SALT LAKE CITY – Regence BlueCross BlueShield announced today it has entered into a three year partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah and committed $200,000 in financial support to the organization. Big Brothers Big Sisters will also be a spotlighted organization during Regence’s yearly Employee Giving campaign and for employee volunteers.

The partnership is through Regence’s Community Partner Organization program, which provides significant funding and employee volunteerism support to select nonprofits in the communities it serves. The goal of the program is that at the end of the three years the nonprofit will be stronger than when the partnership started.

“Regence has a long tradition of community involvement and philanthropy,” said Jennifer Cannaday, Regence Vice President. “Our goal is to support and partner with nonprofits, like Big Brothers Big Sisters, that share our vision of building stronger, healthier communities.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah works to develop one-on-one mentoring relationships between adult volunteers (Bigs) and children (Littles) to help children be happy and successful in school and life. The organization is planning to use the $200,000 donation to support our mentoring program and build organizational capacity over the next three years. This includes the opportunity to hire staff for training, support of Development activities, re-branding and technical assistance.

“This generous support from Regence is helping us get out into the community and learn how we can best serve children and families in our area,” said Pam Sanders, President & CEO. “Through our mentoring programs, we try to have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people in Utah, and this partnership is helping to make that possible.”

About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah

Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah is a leading health plan in Utah, with more than 330,000 members, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence is the largest health insurer in the Northwest / Intermountain Region, serving more than two million members as Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Regence BlueShield (selected counties in Washington). Each plan is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Regence is committed to improving the health of our members and our communities, and to transforming our health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or www.regence.com/RegenceUtah.

About Big Brothers Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah is a donor and volunteer supported organization with a mission to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported 1-to-1 relationships that change a child’s life for the better, forever. We partner with parents/guardians, volunteers and others in the community and hold ourselves accountable for each child in our program achieving:

     •    Higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships

     •    Avoidance of risky behaviors

     •    Educational success

Last year, we served 1,700 children across the state. For more information, please visit www.bbbsu.org.