healthier togethersm - Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield

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making a valuable difference and having a positive impact. Together, we are proudly building a ... page two. FOUNDATION
B u i l d i n g a h E a lt h i E r n E w J E r S E y

HEALTHIER TOGETHER

SM

C O R P O R AT E S O C I A L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y R E P O R T

2016

New Jersey, Corporate Giving and Community Engagement.

Framed by our Healthier Together approach, our philanthropic efforts support organizations and develop partnerships that enhance the health of New Jersey residents.

In 2016, The Foundation launched a new Kids’ Oral Health Program focused on improving dental health for children. Ten organizations received funding to increase access to

ANNIVERSARY

dental visits and services for children in need while promoting awareness of oral hygiene. In addition to funding many other beneficial programs, The Foundation provided continued

support for two other signature initiatives: Breathe Easier with Asthma Management

A MESSAGE FROM ROBERT A. MARINO

(BEAM), in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey, and Healthy U,

a childhood obesity

prevention program, in partnership with the

As we reflect on our work over the past year in supporting

and

promoting

the

health

New Jersey YMCA State Alliance.

of

residents throughout New Jersey, we also have

Also in 2016, the

a significant milestone to celebrate. This year

celebrated 10 years

Horizon Cares program

marks the 85th Anniversary of Horizon Blue

of supporting our

Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. For eight and a

their time, talent and

half decades, our Company has been a proud corporate citizen of this great state, providing health coverage to generations of families and businesses. Our commitment to offering access to affordable, quality care has never been stronger, and we continue to seek

employees in donating financial resources.

Our more than 5,000 employees continue to play an integral role in promoting a healthier New Jersey, whether through

volunteering, serving on boards for nonprofit organizations or raising funds for worthy causes.

As detailed in this report, our service to the community is

making a valuable difference and having a positive impact. Together, we are proudly building a healthier New Jersey.

innovative new ways to collaborate with health care leaders across the state to improve the health care experience for New Jersey residents.

As part of our efforts, our Corporate Social Responsibility

Department is working in many communities to build a healthier New Jersey. It does so through The Horizon Foundation for

Robert A. Marino C H AIR M AN, C E O & PRESIDENT Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

page one

2016 GIVING

F O UN D AT I O N

GRANTMAKING

FOUNDATION GRANTS

52%

At Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, our goal is to make New Jersey a healthier

CORPORATE GIVING

32%

MATCHING GIFTS

CO R P O R AT E GI VI N G

BUILDING A HEALTHIER NEW JERSEY

HEALTHIER TOGETHER

SIGNATURE INITIATIVES

With deep roots in our state and a commitment

SPONSORSHIPS

MARKETING EVENTS

CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS

CO M M U N I T Y E N GAGE ME N T

to enrich the lives and health of our members

place. Through our charitable and community

and the communities we serve, we believe that

engagement work, we improve the health and

it is our responsibility to continually work toward

quality of life of all residents throughout the

building a healthier New Jersey. We do this

state. Our commitment extends to supporting

in many ways – including through the efforts of

local communities, promoting good health and

our Corporate Social Responsibility Department.

VOLUNTEERISM

EMPLOYEE GIVING

EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION AT COMMUNITY EVENTS

NONPROFIT BOARD

encouraging employee volunteerism and giving.

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION TAX CREDIT

12%

This

department

leads

the

charitable

and

SERVICE

outreach activities of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Corporate Giving and Community Engagement, which serve collectively to create partnerships and opportunities that improve the health and well-being of people throughout New Jersey.

MATCHING GIFTS

4%

TOTAL GIVING: MORE THAN

$8.1 MILLION

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KOHP GRANTEES The following organizations each received a $50,000 grant from The Foundation. Collectively, they are serving nine counties. • Boys & Girls Club of Newark (Essex County) • Eva’s Village (Passaic County) • Gateway Community Action Partnership (Tri-County Community Action Agency) (Cumberland County) • Henry J. Austin Health Center PEDIATRICIANS AND PEDIATRIC DENTISTS EDUCATE

(Mercer County)

CHILDREN ABOUT HEALTHY DENTAL HABITS AS PART OF THE KIDS' ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM.

• Jewish Renaissance Medical Center (Middlesex County) • Kids Corporation II (Essex County) • KinderSmile Foundation (Essex County)

THE KIDS' ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM IS IMPROVING ORAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND ACCESS

• Metropolitan Family Health Network

TO DENTAL CARE FOR CHILDREN IN NINE NEW JERSEY COUNTIES.

(Hudson County) • New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (Mercer County) • Zufall Health Center (Morris County)

FOUNDATION SIGNATURE INITIATIVES

giving efforts. In addition to awarding grants to New Jersey nonprofit organizations focusing on

KIDS ’ O R A L HEA LT H PR O G R A M In 2016, The Foundation invested $500,000 to launch the Kids' Oral Health Program (KOHP), a two-year, pilot signature initiative to improve oral health-related awareness, education, prevention and treatment for young people up to the age of 18 years. Grants issued through the KOHP also provide support for professional development and promote best practices in the nine New Jersey counties where dental needs among children are acute.

health and arts programs, The Foundation develops its own signature initiatives to place a greater

Oral health plays a critical role in overall health, and dental

emphasis on specific health issues impacting people throughout our state.

although largely preventable. KOHP will improve access to

The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey strategically aligns and coordinates the Company’s charitable



thE Ki dS ' oral hE a lth P rogra M iS a grE at oPPortunity to h E l P d E n ta l P rof E S S ion a l S S E rvE and h E l P K id S MoSt in n E E d.



- Senator Jeff Van Drew (D), New Jersey Legislature, a practicing dentist

disease is the most common childhood disease in America, dental visits and services – such as fluoride treatments,

sealants, fillings and extractions – while enhancing awareness of good dental hygiene, all of which are critical factors for healthier children. page four

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th E B E a M Pr o g ra M h a S iM Pact E d M or E th a n 5 , 0 0 0 you t h w h o h av E dEM o n St r at E d a S i g ni f i ca nt inc r E a SE i n t h E i r a St h M a K n ow l E dg E .



- Susan Haspel, State Director, Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey

NOW IN PHASE 3, THE BEAM PROGRAM IS EDUCATING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN, TEENS, PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS ABOUT ASTHMA AND HOW BEST TO MANAGE IT.

LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET, CONSECTETUR ADIPISCING ELIT, SED DO EIUSMOD TEMPOR INCIDIDUNT UT LABORE ET DOLORE MAGNA ALIQUA.

STEVE WEATHERFORD, A FORMER NFL PUNTER AND SUPER BOWL WINNER WHOSE SON HAS ASTHMA, PARTICIPATED IN A BEAM EVENT WITH 125 CHILDREN FROM THE SALVATION ARMY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NEWARK IRONBOUND.



through thE B E a M P rogra M, i l E a rn E d aBout all of th E d if f E rE n t triggE rS that can cauS E a Sth Ma attac K S to occ ur

BREATHE EASIER WITH ASTHMA MANAGEMENT

For the first two phases of BEAM, The Foundation awarded grants totaling $1.1 million to BGCNJ to implement the initiative. With this funding, the program impacted over

5,000 youth, ages 5 to 18 years, at 16 Boys & Girls Clubs in 40 locations and 12 counties where childhood asthma is prevalent. Evaluations have been consistently strong,

Breathe Easier with Asthma Management (BEAM) is a signature initiative of The Foundation in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey (BGCNJ), with training and curricula provided by the American Lung Association in New Jersey. BEAM was created to raise awareness about asthma and to educate children and their parents or caregivers about the disorder and how best to manage it. Since 2014, The Foundation has invested $1.7 million in the BEAM program.

demonstrating a substantial and sustained increase of

participant knowledge about asthma and its management. The program was well received, and most participants

and alS o how to id E n tif y w h E n My f riE n d S May BE h av in g a n attac K .



- Amaura, age 10, a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Gloucester County

rated it as a fun experience.

Given the success of BEAM, The Foundation invested an

additional $600,000 in 2016 to implement Phase 3. This will

expand the program’s reach to an additional 2,800 youth at 20 Boys & Girls Clubs in 57 locations and 14 counties by 2018.

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it'S a n aw E S o M E way to gE t ou r K i d S f i t a nd h E l P t hE M l E a rn h o w ou r B od i E S wo rK a n d h o w to KE E P hE a lt h y.



- Healthy U staff member and 2016 evaluation respondent

AS PART OF THE FOUNDATION'S HEALTHY U SIGNATURE INITIATIVE, CHILDREN HAVE FUN LEARNING ABOUT HEALTHY FOODS AND ENGAGING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

CHILDREN AT 480 YMCA AND 90 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITES ARE BENEFITING FROM HEALTHY U.

Preschool, afterschool and school evaluation findings have indicated that students who participate in Healthy U: • Consumed milk, fruits, vegetables and water regularly

HEALTHY U

In total, Healthy U will impact more than 90,000 children

• Consumed soda and candy infrequently

elementary school partners.

• Played or exercised for at least 30 minutes

and their families at 480 YMCA sites. It will also engage 90 The 2016 evaluations have demonstrated evidence of

daily

healthy behaviors and behavior change among Healthy U

participants. The evaluation also showed extensive adoption

Healthy U is a signature initiative of The Foundation in partnership with the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance. Its goal is to prevent childhood obesity by encouraging physical activity and healthy eating.

of health-related policies and practices around healthy eating and physical activity by the YMCA sites.

Healthy U uses the nationally recognized CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) platform as the most cost-effective means of preventing childhood obesity. It does so in an environment that’s fun and easy to sustain, by combining physical activity, nutrition education and parental involvement. To date, The Foundation has invested $4.7 million in the program, which is now in Phase 3. page eight

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FOUNDATION GRANTMAKING HIGHLIGHTS The Foundation made 94 grants totaling more than $4.2 million in 2016. To further its mission to support organizations that make New Jersey healthier, The Foundation has three focus areas:

CHILDREN ENJOY THE ROCK WALL CHALLENGE OF THE HORIZON

HORIZON BCBSNJ CHAIRMAN, CEO & PRESIDENT ROBERT A. MARINO

FOUNDATION FAMILY FITNESS ROUTE AT LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER.

(SECOND FROM LEFT) JOINS CITY LEGISLATORS, LOCAL OFFICIALS AND STAFF FROM NEWARK MAYOR RAS BARAKA'S OFFICE, INCLUDING DEPUTY MAYOR BAYE ADOFO-WILSON (FAR RIGHT), FOR A GROUNDBREAKING EVENT SIGNIFYING THE START OF THE FOUR-ACRE EXPANSION OF RIVERFRONT PARK IN NEWARK.

Caring, Connecting and Creating.

SPotlight on caring LI B E RT Y S CI E NC E C E NTER Through a three-year, $300,000 grant, The Foundation partnered with Liberty Science Center (Hudson County) to develop the Horizon Foundation Family Fitness Route, which promotes healthy, active lifestyles. The route leads families through a series of physical challenges at Liberty Science Center, including a multi-story Infinity Chamber, a rock wall, a balance beam and an outdoor obstacle course. It also incorporates live, interactive science demonstrations focused on health and nutrition. Families visiting Liberty Science Center receive a Horizon Foundation Family Fitness Route activity guide, which is stamped for each challenge they complete.

wE Jo in t h E fo undat io n in it S coMMitME nt



thE ri vE rfront iS a valuE d natural

to l Ea ding t h E way to a h Ea lthi E r,

rE S ourcE that can Bring city

Mo r E act iv E nEw JEr SEy wit h a focuS on

nE ighBorhoodS togEthE r and

fun, fit nESS a nd diSEa SE P r Ev Ention.

oPE n nEw doorS to wEllnE S S



- Paul Hoffman, President and CEO, Liberty Science Center



R IV ER FR O N T PA R K E X PAN S I O N P R O J E C T As part of a four-acre expansion of Riverfront Park in Newark (Essex County), The Foundation made a $250,000 grant to the Trust for Public Land (Morris County) that will help develop three miles along the riverfront connecting the Ironbound neighborhood to downtown Newark. This area of the park will include a branded one-mile Horizon Foundation Wellness Trail. The park will offer a beautiful landscape, walkways, a bikeway, an overlook with seating, a Fitness Zone and a pedestrian link underneath the Jackson Street Bridge.

and rEcrE ati onal oPPortuniti E S for coMMuni ty rES idE ntS and downtown worKE rS ali KE .



- Robert A. Marino, Chairman, CEO & President, page ten

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

page eleven

SPotlight on connEcting N I C KY F I F T H F O UNDATIO N The Foundation made a $100,000 grant to the Nicky Fifth Foundation (Burlington County) to research, write and produce a children’s chapter book in the popular New Jersey-oriented “Nicky Fifth” series. The book, entitled Nicky Fifth Fit, focuses on the building blocks of wellness, such as nutrition, activity, rest and stress management. The storyline features several Foundation programs and partners. Widely used as a part of the curriculum in New Jersey schools, the series has established a significant following and the support of educators and parents. Nicky Fifth Fit and a

corresponding curriculum were launched at the New Jersey

Education Association Convention, where its award-winning author and former school teacher, Lisa Funari-Willever, was a keynote speaker. The 50,000 copies of the book

were distributed free to elementary schools throughout the state.



M a n y t ha n K S to th E f o u n dati o n f or you r Su PP o rt o f N I C KY F I F T H F I T a nd

HORIZON BCBSNJ AND FOUNDATION TEAM MEMBERS DISTRIBUTE COPIES OF

MICHAEL THATCHER, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CHARITY NAVIGATOR, DELIVERS

NICKY FIFTH FIT, A WELLNESS-FOCUSED CHILDREN'S BOOK SUPPORTED BY THE

A KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT HORIZON BCBSNJ'S GRANTEE SYMPOSIUM.

FOUNDATION, AT THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CONVENTION.

t hE w E l l- B E i n g o f n E w J E rS E y ' S M o St Pr E c i ou S r E S o u rcE , o u r ch i ldrEn. you r t i r E l E S S wo rK to B ri ng q ua l ity hEalt h a n d w E l l nE S S P ro g ra M S acro SS t h E Stat E w i l l Ma K E th i S th E St ro n g ESt, M oSt w E l l- i n f o rM E d g E nE rat i o n y Et.



- Lisa Funari-Willever, award-winning author of the Nicky Fifth children's book series

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SPotlight on crEating NEW JERS EY T HEAT RE A LLIA NCE The New Jersey Theatre Alliance (Essex County), which celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2016, received a $35,000 grant from The Foundation to support The Stages Festival. This state-wide, month-long series of free or low-cost programming introduces diverse populations to the joy of live theater. Attracting an average of 10,000 children and adults each year, The Stages Festival includes touring productions by member theaters, a playwriting residency, a conversation series with artists and cabaret performances in senior centers.



G R A N T EE S Y M PO SI UM C O N VE N E S T HO U G HT L EA DER S To foster and strengthen closer relationships with grantees, the Corporate Social Responsibility Department holds biennial Grantee Symposiums. The 2016 Symposium drew more than 100 attendees to learn about emerging industry trends and participate in professional development activities.

thE StagES fE Sti val rE ally BrE aKS down BarriE rS — Both EconoMi c and gEograPhi c — to EnS urE that EvE ry Body haS accE S S to thE thE atEr ExPE riE ncE . wE thanK thE horizon foundation for MaKing thi S PoS S iBlE .



- John McEwen, Executive Director, New Jersey Theatre Alliance

page thirteen

CORPORATE GIVING

LAUNCHING HEALTHY STEPS NJ ARE (LEFT TO RIGHT) CHRIS HUNT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE NEW JERSEY GOLF FOUNDATION; ALLEN KARP, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT, HORIZON BCBSNJ; MORGAN HOFFMANN, PGA TOUR MEMBER; AND THOMAS A. BIGA, PRESIDENT, RWJBARNABAS HEALTH, HOSPITAL DIVISION.



Through corporate sponsorships and community events, Horizon BCBSNJ offers unique healthfocused experiences to engage New Jersey residents. In 2016, through all the activities we supported, we interacted with more than 38,000 consumers.

These

activities

included

minor

Morgan hoffMa n n ’S activ E l if E Sty l E

ANNOUNCING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW YORK RED BULLS ARE

and hE alth y h a B itS tra n S c E n d

(LEFT TO RIGHT) JONATHAN R. PEARSON, DIRECTOR, CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, HORIZON BCBSNJ; CHRISTOPHER M. LEPRE, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, MARKET BUSINESS UNITS, HORIZON BCBSNJ; AMY SCHEER, CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER, NEW YORK RED BULLS; AND JOE STETSON, VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, NEW YORK RED BULLS.

golf and hE ha S B E coME a rol E Mod E l for PE oP l E of a l l agE S . hE S oli dif iE S a n a l rE a dy grE at

league baseball games, health fairs, road races

PartnErS hi P th E n E w J E rS E y gol f

and other community events.

foundati on h a S w ith h orizon a n d

N E W YO RK RE D B UL L S PARTNE RSH IP Horizon BCBSNJ implemented a new five-year partnership in 2016 with the New York Red Bulls (Hudson County), expanding collaborative efforts to promote community engagement, health, fitness and good nutrition. The partnership was announced at the Red Bulls Training Facility with a day of soccer skill drills, nutrition stations, vision screenings, photo booths and player meet-and-greets with students from Newark and Jersey City. As part of the partnership, Horizon BCBSNJ will work closely with the Red Bulls on community-focused projects in and around the Newark area. The Company will also provide health screenings and education at the Horizon Healthy Zone on the concourse of Red Bull Arena in Harrison, which features a healthy concession and fan engagement activities during home games.

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Bot h Pa rt nEr S P l a n o n uSing our co l l Ect iv E r Each a nd a SSEt S to E naBlE o ur nEig h Bo r S t h r o ug h o ut t hE Enti rE g a r dEn Stat E to l iv E h Ea lt h y and P r o duct iv E l ifEStyl ES.



HEA LT HY S T EPS N J Horizon BCBSNJ and RWJBarnabas Health partnered with New Jersey native, professional golfer and PGA Tour member Morgan Hoffmann to launch Healthy Steps NJ, an educational campaign to inspire children and adults to lead healthy and active lifestyles. The campaign was announced at Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, with more than 50 junior golfers from area high schools, 25 Special Olympics New Jersey athletes and veterans from the Lyons VA Hospital. As a health ambassador for Healthy Steps NJ, Hoffmann shared health education tips through social media, web-based videos and special events.

rwJB a rn a B a S h E a lth .



- Chris Hunt, Executive Director, New Jersey Golf Foundation, the charitable arm of the New Jersey Section, PGA of America (NJPGA)

- Marc de Grandpre, General Manager, New York Red Bulls

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HO R IZO N CA R E S P R O GR AM The Horizon Cares program celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016. The program supports and encourages our more than 5,000 employees' interest in giving their time, talent and financial resources for charitable causes. The Horizon Cares program has three components:

Volunteer Paid Time Off (PTO): Employees may use eight hours of Company time

each year to volunteer with a nonprofit organization

COMMUNITY

of their choice.

Dollars for Volunteers Program:

ENGAGEMENT

Employees volunteer their personal time and earn a monetary match for the nonprofit organization where they volunteer.

Matching Gifts: At the heart of our efforts is the support and

Employees make a financial contribution and earn

commitment of our employees, who help to

they contribute.

make

our

community

outreach

initiatives

possible. We stand behind their desire to help

a monetary match for the organization to which

HORIZON BCBSNJ VOLUNTEERS PLANTED THREE DOZEN TREES AT

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE HONORED

JESSE ALLEN PARK IN NEWARK AS PART OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL

JIM DALESSIO, CONTROLLER FOR HORIZON BCBSNJ'S GOVERNMENT

DAY OF CARING.

PROGRAMS DIVISION, FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO BOY SCOUT TROOP 84 IN SOMERVILLE.

others by encouraging and rewarding their

440 volunteers 3,472 volunteer hours

charitable interests and community service. D AY O F C A RI NG, JE SSE AL L EN PARK In partnership with Newark Celebration 350 (Essex County) and the New Jersey Tree Foundation (Ocean County), more than 75 Horizon BCBSNJ employees volunteered for the Company’s Annual Day of Caring to plant three dozen trees at Jesse Allen Park in Newark. The day kicked off a Legacy Tree Planting campaign to plant 350 trees city-wide as part of Newark Celebration 350, a year-long celebration of the City of Newark's 350th anniversary. The Foundation supported Newark Celebration 350 with a $200,000 grant, and Horizon BCBSNJ provided an additional $25,000 contribution to support this special legacy project.

2016 IM PA CT:

$95,341 volunteer hour value $284,758 in matching gifts Over the past 10 years, employees have logged nearly



JuSt a S a t r EE ca n Ma KE a diffE rE ncE , o ur day o f ca r ing ca n a l So go a lo ng way to wa r d Buil ding co MMunity a nd iMP r ov ing h Ea lt h a nd wEl l-BEing .

40,000 volunteer hours and gift matches have totaled

V O L U N T EER S PO T L IG HT Jim Dalessio, Controller for Horizon BCBSNJ’s Government Programs Division, was honored by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Center for Excellence with its new CEO Volunteer Recognition Award. Jim earned this honor for his outstanding volunteer service and dedication to Boy Scout Troop 84 in Somerville. He volunteered 676 hours of his time, which also earned the organization a $5,000 gift through The Foundation’s Dollars for Volunteers Program.

more than $2.1 million.



- William J. Castner, Senior Vice President, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, Horizon BCBSNJ page sixteen

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PRODUCED BY THE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DEPARTMENT, LEGAL AFFAIRS DIVISION, HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY. Managing Editor: Filomena G. Machleder ExEcutivE Managing Editor: Joan K. Hollendonner ExEcutivE dirEctor: Jonathan R. Pearson SEnior vicE PrESidEnt, gEnEral counSEl and SEcrEtary:  Linda A. Willett, Esquire

  L Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is the sole member of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. Both are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Horizon® name and symbols are registered marks and Healthier TogetherSM is a service mark of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. © 2017 Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Three Penn Plaza East, Newark, New Jersey 07105.

All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. This Corporate Social Responsibility Report is printed on Chorus Art Silk Cover and Text papers that is Forest Stewardship Council certified by the Rainforest Alliance (FSC®). Chorus Art contains 50% recycled content, including 25% post-consumer waste. It is acid free and elemental chlorine free. In addition, paper production takes place according to environmental management criteria certified on the basis of international standards UNI EN ISO 14001. The paper used in this report is produced from raw materials that meet the FSC standards. The FSC is an independent nonprofit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable way. Landowners and companies that sell timber or forest products seek certification as a way to verify to consumers that they have practiced forestry consistent with FSC standards. Soy-based inks were used to print this report. The use of soy-based inks, rather than traditional petroleum-based inks, greatly reduces the levels of pollutants produced during the printing process. The recycling process is also helped because soy-based inks can be removed more easily during de-inking than petroleum-based products.

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