Article courtesy of the University of Minnesota
To combat racism and enact lasting change, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) donated $5 million to the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) to establish the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity. Rachel Hardeman, associate professor and Blue Cross Endowed Professor of Health and Racial Equity, created the vision for the center and will serve as its founding director.
This is the largest gift to a center at SPH. Blue Cross’ commitment to bring about change through philanthropy serves as an invitation for others to provide sustainable funding for the center and its goal of understanding and dismantling structural racism and its negative impact on health.
“In 2020, we saw Minnesota become a national epicenter for racial injustice, under some of the most tragic and heartbreaking conditions imaginable,” said Craig Samitt, president and chief executive officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “In order to transform our state, inspire change and improve health, we can’t just say the right things – we must do the right things. We believe that Blue Cross’ investment in the creation of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity will serve as a catalyst to advance health equity and dismantle racism from the structure and fabric of our society.”
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