Blue Shield of California contributes $37M to help end domestic violence

Blue Shield of California announced it has made a $37 million contribution to Blue Shield of California Foundation to support its efforts to end domestic violence and help California become the healthiest state it can be. The nonprofit health plan has contributed more than $192 million to its foundation during the past five years.

Blue Shield of California Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that is funded entirely by contributions from Blue Shield of California, a tax-paying, nonprofit health plan with a mission to help provide all Californians access to high-quality health care that’s sustainably affordable. Blue Shield of California caps its net income at 2% and has a commitment to return money it earns above that limit to the community and its customers.

“Blue Shield of California Foundation is an important resource for our state, addressing deep-rooted, systemic issues such as gender and economic inequity, and racism to help end domestic violence and inequities in health,” said Paul Markovich, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California. “We are pleased to support that work and appreciate the Foundation’s efforts in making a difference in the lives of individuals and families throughout California.”

“We deeply appreciate the support from Blue Shield of California,” said Debbie I. Chang, MPH, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Foundation. “The last two years have been especially challenging, particularly for communities of color with low incomes. We continue to strive to make a difference at the systems level to create lasting and sustainable change to achieve health equity and end domestic violence.”

Last year, the Foundation awarded 96 grants totaling $30 million to improve lives statewide from Trinity County in the north to San Diego County in the south. Highlights of the Foundation’s grant-making include:

• One of the founding investments in California Black Freedom Fund, a landmark effort to ensure that Black-led organizations have the resources they need to eradicate systemic and institutional racism. Its work is aligned with the Foundation’s goals to achieve health equity and end domestic violence, specifically for Californians of color with low incomes. The fund aims to raise $100 million in its first five years.
• Continued leadership and investment in domestic violence prevention. This includes funding the expansion of California’s efforts in Domestic Violence Housing First, an innovative model that uses flexible cash assistance to prevent homelessness for domestic violence survivors. The Foundation also is a founding donor of All In For Kids, a fund to prevent childhood trauma, break the cycle of domestic violence, and promote healing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Investments in efforts that put more time and money in the hands of Californians with low incomes, particularly people of color, that increase care workers’ wages, benefits, and job quality while keeping the care they provide affordable and accessible for people who need it.

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