BlueCross BlueShield foundation to give $1 million to SC nonprofits

The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina has designated $1 million in grants to give to South Carolina-based nonprofits assisting in flood relief efforts.

Foundation Executive Director Harvey Galloway said the foundation approved the grants as a way to assist nonprofits doing boots-on-the-ground services for disaster-affected counties.

The foundation typically funds health-related services, Galloway said, and these grants tie into that mission by way of mental health and peace of mind for flood victims.

“We feel like this fits our core,” Galloway said, noting the foundation’s mission “directs us to be agents of change to improve the health and well-being of South Carolinians.”

The grants would likely be given to nonprofits within a week of application, Galloway said, and the typical eight-page application form has been scaled down to two pages of basic information.

“Hopefully, we can get this done relatively quickly and get out to organizations so deserving of this,” Galloway said.

Galloway said though the foundation wants to respond as quickly as possible, he also understands that nonprofits may be too busy now to apply, so funding will be divvied up cautiously.

“We’re in this for the long term,” he said. “There are going to be people in ... need who are not going to be just taken care of immediately. We don’t want to go so fast that we miss a good opportunity somewhere down the road.”

He said all of the $1 million will go toward helping people in South Carolina rather than funding overhead expenses for out-of-state organizations.

Brian Scoles, a media relations representative for the foundation, said there is not necessarily a deadline for the grant applications.

Nonprofits can apply for the grants by calling (803) 264-7860 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday or by emailing flood.relief@bcbssc.com.