NASCAR and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Team Up to Advance Health Equity
CHICAGO — The NASCAR Chicago Street Race, The NASCAR Foundation, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois wrapped up a series of special holiday hospital visits that included donations to six area health care providers throughout Chicago and across the state of Illinois. In total, NASCAR and Chicago Street Race Founding Partner Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois donated $80,000 to local organizations, including six hospitals and three community-based nonprofits.
“NASCAR is a part of this community 365-days a year, and our goal is to have a positive impact in every one of Chicago‘s 77 neighborhoods and across the entire state of Illinois,” said Julie Giese, President, NASCAR Chicago Street Race. “In partnership with our friends at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, we are proud to support the work that these incredible hospitals and organizations do each and every day.”
In a two-week span, representatives from NASCAR and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois visited five area hospitals, including UChicago Medicine‘s Comer Children’s Hospital in Hyde Park, UI Health in the Illinois Medical District, Roseland Community Hospital in Roseland, St. Bernard Hospital in Englewood, and Humboldt Park Health in Humboldt Park. The two organizations also were proud to support Central Counties Health Centers in Springfield, Ill. as a part of the initiative.
“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is committed to advancing health equity in every community across the city and state, and we thank our partners at NASCAR for helping to bridge those critical gaps,” said Tonita Cheatham, Executive Director of Communications and Community Engagement at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. “By partnering with NASCAR, we can help drive access to health care across Chicago‘s south and west sides, and in the city of Springfield.”
The Chicago Street Race, The NASCAR Foundation, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois also contributed $15,000 to three area nonprofits during a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Friendsgiving Celebration in November. Star Farms, Omega Yes Mentoring, and Salud Chicago each were awarded $5,000 as a part of a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway program in Morgan Park.
“The health of kids and families in the communities where we race is a key component of our mission at The NASCAR Foundation,” said Nichole Krieger, The NASCAR Foundation Vice President & Executive Director. “We are thrilled to partner with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois who share in this mission to advance access to quality health services throughout the city and the state.”
About Chicago Street Race
The Chicago Street Race is home to the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series street race in the 75-year history of NASCAR. Located in downtown Chicago, the 2024 event will once again take competitors past and through many of the city‘s most renowned downtown landmarks on Michigan Avenue, South Columbus Drive, South DuSable Lake Shore Drive and the start-finish line near Buckingham Fountain. The Cup Series will be joined by the NASCAR Xfinity Series as part of a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment festival with global music headlines over the Fourth of July Weekend on July 6-7, 2024. For more information, visit NASCARChicago.com.
About NASCAR
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation‘s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Seriesu2122, NASCAR Xfinity Seriesu2122, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Seriesu2122), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty‘s Series (Canada), NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Associationu2122 (IMSAu00ae) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championshipu2122, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 12 countries and more than 30 U.S. states. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR‘).
About The NASCAR Foundation
The NASCAR Foundation is a leading charity that works to improve the lives of children who need it most in NASCAR racing communities through the Speediatrics Children’s Fund and the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Since 2006, The NASCAR Foundation has contributed more than $43 Million to impact the lives of nearly 1.7 million children across the country.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurer in Illinois, serving nearly 9 million members and operating in all 102 Illinois counties. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at bcbsil.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.
