Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) has released its 2024 Community Investment Report detailing how the company lived out its mission of championing the health and well-being of its members and the communities it serves in 2024.
Since its beginnings in 1939, BCBSNE has built a legacy of community engagement. In 2024, the company continued the evolution of that legacy by launching the Nebraska Blue Foundation, which powers BCBSNE’s philanthropic initiatives and supports programs that improve the health of Nebraskans and the economic vitality of the state. In its first year, the foundation allocated $330,000 in funding to strengthen communities and promote well-being.
The company’s community impact wasn’t limited to Nebraska Blue Foundation gifts, however. Throughout the year, BCBSNE engaged employees through volunteer events, including its annual United Way of the Midlands (UWM) campaign, raising over $363,600 and packaging 1,500 hygiene kits for various organizations that UWM supports. In addition, employees gave a total of 220 hours of support to nonprofits in their community during National Volunteer Month in April and contributed 17,029 meals during Food Bank for the Heartland’s Strike Out Hunger Campaign in June.
BCBSNE’s commitment to strengthening communities also extended to Nebraska’s teachers and students in 2024. Through the Healthy Home Team initiative, BCBSNE awarded $500 grants to 100 Nebraska high schools and a $5,000 grant to North Platte High School to support community health and well-being. Additionally, in collaboration with the Nebraska Cybersecurity Network for Education, BCBSNE donated 450 pieces of computer equipment to 196 high schools, laying the groundwork for the establishment of cybersecurity programs.
“Supporting the health and well-being of our members starts with being present in our communities,” said Jay Warren-Teamer, executive director of the Nebraska Blue Foundation and community and strategic engagement leader at BCBSNE. “Through event support, in-kind donations and volunteer efforts, we’re strengthening communities and creating a healthier Nebraska for all.”
More than 400 people were vaccinated during the company’s annual flu shot clinics while 12 statewide health agencies benefited from the company’s sponsorship of the Combined Health Agencies Drive. Beyond promoting community health, BCBSNE also invested in Nebraska’s workforce through partnerships with Ignite Nebraska and Avenue Scholars – two nonprofits dedicated to preparing and supporting Nebraskans as they pursue careers in high-demand fields.
Read BCBSNE’s full 2024 Community Investment Report at NebraskaBlue.com.
