News Releases
Capital BlueCross today recognized company employees who go above and beyond when it comes to community service. The 1st annual Give Fearless Employee Recognition Event held at the company’s headquarters, honored forty employees from Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.
Nominated by their peers, each employee dedicates multiple hours each month to community service. Examples of their volunteerism include health, military, children’s, and animal organizations, as well as faith-based and women’s charities.
“As a community-based health insurer, Capital BlueCross is proud to have many employees who give their time and resources to help those in need,” said Gary D. St. Hilaire, Pres. and CEO, Capital BlueCross. “With so many things pulling at our time, including work and family commitments, going the extra mile to help a charity or other organization is commendable.”
Three employees received the special honor of being named 2018 Volunteer of the Year. They are:
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Barbara Gertzen – Enola, Cumberland County
For over twenty years, Barb has volunteered 10-12 hours per week with Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association, also known as CATRA. She helps many adults and children with special needs as they experience and share time with the various therapy animals. Barb also spends numerous hours caring for the therapy animals and their habitats. Her dedication to CATRA demonstrates that she genuinely cares about helping people and animals.
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Christine Kokinda – Mertztown, Berks County
Since 2011, Chris has invested many hours every month supporting Friend, Inc. Community Services, a food pantry in Kutztown, PA. Once a month, she goes right from work to the food pantry and volunteers all evening. She uses her own vacation time to return to the food pantry the next day to stock shelves and prepare boxes of donations for families in need. She also works to acquire extra donations around the holidays and assists with special fundraising events. During the holidays, Chris and her coworkers at Capital BlueCross fill boxes of items needed for a full holiday dinner for at least five families
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Chris Lowe – Liverpool, Perry County
For over 15 years, Chris has dedicated at least 12 hours a month to the Perry County Food Bank, as well as her local church food bank. She currently serves as the food bank site coordinator at her church. Chris has a passion for feeding hungry children and was inspired by an appreciative mother who received snacks for her children, who would otherwise have gone without. When she is not working in the food bank, she solicits grocery stores for gift cards or fresh food donations to add to the food bank distribution bags. Chris also works to secure a grant each year that supports the pantry’s efforts and helps with the clothing bank. And, Chris’ co-workers also lend their support by donating food for the kids’ backpack program over the holidays. Chris even prepares a warm breakfast for the families to enjoy when they come to the food pantry and has bagged lunches on hand to send home with them. If a family can’t make it to the food bank to pick up food, she will deliver the food to them.
Capital BlueCross encourages employees to become involved in the community. As a company, it provides time, resources, and financial support to organizations that improve local communities throughout its 21-county Pennsylvania service area. Specific areas of focus are health and human services, education, arts and culture, and corporate citizenship.
Editor’s Note: All of the employee volunteers honored in the Give Fearless Employee Recognition Event are listed below:
Becky Bowser, Professional Contracting
Stacey Clark, Consumer Experience
Chris Davis, Ancillary Services
Elaine Deimler, Business Solutions Development
Cindy Drawbaugh, A & G Government Products
Jeanna Erb, Strategy & Business Operations
Julie Fake, Financial Services
Theresa Fazzolari, Claims & Support
Gail Fehnel, Corporate Re-engineering
Nancy Fouts, Claims & Support
Laura Gargiulo, Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Catherine Goeckel, Clinically Integrated Programs
Karen Gunnison, Market Strategy
Sharon Henderson, IT & D Delivery
Barbara Henry, Claims & Support
Patricia Higgins, Strategy & Business Support
Dat Hoang, Actuarial Operations
Carol Howard, Financial Planning & Analysis
Kathy Kelly, Legal and Regulatory Affairs
Stephanie Kohr, Internal Audit
Autumn Lang, Commercial Group Sales Major
Georganna Lerch, Provider Engagement & Innovation
Lillian Magaro, Information Technology & Data Delivery
Rebecca Mangol, Accounting Operations
Jonathan Maritch, Facilities
Rebecca McClure, Brand & Market Strategy
Tabatha McNeal, Case Management
Peter Mikhail, Pharmacy Services
Crystal Moffitt, Member Service
Sharon Nelson, Appeals and Grievances Government Products
Vanessa Parker, Large Group & Ancillary Underwriting
Sherry Rocuskie, Applications Services
Colleen Schlarp, Individual Sales Administration
Stephen Snyder, Accounting Operations *
AJ Stambaugh, Information Security
Amy Trump, Information Technology & Data Delivery
Keri Wright, Human Resources
* Posthumous Recognition