Blue Cross donates $95,000 to 15 community organizations.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 1995--Blue Cross of California (BCC) today announced donations of $95,500 to fund health care projects at 15 community organizations across the state.

The Community Investment Grants are a part of BCC's California Healthcare Partnerships program, which last year donated $105 million to health care related programs and institutions throughout California.

Community Investment Grants are aimed at supporting programs which will immediately improve health care delivery and promote healthy lifestyles among Californians who are uninsured or medically underserved.

"The California Healthcare Partnerships program was created to fulfill Blue Cross' mission of improving the accessibility and affordability of health care for all Californians, and increasing public awareness of personal health responsibility," said Ann Monroe, Blue Cross Senior Vice President for Public Benefit Programs.

"Blue Cross will continue to seek out creative efforts that will produce demonstrable changes in the health of uninsured or medically underserved people throughout the state."

Over the course of the year, Blue Cross plans to make a total of $1 million in Community Investment Grants. More than $400,000 has already been distributed. The California Healthcare Partnerships program will donate a total of $5 million this year, and $100 million over 20 years, to programs and organizations working to improve the accessibility and affordability of quality health care to the people of California.

The grants announced today were:

-- Asian Pacific Family Center, serving Alhambra and Monterey Park,

$2,500 for a pilot project addressing youth violence.

-- Burke Aquatic Foundation, serving Carson, $1,000 for

a senior health and prevention program.

-- The Chicano/Latino Medical Association of California Foundation,

serving statewide, $10,000 for scholarships for minority medical

students.

-- The Chicano/Latino Medical Association, serving statewide,

$5,000 for a conference on health care reforms.

-- Foundation for Children's Dental Health, serving Santa Clarita

County, $10,000 for a mobile dental clinic to visit schools.

-- Interface Children, Family Services of Ventura County, serving

Ventura County, $20,000 for dental and mental health services 

for children.

-- Los Angeles Women's Foundation, serving Southern California,

$15,000 to fund community based health programs for women

and girls.

-- Marcus A. Foster Educational Institute, serving Oakland, $1,500

for health services for "Rally for the Class of 2006," a program

to improve performance in school.

-- Mothers Against Drunk Driving, serving Ventura County, $2,000 for

outreach in junior and senior high schools.

-- Muscular Dystrophy Association, serving Los Angeles, $1,500 to

support ongoing programs.

-- Naleo Educational Fund, serving statewide, $5,000 to support work

to improve the responsiveness of the health care delivery system

to Latinos.

-- New Life Community Services, serving Santa Cruz County, $5,000

to support health services for homeless families.

-- Ombudsman for Long-Term Care, serving Monterey County, $5,000

toward a partnership with local boys and girls clubs in wellness

programs.

-- Poverello House, serving Fresno, $2,000 for health services for

low-income seniors and the homeless.

-- Prevent Blindness Southern California, serving most of Southern

California, $10,000 for vision screenings, risk assessments and

education of the public and professionals.

Blue Cross of California is a non-profit, public benefit, managed health care corporation serving more than 6.6 million Californians. Blue Cross is the majority shareholder of WellPoint Health Networks Inc. (NYSE:WLP), the largest publicly traded managed health care company in the state.

BCC and WellPoint offer health maintenance organizations (HMO), preferred provider organizations (PPO), and specialty managed health care networks. Total benefits paid out on behalf of BCC subscribers and Medicare beneficiaries in 1994 exceeded $9.9 billion.

CONTACT: Mike Powers, 818/703-3137