BCLC recognizes HCSC for its outstanding work with community service

Sep 24 2009

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) is recognizing Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) for its outstanding work with community service. The BCLC has named HCSC as a finalist for its Corporate Citizenship Award in the category of U.S. Community Service. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation and HCSC is the country's largest customer-owned health insurer operating Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

"Health Care Service Corporation has shown leadership and commitment at a difficult time when it has mattered most," said BCLC Vice President and Executive Director Stephen Jordan. "Each finalist for the U.S. Community Service Award is a community hero."

The "OrganWise Guys" program earned HCSC the recognition. The school-based program teaches children to make positive nutrition choices to improve their health. With the help of imaginative and humorous characters based on the organs of the body, the program fosters understanding and action on behalf of elementary school students. Local community partners in each state collaborate with the program and customize it to meet the specific needs of their area.

"Seeing a child's health improve while having fun is reward in and of itself," said Lydia Ashanin, Director of Corporate Community Involvement for HCSC. "Still, we greatly appreciate the Chamber's recognition of our hard work and the wellness initiatives that HCSC is committed to providing."

The U.S. Community Service Award, now in its 10th year, acknowledges businesses, chambers, and associations for corporate citizenship programs that contribute to social and civic progress in U.S. communities. The Chamber's BCLC's mission is to advance the positive role of business in society. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.