Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) began operating in 1938, and now offers health insurance plans for groups, employers, individuals and their families. Beyond the walls of doctors’ offices and hospitals, Blue KC is also committed to creating a meaningful impact in the community by focusing on initiatives that improve the health and wellness of Kansas Citians. Using the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation’s corporate giving services since 1996, Blue KC is no stranger to engaging its employees through philanthropy.
Collaborating with Community Partners
Launched in 2018, Blue KC’s Well Stocked program addresses the social needs associated with hunger by partnering with established nonprofits and smaller grassroots organizations focused on increasing food access in Kansas City. To make an even bigger impact, Blue KC invites collaboration among nonprofits.
In an effort to foster true partnership, Blue KC took a holistic approach to assessing the overall picture of food insecurity. “We wanted to understand the work happening in the Kansas City food space and figure out how we can support. We gathered partners and worked together to see where Blue KC can plug in,” says Macaela Stephenson, Director of Community Relations and Investments.
Blue KC’s commitment to addressing food insecurity is evident not only through financial support but also through valuable in-kind contributions. One such contribution is their efforts to tell the story of what local nonprofits are doing in Kansas City to support our community. Blue KC has a skilled team of professional videographers that they have leveraged to create content that shines a spotlight on some of their partners. These videos can serve as powerful tools, enabling these organizations and Blue KC to visually convey their impact, evoke emotions and inspire action within the community.
Creating Unique Employee Engagement Opportunities
Blue KC launched Blue KC Cares in 2014, an all-encompassing employee giveback program. Conversations begin in the onboarding process during New Employee Orientation. New employees are given a high-level overview of how Blue KC supports our community and offers opportunities for them to get more involved. Blue KC Cares encourages employees to find the causes most important to them as individuals and then provides paid time off to volunteer at those organizations. This competitive benefit is becoming increasingly sought after in the next generation of the workforce.
In addition, Blue KC strongly emphasizes volunteering as a form of internal team building. Their community relations department is in constant communication with nonprofits to produce up-to-date lists of volunteer opportunities in the area, making it easy for employees to find opportunities that align with their interests and the amount of open time. Active participation from senior leadership in group volunteering positively impacts the overall company culture.
Employees also come together for fun events in support of local nonprofits like a team dodgeball tournament or ice cream socials. This visible commitment to core values and philanthropic initiatives sends a strong message to employees, fostering a sense of pride and unity within the company.
Utilizing Incentive Programs
Incorporating incentives can be a motivating strategy to encourage employee participation, maximizing internal engagement and charitable initiatives. To achieve this, Blue KC promotes several incentives to spark healthy competition, all in the spirit of philanthropy.
During the annual Blue KC Cares giving campaign, Blue KC organizes a daily raffle as an incentive mechanism. Employees are encouraged to participate in the campaign by supporting charitable organizations. By meeting the set requirements, employees become eligible to enter the raffle and have the chance to win exciting prizes. The prizes offered by Blue KC have ranged from practical items like kitchen appliances to highly sought-after experiences such as sporting event tickets.
The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation is proud to assist Blue KC’s outstanding commitment to the community. Business leaders interested in establishing their own corporate giving program can learn more by connecting with our team at info@growyourgiving.org.