[December 29, 2016]

Anthem Foundation Tackles Some of the Nation's Most Complex Health Needs in 2016

Everyday countless nonprofits across the country are working hard to improve the health of our communities. The Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc. recognizes the impact these organizations are making and shares a common goal for a healthier generation of Americans. Through its focus on heart health, cancer prevention, prenatal care, diabetes prevention, active lifestyles and behavioral health, the Foundation is teaming with organizations that are setting the standard when it comes to innovative programs that offer long term solutions.

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Kids at Boys & Girls Clubs across the country show their excitement to reach 1 million minutes of activities. (Photo: Business Wire)

"We know that when our communities are healthy, their residents are able to thrive, grow and prosper," said Craig Samitt, chief clinical officer at Anthem, Inc. "The Anthem Foundation is proud to team with these organizations that are dedicated to improving the health of our communities and are working to change the lives of so many people across the country. Together, we're one step closer to achieving a healthier future for all."

From teaching lifesaving skills, to increasing cancer screening and helping youth discover that eating healthy and staying active can be fun, the Foundation continues to tackle some of the nation's most complex health issues. A quick look at some of this year's highlights illustrates how these non-profits are helping to reduce health disparities and empower local community residents to take control of their health:

• This year innovation took flight as the Foundation continued their efforts with the American Heart Association, tracking toward doubling sudden cardiac arrest survival rates by 2020 through Hands-Only CPR training. With te introduction of four interactive CPR training kiosks at airports across the country, travelers at O'Hare International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Indianapolis International Airport can make use of their down time and take five minutes to learn Hands-Only CPR. In addition to the airport kiosks, mobile tours to cities across the U.S. and additional training events have brought this lifesaving skill to more than 5.7 million Americans.
• Through the Foundation's support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Triple Play (News - Alert) program, this collaboration is combating childhood obesity and sparking a passion among youth to achieve a healthy mind, body and soul. This year's Triple Play Day was no exception as more than 40,000 kids and teens nationwide joined together to reach a collective goal of one million minutes in motion. But the work doesn't stop there. Building on the belief that kids need the right tools to stay active, the Foundation continued its $1M commitment to the National Foundation for Governors' Fitness Council to place state-of-the art fitness centers in 12 schools in Ohio, Washington, Arizona and Wisconsin.
• In an effort to reduce disparities for populations at greatest risk for cancer, together with the American Cancer Society, 46,442 screenings were provided at low or no cost to individuals in communities with the greatest needs.

For more information, see Anthem's annual online Corporate Responsibility Report, which outlines the company's commitment to making a difference in people's lives through the work of its associates, the philanthropic efforts of the Anthem Foundation, its diversity and inclusion initiatives and its environmentally responsible business practices.

About The Anthem Foundation

The Anthem Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc. and through charitable contributions and programs, the Foundation promotes the inherent commitment of Anthem, Inc. to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem, Inc. and its affiliated health plans serve. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to health care challenges, as well as promoting the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These disease states and medical conditions include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's year-round Associate Giving program which provides a 50 percent match of associates' pledges, as well as its Volunteer Time Off and Dollars for Doers community service programs. To learn more about the Anthem Foundation, please visit http://www.anthem.foundation and its blog at http://anthemfoundation.tumblr.com

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