Blue Cross Employees Embrace Volunteerism 365 Days a Year
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| 2 min read
‘Tis the season of giving, whether it's passing a turkey around the table or handing out gifts to loved ones. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employees take this one step further by dedicating themselves to improving the lives of people in their community. A Season of Giving One unseasonably warm day this November, Blue Cross employees ran a winter weather clothing drive for the third consecutive year in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul. With a goal of collecting 1,000 coats for Michigan families in need, the drive featured drop spots across the state, giving donors throughout Michigan the opportunity to take part in their own season of giving. In addition to the annual coat drive, Blue Cross employees get creative giving back to their community throughout the holidays. You’ll find employees from every department building holiday baskets to donate, manning the phones at a St. Vincent de Paul’s fundraising telethon, delivering dinner through Meals on Wheels, wrapping gifts for different organizations and preparing food for the hungry. Year-Round Giving Blue Cross’ charitable efforts don’t begin and end with the holiday season. Dubbed the “Blues Caring Crew,” Blue Cross employees volunteer more than 5,000 hours of service throughout the year to local non-profit organizations, ranging from soup kitchen food preparation to environmental work with local urban farms. One of the many employees leading the charge, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Laurine Parmely, has sat on March of Dimes’ board of directors since 2013. The non-profit organization seeks to end premature births and better the lives of expecting mothers and premature babies nationwide. Encouraging Employees Blue Cross remains committed to recognizing employees who donate their out-of-work time. One way is by giving the BlueStarz Employee Volunteer of the Year Award. Tina Gaworecki, a project consultant for business solutions, took home the 2014 honor after logging numerous hours with The Parade Company, the organization behind the production of Detroit’s Thanksgiving parade. From running coat drives to fighting hunger, Blue Cross uses the power of our people to give back to the community. Want to join the Blue Cross team in volunteering? Here are some organizations that need help year-round:
Learn more about how Blue Cross employees help the community by checking out these other blogs:
