CHICAGO—To help ease the ongoing needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) awarded Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) a $20,000 grant to support operations and enhance the delivery of health care services to communities in need.

"The COVID-19 crisis disproportionately hurt our patients who are people of color, people with low incomes, members of the LGBTQ community, undocumented folks and other marginalized communities who already face systemic barriers to accessing high quality sexual and reproductive health care," said Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of PPIL. "With this grant, we will be able to ensure that all people continue to have access to essential health care, information, and education during the ongoing crisis, regardless of their race, gender, income level, or immigration status."

BCBSIL selected 175 organizations across Illinois with missions focused on access to care, hunger, shelter, behavioral health care, and COVID-19 health education and vaccine access to receive $20,000 grants as part of its COVID-19 Community Collaboration Fund.

"A year into the pandemic and the health, economic and social impacts around Illinois are still great," said Harmony Harrington, vice-president government and community relations for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. "We're proud to be able to help so many organizations increase their capacity to help more people receive the help they need."

Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) provides affordable, high-quality reproductive health care services and medically accurate sexual health education to women, teens and men throughout Illinois. Through medical services, educational programs and advocacy efforts, PPIL works to ensure and protect the reproductive rights of each individual. For more information, visit Link Here .

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is committed to expanding access to quality, cost-effective health care to as many people as possible in Illinois. BCBSIL is dedicated to innovation and exploring, nurturing and activating future possibilities to make the health care system work better for our members and our communities.