PITTSBURGH, April 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Charity walks take thousands of dollars and months to organize. The logistics, countless meetings, hundreds of dedicated volunteers, cost of promotional materials and, most importantly, building awareness to potential walkers is a full-time job for many local organizations. Planning these walks is also an expensive undertaking and oftentimes some of the money raised may have to be used to pay for the walk itself.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Walk for a Healthy Community is a unique fund-raising walk that allows 100 percent of all money raised to go directly to the charities participating. Since Highmark is underwriting the costs and logistical planning of the walk, the 12 local, non-profit human service agencies participating can focus their efforts on recruiting walkers and raising money for their respective causes.
“Highmark is proud to underwrite the expenses for the Walk for a Healthy Community,” said Aaron Walton, senior vice president of Highmark Corporate Affairs. “Our mission is to help individuals live longer, healthier lives and, by committing to this annual walk, we hope more people will join Highmark and these 12 worthy organizations to raise money and make our community more active and healthier.”
The proceeds generated from the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Walk for a Healthy Community will benefit these 12 organizations:
ABOARD Achieva American Red Cross (Advisory Board on Southwestern Autism and Other Pennsylvania Chapter Related Disorders) American Respiratory Arthritis Foundation Center for Healthy Alliance Hearts & Souls Greater Pittsburgh LUPUS Pennsylvania The Salvation Army’s Community Food Bank Project Bundle-Up Sickle Cell Society, Variety, The YMCA of Pittsburgh Inc. & Murray-Irvis Children’s Charity Genetic Disease Center
“We’re hoping to create a new Pittsburgh tradition,” added Walton. “With this walk we are getting people to give back to their community and get active at the same time.”
Walk Details
The walk is being held on Saturday, May 22, at the Chevrolet Amphitheatre at Station Square. The walk begins at 9:00 a.m. and there will be children’s entertainment, free health screenings and activities for people of all ages. Each of the 12 organizations will have a booth and walk participants will be directed to register with the organization they are supporting prior to the walk.
The 5K walk route will take walkers from Station Square across the Smithfield Street Bridge to the Boulevard of the Allies and will end up at Point State Park. The walk will then loop back to the Chevrolet Amphitheatre where refreshments, entertainment and prizes will be on hand.
For additional details on the 12 participating organizations, walk details and how to register, call (412) 544-3776.
About Highmark
Highmark is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information, visit http://www.highmark.com/ .
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
CONTACT: Scott Henry of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield,+1-412-544-8971, or scott.henry@highmark.com
Web site: http://www.highmark.com/
