Blue Cross is proud to offer proactive support to service members, veterans and their families. For these efforts, Blue Cross was recently named a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon company, recognizing the company’s efforts of the last five years.
Blue Cross is one of more than 70 Minnesota companies, government agencies and higher education institutions considered a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon company. In January 2016, Blue Cross became the first Minnesota health plan to be honored with the designation.
Last year, Blue Cross Veterans ARG collaborated with the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon committee to create the Allies of the Military ARG, a group open to all associates regardless of a military background who want to show solidarity and allyship for veterans, active duty, Guard or Reserve members and their families.
The group has hosted several events so far, including a Veterans’ Day celebration, an annual spring cleanup at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings and a commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Chris Fanning, senior vice president of commercial markets at Blue Cross, pledged another year of support to the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) this past spring. The ESGR is a Department of Defense program that promotes cooperation and understanding between Guard and Reserve members and their civilian employers.
“We are so grateful for the sacrifice and service that our military and their families make,” says Fanning. “It is truly an honor and privilege to be able to do what we can to support military families.”
The continued commitment of Blue Cross to Guard and Reserve associates includes: increasing pay supplements for associates called up for military duty, continuing a partnership with Minnesota National Guard, remaining active within the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, maintaining a veterans’ recruiting web page and providing ongoing volunteer opportunities to support military-based organizations.