Regence Gift Helps Boys & Girls Clubs Return to North Portland As Part of Largest Revitalization Project in Oregon’s History

Portland, Ore., Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ — Regence, the largest not-for- profit healthcare company in the Northwest, has committed $500,000 to help the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area. The grant will provide area youth with programs that help them develop into healthy, productive adults. The company’s “Break the Barrier” grant supports the construction of Portland’s first completely new club in 11 years. The Club will open its doors later this year to more than 1,200 area youth.

“This contribution to the Boys & Girls Club is a milestone for both Regence and residents in the North Portland area. We are proud to be part of such a significant effort to improve the health, safety and well-being of the youth in our community,” said Mark Ganz, president and chief executive officer of Regence. “This gift represents our shared commitment to helping our children build foundations for healthier, happier and more productive lives.”

On February 15 from 10 – 11 a.m., Regence and the Boys & Girls Clubs invite the public and the media to join them in celebrating the halfway point of construction on the new Regence Boys & Girls Club with a “hard hat tour.” As part of this special preview, Ganz will present a $500,000 check to the Boys & Girls Club of Portland Metropolitan area. The Club is part of the largest neighborhood revitalization project ever undertaken in Oregon. It is a key element of the $150 million, 82-acre New Columbia community, which is a driving force behind the ongoing revitalization of North Portland.

The new Club will offer more than just a place to go after school. A recent Columbia University study found that the location of Boys & Girls Clubs in public housing developments had a significant impact on the quality of life for residents. The study also showed that youth in public housing who participated in a Boys & Girls Club had a higher percentage of academic achievement and fewer behavioral problems in school.

“The Regence Boys & Girls Club is a true beacon of hope for the youth of this community who need us most,” said Lisabeth Marziello, chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area. “Regence’s demonstration of leadership through this investment will have a direct impact upon the young people of this community by changing the landscape of opportunities available. The Regence Boys & Girls Club will be a place where kids can play, have fun, experience joy, laugh, and learn about themselves and the larger world they live in. But most importantly, the Club will be a place where children will receive positive guidance that nurtures their character and enables them to become productive, responsible and caring adults who give back to their community.”

About Boys & Girls Clubs

Boys & Girls Clubs of America comprises a national network of some 3,700 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving more than 4.4 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as “The Positive Place for Kids,” Clubs provide guidance-oriented programs on a daily basis for children 6 – 18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key programs emphasize character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. Locally, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metropolitan Area has established itself as the premier youth guidance and development agency, providing nationally proven life-saving programs to more than 13,000 young people throughout Portland and its surrounding communities.

About Regence

Created in 1996, Regence is the largest health insurer in the Northwest/Mountain State Region, operating Blue Cross/Blue Shield plans in Oregon, Washington, Utah and Idaho. It includes Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield (in Washington). Through these plans, Regence provides health, life, vision and dental insurance to nearly three million members. Regence plans are not-for-profit, independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. More than one in three Americans have coverage from the Blues. For more information, visit http://www.regence.com/.

Regence

CONTACT: Angela Hult of Regence, +1-503-412-7902, or aehult@regence.com

Web site: http://www.or.regence.com/http://www.regence.com/