Thursday, November 17, 2011

Philanthropy Today:CareFirst Backs Nutrition Support for the Critically Ill

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield,the largest health insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region,has awarded a 450,000 dollar grant to provide home-delivered entrees,groceries and nutrition counseling to the critically ill through the Food&Friends organization's Groceries-to-Go program.The three year grant will assist clients of the program,who include those with cancer,HIV/AIDS,and other life-challenging illnesses.
With CareFirst's grant,Food&Friends,for the first time in its history,will be able to deliver fresh produce to patients on a regular,year-round basis.
A huge ceremonial check was presented at a special event in which CareFirst employee volunteers prepared and packaged food for the patients in the Food&Friends kitchen.Among those attending the occasion were Washington,D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray;Prince George's County,Maryland County Executive Rushern L. Baker,III;and CareFirst Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Community Affairs Maria Harris Tildon.Craig Shniderman,Executive Director of Food&Friends,accepted the check on behalf of the charity.
CareFirst's Ms.Tildon said supporting Food&Friends is part of CareFirst's regional efforts to promote wellness and enhance access to health care and social services for some of our region's most vulnerable populations.It is the largest corporate operating gift ever received by Food&Friends.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is a non-profit health plan company under statutory regulation.It serves 3.3 million residents of D.C.,Maryland and Northern Virginia.

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