CSR 2022    /    Access to Care    /    Community Impact    /    Operating Responsibly    /    Leadership View

Supporting Economic Security and Opportunity

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana has been part of Montana for more than 80 years. We are a born-and-bred Montana company and are dedicated to serving the state with access to one of the world’s leading health care companies. We have offices in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Kalispell, and Missoula, and we’re headquartered in Helena. In an ever-changing health care system, we’ve stood the test of time.

Piikuni Lands Service Corps helps Native youths and young adults develop conservation and leadership skills through summer employment and training programs.

The economic vitality of our communities also relies on opportunities for young people to build foundations for success.

With a grant from BCBSMT’s Big Blue Sky Initiative^SM, Helena Education Foundation provided each of the 700 first graders in Helena School District 1 with a newly published hardcover book as part of its Fabulous Firsts program. 

“For some of our kids it’s the first book they've ever had of their own, which is often very clear,” says Lisa Cordingley, executive director at Helena Education Foundation. “It's a pretty moving and exciting thing to be part of.” 

The investment also contributed to the foundation’s Great Ideas Grants, which help teachers enhance their classrooms, and a yearly carnival celebrating education. Another grant supported the Piikuni Lands Service Corps, a partnership between the Montana Conservation Corps and the Blackfeet Nation that’s helping Native youths and young adults develop conservation and leadership skills. “We’re trying to be thoughtful of investing in local leadership and have the tribe drive and shape the vision for what a Blackfeet Conservation Corp looks like and how it can serve the needs of the youth and the lands,” says Jono McKinney, president and CEO of the Montana Conservation Corps in Bozeman

Addressing Hunger and Nutrition

Recognizing the essential role of nutritious food in all aspects of life, BCBSMT supported the Montana Food Bank Network through an investment in Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.

The Montana Food Bank Network works with 340 partners across Montana, including food banks, food pantries, schools, senior centers and shelters.

The support is helping these critical front-line organizations implement healthy eating guidelines so they’re able to meet the food needs of their neighbors. 

BCBSMT continues to address hunger and nutrition by partnering with the Montana Food Bank Network.

Supporting Relief and Recovery Response to Historic Floods

In June last year, Montana suffered unprecedented flooding that damaged or destroyed many homes, roads and bridges. BCBSMT contributed aid to support the American Red Cross of Montana’s relief and recovery efforts.

The organization opened six shelters, provided 4,900 meals and snacks and delivered more than 800 cleanup kits to victims. Trained mental health workers, along with other health care personnel, provided care to more than 450 people following the flooding that destroyed 150 homes in Stillwater, Carbon, Yellowstone and Park counties. “It’s a long road to recovery and we are really grateful for the partnership,” says Diane Wright, the organization’s executive director.

The Montana National Guard airlifts a woman and her two sons from their cabin in southwestern Montana after heavy flooding.

48^th Annual Governor’s Cup Returns to Form

For the first time since 2019 it was a full Governor’s Cup experience, with the return of the wildly popular Kids Marathon and Mile Fun Run on June 10 at Centennial Park. The Governor’s Cup, presented by BCBSMT, serves as the primary fundraiser for the Caring Foundation of Montana.

More than 1,000 kids kicked off Gov Cup weekend with their final run of the Kids Marathon training program, which saw 16 schools and nearly 2,100 kids participate.

Rain showers bookended the June 11 races, but in between participants crossed the finish line along historic Last Chance Gulch in the marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and marathon relay. 

The Governor’s Cup raised more than $85,000 for the Caring Foundation of Montana, supporting no-cost access to preventive health services.

Volunteering in our Communities

Giving our time to support our fellow Montanans is an important part of living our purpose. In 2022, 98 employees volunteered more than 3,700 hours with 70 organizations through the Blue Corps^SM program.

BCBSMT donated more than $22,000 to organizations in matching dollars for hours volunteered by employees. 

Our employees donated their time to a variety of organizations, including Girls Scouts of Montana, Lewis and Clark Humane Society, the YMCA and YWCA, Health Occupants Students of America, and the American Legion. BCBSMT also held five blood drives in 2022, with more than 100 units being collected to help those in need. 

Employee volunteers gave back to their communities by donating more than 3,700 hours of their time.

Volunteer of the Year Kamille Kirchberg volunteered more than 250 hours in 2022, logging most of them as a mentor through Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Big Sky Country. She serves on the Big Brothers Big Sisters board and the Montana Commission on Community Service.