Learn More: AZ Blue Community Impact
AZ Blue is committed to creating a healthier, more vibrant Arizona. We inspire health and give back in so many ways. We fund projects that are helping some of Arizona’s most vulnerable populations. We dedicate our time to volunteering and contributing to community and charitable events. We partner with organizations that empower change and together, we make a difference.
Highlights from our 2023 Community Impact report:
- 260 partners across the state
- $5.9 million in community reinvestment
- Nearly 9,000 hours volunteered
It’s hard to capture the true impact of life-changing partnerships and initiatives through these figures. Check out our full 2023 Community Impact Report, and read additional stories below highlighting our collective efforts that are improving the health and well-being of Arizonans.
Community Partners
Manzanita Outreach
Manzanita Outreach is an organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity and promoting well-being within communities. This past fall, AZ Blue employees joined forces with over 130 students from Verde Valley School to pack 1,500 boxes of nutritious snacks for schools and youth programs in the Verde Valley. The financial support from AZ Blue helped with the purchase of delicious and nutritious snacks.
“At Manzanita Outreach, we’ve always believed that health and nutrition are intertwined,” Executive Director Ben Burke said. “Thanks to the support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, our MO Packs for Teachers initiative is making a tangible difference.”
Maggie’s Place
Maggie’s Place is a pillar of hope for mothers and children experiencing homelessness complicated by substance use disorder (SUD). Providing more than physical shelter, Maggie’s Place is removing barriers and providing connection to services to support their recovery. With AZ Blue funding, Maggie’s Place has been able to provide on-site, recovery-focused programming at the Family Success Center (FSC) and high-quality staffing to support their clients’ needs. The funding helps moms join FSC programs and connect to supports like bus passes and on-site childcare.
“They have given me many blessings,” said Daisy, a Maggie’s Place program graduate. “They have afforded my child and me opportunities and resources that I may have never had access to. The volunteers helped watch my baby while I was studying for school, to which I was grateful. Staff at Maggie’s Place have been supportive and helped provide me with a boost of confidence.”
Tucson Medical Center Foundation & Tucson Fire Department
“In one year, we had a group of just ten callers place 980 calls to 9-1-1,” recalls Maya Luria, Director, Community Partnerships and Outreach for Tucson Medical Center (TMC). “Without a computer and internet access, or possibly due to a restricted cell phone, they resorted to placing an emergency call to reach some sort of help. They may have been hungry, or cold, or lonely – and called the only number they knew, 9-1-1.”
To address the issue, a partnership between the Tucson Fire Department and Tucson Medical Center Foundation resulted in Tucson Collaborative Community Care (TC-3). A grant from AZ Blue provided TC-3 with funding for a behavioral health navigator (BHN) to help a targeted population who typically use 9-1-1 for routine medical care. The BHN connects people to appropriate programs and services addressing mental health concerns, substance use disorder, unsafe living conditions, and more.
Want to read more of these amazing stories? Check out our Community Impact webpage and read the 2023 report: Annual Report (azbluefoundation.org)
We’re keeping up the momentum this year and already making a BIG impact! Be sure to follow our social media channels, as we often feature our community partners and the ways we work together to uplift communities. You can also head to the AZ Blue Foundation website to learn more about our grantees and funding opportunities.