Nearly 1,500 Blue- Cross BlueShield of South Carolina employees made $98,183 in donations to the American Red Cross for Haiti relief. The company matched the donations 2–1 for a total contribution of $294,549.

This was a four– week campaign that has just ended.

“Our employees have always been generous with their own money, whether it’s for United Way in our local communities or for major disasters elsewhere. But in a down economy, they once more have stepped up to help people who are less fortunate,” said Blue- Cross Chairman and CEO M. Edward Sellers.

“We are pleased to be able to match their dollars to help create a brighter future for people in need,” he said.

BlueCross employees often break records for their pledges to the United Way including $1.9 million raised in the most recent campaign by offices in Columbia, Camden, Florence, Greenville, Surfside Beach, S.C., and in other states. The employees also donate to the annual fundraising campaigns by South Carolina organizations involved in health research, human services, youth, senior citizens, diversity, civic activities, and the arts.

Some go beyond making monetary donations and organizing events to raise money for nonprofits. They contribute their time. The company’s foundation recently announced that, for those employees who perform 40 or more hours of community service with approved nonprofits such as free medical clinics, it will issue a grant to that organization.