PORTLAND, Ore. – It’s been three years since an arsonist destroyed The Dougy Center building, where the nonprofit provided support to grieving children and their families following the death a loved one. With the help of a $250,000 gift from Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, the organization broke ground on a new building Wednesday.
“Grief is a natural reaction to the loss of a loved one, for children as well as adults,” said Peggy Maguire, senior vice president at Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and vice chair of The Dougy Center board of directors. “Regence shares The Dougy Center’s belief that every child deserves the opportunity to grieve in a supportive and understanding environment. That’s why Regence has donated $250,000 to help it build a new facility. The Dougy Center is a valuable community resource, having served more than 30,000 people since it was founded 30 years ago. We simply can’t imagine our community without The Dougy Center in it.”
Wednesday, The Dougy Center broke ground on a new 11,750 square-foot home, where it will be able to serve more grieving families in the Portland area than ever before. The organization has also become a national and international resource for other organizations looking to help grieving children and families. To date, more than 500 programs modeled after The Dougy Center have been established worldwide.
Regence has long been a supporter of The Dougy Center through its community partner organization program, grants, employee volunteerism, board service and event support.
About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon is a leading health plan in Oregon, with nearly 750,000 members, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and is affiliated with Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield (selected counties in Washington). Together, the companies serve more than two million members in the Northwest/Intermountain Region. The Regence affiliated companies are committed to improving the health of its members and communities, and to transforming the health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or www.twitter.com/RegenceOregon.
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