everyone in many ways, some areas across the state were nearly devastated by the financial, economic and health concerns associated with the pandemic. Black and Hispanic populations have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 – whether that’s in ability to find work or care for their families and their own health care needs.
We invested more than $7 million in direct COVID-19 relief to help North Carolinians access nutritious food and other wellness essentials, as well as through support to community centers and crisis relief organizations. Within this investment, we delivered more than one million PPE kits to eligible members, community partners and employees. The kits featured a face mask and hand sanitizer with a message from our new President and CEO, Dr. Tunde Sotunde.
In addition, Blue Cross NC participated in a campaign to donate one million masks to people and families in need – alongside Atrium Health, Bank of America, Carolina Panthers, Honeywell, Lowe’s and Red Ventures – when the governor’s executive order mandated face masks in June.
We soon realized that slowing the spread of the virus would take a combination of thoughtful strategies and changes in public attitudes and behaviors. Blue Cross NC convened a public health coalition comprising philanthropic, government and business partners to support the state of North Carolina and its leaders in this effort – a “coalition of the willing,” if you will. We asked our partners to contribute their time and expertise to the communities and industries they know best.
“We showed resolve through investment and giving back, maybe more than ever before. In the face of extreme circumstances, we found creative ways to continue to be of service to our nonprofit partners.”
Cheryl Parquet, Director,
Community Engagement and Marketing Activation
In 2020, Blue Cross NC invested $25.2 million in our communities.
Delivering Meals and Hope
We knew we had to move quickly to make sure our neighbors didn’t go hungry during the pandemic.
Because one in seven North Carolinians was food insecure in 2020, and reports estimate that approximately 40% of food bank utilization was by families in need as a direct result of the pandemic.
Through investments of $7 million for food security initiatives, we supported organizations that provide fresh, healthy meals to children and seniors across North Carolina as COVID-19 disrupted the food system. We supported our food agency partners in providing additional meals and capacity to serve their communities.
Key initiatives in this effort provided nutrition education in addition to meals, addressed hunger in rural and economically distressed counties, engaged seniors in meal deliveries and offered sustainable solutions to growing hunger gaps.
With hunger representing a primary driver of health, we understand the need to support access to fresh, healthy food to improve health outcomes.
In 2020, Blue Cross NC provided more than 4.7 million meals to those in need across the state.
Here’s a closer look at one way we pivoted to help our communities:
In collaboration with our collegiate and professional sports partners, we delivered more than 16,000 meals to children, families and frontline health care workers in Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Mecklenburg, Moore, Orange and Wake counties. Our cafeteria partner, Compass, helped prepare the meals for the Triangle area.
Meal-Distribution Partners:
- Boys and Girls Clubs (Charlotte,
- Durham/Orange and Sandhills)
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Carolina Panthers
- Charlotte Black Owned
- Charlotte Hornets
- Communities In Schools of Greater Greensboro
- Duke Hospital
- Durham Bulls
- LPGA Symetra Tour
- North Carolina A&T State University
- North Carolina Central University
- Project BOLT
- UNC Hospitals
- Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
- Winston-Salem State University
Improving Rural Health
At the start of the year – before the pandemic – the company announced an $8 million investment for programs committed to improving the health and well-being of rural communities. These funds supported first responders in rural counties, expanded access to quality care for uninsured patients and provided health-centered home repairs.
Approximately 40% of North Carolinians live in the state’s 80 rural counties. That’s about 4 million people.
Part of improving rural health means taking a closer look at the factors that have the greatest impact on overall health. These factors, or drivers of health, can include access to quality health care, living in a safe community, food security and social connectedness.
Community Partners:
- Appalachian State University and East Carolina University
- InterAct
- North Carolina Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
- North Carolina Community Action Association
- North Carolina Community Colleges
- North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition
- North Carolina State Firefighters Association
- YMCA
Volunteerism
Blue Cross NC’s greatest resources might arguably be the talent and generosity of its employees. Each year, employees volunteer their skills to work closely with a nonprofit partner in addressing a pressing organizational challenge. In 2020, the needs of our nonprofit partners changed and grew as everyone moved to a virtual setting. With the grit of our employees and nonprofit partners, we were able to contribute our expertise to eight community organizations, including the American Heart Association, Greensboro Housing Coalition, Helius Foundation, North Carolina Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, North Carolina Justice Center, Pisgah Legal Services, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and Working Landscapes.
Volunteers helped nonprofit organizations in key areas such as marketing and communications, program valuation and cost analysis, data collection, equity in human resource processes and customer relationship management. The graphic below demonstrates the impact we made this year.
100%
... of nonprofit participants anticipate increased effectiveness, or the rate of success in achieving the organization’s mission or desired end outcomes.
... of nonprofit participants met or exceeded their goal for the program.
... of employee respondents agreed this program made them feel more connected to the community.
*Pro Bono Day engaged 30 employees who each donated 10 hours of pro bono over the course of the program. The average hour of pro bono service is valued at $195.
** The long-term program engaged 13 employees who donated and average of 3.5 hours of pro bono service each over 10 weeks of project work. Additionally, employees each donated about 8 hours of pro bono service to prepare for project work. The average hour of pro bono service is valued at $195.
GivingWorks
During a year mired in challenges and uncertainty, our employees showed up for North Carolina nonprofit organizations. We raised nearly $1.4 million with donations from more than 1,970 employees during the company’s annual giving campaign, “GivingWorks.”
We Resolve.
Working alongside health care providers, consumers, policymakers, business leaders and community organizations, we’ll continue to transform health and health care in North Carolina.
2020 was a year of significant uncertainty and change. We created the “We Resolve” Blue Cross NC marketing campaign to assure North Carolinians that we’re here, and will continue to be here, to support them through the pandemic and other challenges. The campaign encouraged folks to follow the 3 Ws (Wear, Wait, Wash) and to not delay care by using telehealth services. The campaign garnered over 151 million impressions across TV, radio, print, social and digital channels.
Blue Connect