PHOENIX, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s (BCBSAZ) Health Safari and the Arizona Optometric Association (AzOA) will extend their community outreach efforts to Hurricane Katrina victims with a visit to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, Sept. 11.
AzOA doctors will provide eye exams, using the equipment on the BCBSAZ Health Safari, to anyone at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The BCBSAZ Health Safari is a mobile health screening unit and education program that typically visits children in grades K-6 throughout Arizona. Hurricane Katrina victims who previously had eyeglasses and lost them during the evacuation, or anyone the triage area recommends for an eye exam, will be seen by an AzOA doctor. In an extension of its regular community relationship with BCBSAZ and AzOA, Nationwide Vision Centers will donate new eyeglasses within two days.
“Hurricane Katrina victims have been through so much already, and we are happy to be able to help the victims using our skills and expertise,” said Caroline Griego, O.D., president, AzOA. “Working with fellow community members such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Nationwide Vision Centers is what makes this relief effort possible.”
In addition, AzOA has purchased more than 200 pairs of reading glasses, which are currently being distributed at the Coliseum.
“Providing the Health Safari to work with the AzOA in helping our fellow Americans in this time of crisis is the right thing to do as a local company,” said Richard L. Boals, president and CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. “Families are in need of the most basic health screenings and we are happy to be a part of the Arizona community volunteers helping to make life a little easier for the hurricane victims.”
BCBSAZ has also made a financial contribution to the American Red Cross in cooperation with other Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans across the country. In addition, BCBSAZ’s 1,500 employees are mobilizing to gather in-kind donations to support the local relief efforts.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest Arizona-based health insurance company. The not-for-profit company was founded in 1939 and provides health insurance products, services or networks to more than 1 million customers statewide. With offices in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tempe and Tucson, the company employs more than 1,500 Arizonans. For information about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and its community programs such as WalkingWorks, please visit azblue.com.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona
CONTACT: Jenny Brooks of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona,+1-602-864-5107, or cell, +1-602-463-2522, jbrooks@phx1.bcbsaz.com
