PORTLAND, Ore. – In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy of service, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon is partnering with the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette this weekend to support nearly 1,500 volunteer opportunities across 60 community projects as part of the 13th Annual MLK Weekend of Service.

From sprucing up libraries and school gardens to sorting children’s books and packaging donated food for families in need, MLK Weekend of Service offers hundreds of opportunities for community members to give back and help build on Dr. King’s vision throughout the Portland metro region. Events take place Jan. 17-20 and are open to the public.

Dr. King’s legacy of service continues to inspire and remind Oregonians that we all have a role to play in bettering the health of our communities,” said Angela Dowling, President of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. “Regence and our employees are proud to celebrate our fifth year partnering with United Way in support of this mission.”

“Our MLK Weekend of Service is an incredible opportunity for people to come together to honor Dr. King’s legacy,” said Cindy Adams, President and CEO of United Way of the Columbia-Willamette. “With over 60 volunteer projects and 1,500 volunteers across the region this year, community members can continue striving for the changes Dr. King championed – including ending poverty and advancing racial equity – and make a real impact for tens of thousands of children and families.”

Each project will have a United Way staff member or Volunteer Leader available on-site to answer questions. For a full list of volunteer activities throughout the weekend, please visit unitedway-pdx.org/mlk

Presented by Regence, the 13th Annual MLK Weekend of Service is also supported by Intel, Nike, Dunn Carney, Tonkon Torp LLP, Umpqua Bank, with special thanks to U.S. Bank.

About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, headquartered in Portland, has been serving Oregonians since 1941 and now provides more than 750,000 members with comprehensive health insurance solutions. As a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming health care by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers nationwide experience health care. For more information, please visit regence.com, facebook.com/regencebluecrossblueshield, or twitter.com/regenceoregon.