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Highmark Employee Volunteers Receive $7,000 in Grants to Support Local Nonprofits

Posted on: Tuesday, 17 February 2009, 10:44 CST

Grants are awarded to community programs with which employees volunteer

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Highmark Inc. recently awarded $7,000 in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations across Pennsylvania to help fund volunteer programs supported by its employees. Grants were awarded to programs that provide physical activity opportunities for children, promote leadership values among youth, offer care for animals, assist individuals with illnesses and provide safety services in the community.

Highmark recognizes that its employee volunteers know best the most pressing needs of the organizations where they volunteer their time. In 2008, Highmark's employee volunteers reported donating a total of more than 92,000 hours to volunteer service to community programs.

Through the Employee Volunteer Grant Program, Highmark awards $500 grants to employees in support of the organization they commit their time and energy to. Grants are awarded on a quarterly basis and are generally given to organizations that do not already receive significant contributions through Highmark's corporate giving program.

The following organizations received grants through Highmark's Employee Volunteer Grant Program during the fourth quarter of 2008.

Organization Volunteer and Activity County The Salvation Timothy Yee, systems programmer II, is a Allegheny Army music instruction volunteer who conducts a band, teaches music theory and gives private instrument lessons to children who participate in the Salvation Army's Music Conservatory program at Camp Allegheny. The grant will be used to provide scholarships to enable students to attend camp and participate in the music program. Boy Scout Troop Rose Flask, appeals representative, Cumberland 283 volunteers as an assistant Scoutmaster And committee chair to support the community involvement efforts of the boys in the troop. The grant will be used to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) machine to use during the CPR-first aid and AED training course for troop members and will be taken on all Scout outings. Capital City Hugh Weaver, financial and operational Cumberland Vipers Youth Cumberland audit team leader, volunteers Hockey Club as a scorekeeper for the Midget Minor Viper team, one of seven teams in Capital City Vipers Youth Hockey Club. The grant will be used to help the team defer tournament participation fees. Carlisle Bernadette Green, manager of ISG Cumberland Hearts-n-Hands Relationship Management, is a charter Sertoma Club member of the Carlisle Hearts-n-Hands Sertoma Club, which was formed in 2006 to help ease the day-to-day burdens of individuals undergoing cancer care or other life-debilitating diseases. The grant will be used to assist with transportation costs incurred while taking clients to doctor visits and treatments. Cub Scout Pack Elizabeth Dundorf, technical business Cumberland 29 analyst III, volunteers as a committee chair to coordinate pack meetings and work with the Keystone Area Council to help each boy learn the values instilled by the Boy Scouts of America. The grant will be used to help purchase advancements for scouts as they complete lessons. Mechanicsburg Tracy Nye, application developer III, Cumberland Little League volunteers as the registrar for the Association Mechanicsburg Little League Association and is a team mom for her son's team in the league. The grant will be used to help purchase new safety gear to replace old and outdated equipment. Ski Roundtrip Sandra Stefanic, vice president of Dental Cumberland Race Club Enterprise, volunteers as the membership chairperson of the Ski Roundtrip Race Club helping to coordinate membership applications and communications. She also performs race timing and administration duties for youth ski races across the state. The grant will be used to help sponsor participation in the Pennsylvania Alpine Racing Association's 2009 State Championship event. West Shore Robert Secord, systems programming analyst, Cumberland YMCA volunteers as needed at the YMCA. The grant will be used to purchase new sports equipment for the youth programs and new furniture for the Youth Center. Boy Scout Troop Maria Davis, application developer III, Dauphin 360 serves as the activities coordinator for the troop which supports boys in grades 6 through 12 as they participate in volunteer activities throughout the community. The grant will be used to purchase new tents and camping equipment to be used during the troop's monthly camping trips. Rutherford Fire Mark Beatty, EDI project representative, Dauphin Company has volunteered for 10 years as a firefighter and truck driver for the volunteer fire company and currently serves as a member of the board of directors. The grant will be used to purchase updated turnout gear (coats, boots, pants, helmets, gloves) for the firefighters. Union City Little League Jennifer Brumagin, service representative, Erie volunteers as a girl's softball coach for the Union City Little League which consists of some 350 children ages 5 through 14. The grant will be used to help build new softball fields to support the growing number of participants in the league. Southeastern Richard Terry, senior provider auditor, is Montgomery Montgomery a chapter officer and works to engage County TU children and adults in the sport of Chapter #468 fishing to help conserve, protect and restore local cold water streams and fisheries in the Philadelphia region. The grant will be used to help implement a "Growing Greener" program at a local elementary school to help children learn how to become eco-friendly. Please Don't Laura Nelson, dental benefits analyst, York Litter serves as secretary and volunteers to transport the feral and free-roaming cats supported by the organization to the veterinarian to have them spayed or neutered. The grant will be used to help defray the cost of providing proper veterinary treatment for the cats. Soroptomist Joan Punt, senior account executive, Albuquerque, International volunteers to support women served by the NM of Albuquerque organization who are victims of domestic violence or transitioning from incarceration back into the community. The grant will be used to purchase cooking supplies for the women to help them prepare meals for their families when they return home and begin to work.

About Highmark Inc.

As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc.'s mission is to provide access to affordable, quality health care enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.6 million people through the company's health care benefits business. Highmark contributes millions of dollars to help keep quality health care programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to improve people's health. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark's positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. The company provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health.

Highmark Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information, visit www.highmark.com .

SOURCE Highmark Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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