INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY: Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico awards $866K in grants to nonprofits

Blue Impact grants and other BCBSNM community investments target social and economic factors that play a role in health and wellness in our communities.

“We have worked in close collaboration with local organizations and partners to support our communities,” said Janice Torrez, BCBSNM president. “We continue to align our investments in areas where we can make the greatest impact.”

Torrez is also the chair of the Chamber’s Public Safety Bold Impact Groups (BIG).

Blue Impact grants are just one of the ways BCBSNM supports local communities — the company’s community investments also include additional grants and sponsorships, as well as in-kind donations, volunteerism and disaster relief.

BCBSNM’s community investments align under five strategic areas of focus to better support our umbrella mission of expanding access to care:

• Economic Opportunity and Stability: Addressing issues such as poverty, removing barriers to employment, providing good jobs, and upskilling.
• Nutrition: Supporting efforts to decrease hunger and increase access to nutritional food.
• Neighborhood and Built Environment: Focusing on affordable healthy housing, access to transportation, and access to physical activity.
• Locally Defined Health Solutions: Addressing local health and human service needs.
• Optimal Health Outcomes: Helping close gaps in care, specifically around six priority areas: immunizations; diabetes care; cardiovascular care; behavioral health; early detection cancer screening and maternal & infant health.

According to Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, the grants awarded range from $20,000 to $100,000.

The 15 nonprofits are:

• Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless

• Albuquerque SANE Collaborative

• American Cancer Society

• Fraction Farms

• Fall Prevention Foundation Inc.

• New Mexico Pharmaceutical Care Foundation

• New Mexico Reentry Center

• New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers

• Pecos Valley Public Services

• Pegasus Legal Services for Children

• Rebuilding Together Sandoval County

• Storehouse West

• United Way of North Central New Mexico

• United Way of Northern New Mexico

• YES Housing Inc.

The Chamber congratulates Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico for continuing its support in making New Mexico a better place to live and work.