As a not-for-profit health benefits society and a member-based organization, we recognize that our collective success depends on lifting each other up to improve the health in the communities we serve.

We take pride in our ability to support over 300 organizations and non-profits improving health and wellbeing in our province each year.  Through our Health Foundation donations, staff initiatives and corporate sponsorships we work towards creating a more accessible, inclusive and equitable health care system.

Corporate Sponsorships

BC Women’s Health Foundation

We proudly supported ground-breaking reports like In Her Words and the Unmasking Gender Inequity series to shine a light on health equity. The partnership allows us to learn, design and build evidence-based group and individual plans that will improve the health and wellbeing of women in BC.

Make-A-Wish

As a proud partner for over 30 years, we continued to invest in our partnership with Make-A-Wish, sponsoring their golf tournament and providing free travel insurance to help make over 25,000 wishes come true. Blue Cross committed to a with Make-A-Wish in 2023, helping grant over 6,000 new travel wishes to over 26,000 wish kids and their families.  This gift-in-kind pledge will provide much-needed travel insurance so that wish kids and their families can enjoy worry-free travel.

PGA of BC Golfathon for ALS:

We golfed from sunrise to sunset for the golf-a-thon, which provides funding to their equipment loan program. Over the last 16 years, the Golfathon has raised over $2.5 million for the ALS Society and supported more than 6,900 people living with ALS in BC.  Our Health Foundation committed $100,000 over five years (2020-2024) to support the ALS Society of BC, which helps fund the yearly Golfathon.

Period Promise:

In addition to being the presenting sponsor for the United Way British Columbia Period Promise campaign, we also ran our own Period Promise collection drive. The campaign is intended to raise awareness on the affordability of menstrual products and eradicate period poverty in BC. The campaign generated 500,000 menstrual products that were distributed to over 100 communities in the province and raised a total of $53,000.

 

Health Foundation

Kick-Start Projects

Intended for one-time projects, start-up programs, or for equipment or materials directly related to improving mental health and wellbeing or preventing or managing chronic disease. Grants can be up to $10,000.

Indigenous Wellness Training Society/Pathways to Wellness: The Pathways to Wellness program is a year-long initiative developed by a certified counselor for Indigenous individuals of all ages. The program has weekly sessions promoting overall well-being by focusing on the root causes of chronic diseases and mental health issues.

Heart of Richmond AIDS Society/Healthy Budget Cooking Workshop Series: The Healthy Budget Cooking Workshop offers hands-on cooking classes for those living with HIV or other chronic infections. The workshop is taught by a professional chef and focuses on preparing simple, tasty, and nutritious meals on a strict budget.

Canadian Organization of the Blind and DeafBlind/Camp Bowen: Summer Independence Camp: Camp Bowen offers summer camps for blind, low vision, and DeafBlind participants from across BC, with a focus on fostering independence, reducing social isolation, and accessible recreation.

Partner Programs:

The Health Foundation chooses partnerships and provides funding to a maximum of $45,000 spread over three years.

UpStartED/You(th) Explore program:  UpStartED designs culturally relevant and accessible learning programs and works closely with teachers and schools to implement them in the classroom as part of the curriculum. You(th) Explore is an innovative social program that is designed to have students interact with their immediate environment, peers, and the larger world around them.

Vancouver Art Gallery/Indigenous Cultures Program: The Vancouver Art Gallery’s Indigenous Cultures Program provides Indigenous community members in the province with support through art-related activities to alleviate feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression.

Progressive Housing Society/Outreach & Housing Hub: Progressive Housing Society provides support services to adults living with mental health issues that are facing homelessness. The Burnaby Outreach & Housing Hub provides on-site support services for individuals facing homelessness in the Burnaby area.

Major Investments:

Occasionally, the Health Foundation Board considers larger multi-year initiatives, most often including capital campaigns. Funding is up to $100,000 and includes a multi-year agreement.

Canadian Cancer Society/Kordyban Lodge: Canadian Cancer Society offers the largest support system in the country for people living with cancer and their family, friends, and caregivers. Kordyban Lodge is an important resource for accommodation while receiving treatment at BC Cancer’s regional care centre in Prince George.

Metabolic Syndrome Canada/CHANGE Program: Metabolic Syndrome Canada is a not-for-profit charitable organization established to make Canadians healthier by reducing metabolic syndrome and improving metabolic patient outcomes. The Health Foundation committed $210,000 over three years (2021-2023) to support Metabolic Syndrome Canada’s CHANGE Program.

Surrey Hospital Foundation/Children’s Health Outpatient Clinic: The Children’s Health Centre at Surrey Memorial Hospital is the busiest facility of its kind for kids in the Fraser Health region. The Health Foundation’s commitment of $100,000 over four years (2020-2023) has assisted with the renovation and expansion of the Clinic.

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For more information on how we're building healthy communities in British Columbia, please refer to the Pacific Blue Cross 2022 Annual Report.