Looking Good 2019 – March Standouts

by Mike Hunter

In this issue with the Giving Guide, we focus our Looking Good column on examples of giving in our community.

UnitedHealthcare Volunteers Support Childhood Hunger Program

The Arizona Diamondbacks and UnitedHealthcare employees kicked off their joint “Pack the House” initiative at Fan Fest in February to provide meals for children in need. Volunteers packed food to support Kitchen on the Street’s Bags of Hope program, which is aimed at eradicating childhood hunger. The latest in UnitedHealthcare’s “Do Good. Live Well.” employee volunteer initiative, the bags will be given to underserved children who do not have access to school lunch programs during the weekend.

Desert Financial’s ‘Year of Giving’ Raises $7 Million

Not-for-profit Desert Financial Credit Union, the state’s largest credit union, exceeded its 2018 “Year of Giving” goal — $7 million — to invest in the community, its members and employees. In addition to helping individual families, the Year of Giving raised $700,000 for Phoenix Children’s Hospital, $300,000 for Valley of the Sun United Way, and numerous other grants, sponsorships and donations to nonprofit organizations.

Valley Toyota Dealers Support Arizona’s First Health Transportation Program

In January, the Valley Toyota Dealers Association — which consists of all 10 Toyota dealers in the metropolitan Phoenix area — donated three brand-new vehicles to Phoenix-based nonprofit Elaine, Arizona’s first health navigation and transportation system for the homeless and underserved. The vehicles will serve as the organization’s official transportation for patients who are experiencing homelessness and need assistance with managing — and accessing — their healthcare.

BCBSAZ Volunteers Top 2,700 Hours

One of many ways Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) helps give back to the community, CARES Club is operated by a board of directors made up of BCBSAZ employee volunteers. The program empowers participants to get involved in the community and also improves relationships and communications among all employees. In 2018, through its CARES Club initiative, more than 240 BCBSAZ employees volunteered 2,700 hours supporting 25 charitable activities across the state.