Over the last 90 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies have been committed to improving the communities in which members live, creating programs and supporting partnerships that impact health and well-being. They are dedicated to the 1 in 3 Americans they cover across the country, working together to help address challenges and urgent needs.
BCBS’s National Labor Office (NLO) exemplifies this commitment by supporting over 18 million unionized workers, retirees and their families that BCBS companies serve and the communities where they live. Since 1965, the NLO has built strong relationships and developed programs to support education and awareness, ensuring BCBS remains the leading health carrier covering union workers.
In January 2025, when destructive wildfires broke out around Los Angeles County, Merrilee Logue, executive director of the NLO, activated a grassroots effort with other leaders within NLO’s community to find a way to help those in need however possible. After a conversation with the Afya Foundation, a non-profit medical supply organization based in New York, almost 3,000 miles away from the devastation in Los Angeles, a partnership began, and a plan of action was created.
With the support and guidance of the NLO board of directors, Merrilee worked with Blue Shield of California and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan to identify the medical supplies needed to help those in the hard-hit areas of Los Angeles. Based on their list, the Afya Foundation collected supplies for hygiene kits, personal protective equipment and any other essentials.
Faced with the challenge of storing and shipping the supplies to Los Angeles, the NLO knew they would need the support of experts in logistics and transportation. Merrilee connected with leadership at the Teamster Center Services and Teamsters Local 295 in New York who were quick to bring in DHL Express, who was eager to get involved and agreed to help get the donations to California.
With all details in order, over 100,000 supplies were delivered to the Blue Shield Promise Information Resource Center in Huntington Park, California on February 14. Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan then worked with local organizations to distribute the high demand items throughout the area to those in need.
“What we witnessed during the LA wildfires response represents the extraordinary impact that occurs when partners unite with a shared purpose,” said Danielle Butin, Founder and CEO of Afya Foundation. “Blue Shield of California and Blue Shield Promise Health Plan led this collaboration by connecting us directly with their healthcare providers on the ground to identify critical needs, securing donated air freight through DHL, and creating pathways for Afya’s medical supplies from New York to reach those in crisis. Together, we have seen the powerful impact of partnership during times of disaster response.”
Spotlight on the National Labor Office’s main page: https://www.bcbs.com/national-labor-office-unions