Over the past few months, our employees have not only been working to help physicians and health plans succeed in value-based care; they have also been working to better the community by participating in volunteer events.
March for Babies
In March, Geneia employees created a team to walk in the March for Babies. This event is organized by the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization that fights for the health of all mothers and their children. Adrienne Rupp, vice president of marketing; Julie Perkins, events and administrative coordinator; and Jocelyn Fenton, contract specialist, participated in the walk while other team members helped to raise money. Our team raised a total of $1,609, which will help expand programs and educate medical professionals to make sure that mothers and babies get the best possible care. Our top fundraiser was Jocelyn Fenton, who raised $403. Great work Jocelyn and the rest of the Geneia team!
Geneia employees: Julie Perkins, Jocelyn Fenton and Adrienne Rupp
STEM Summit
Quite a few of our Pennsylvania employees volunteered as mentors for the Junior Achievement STEM Summit, two days of events that help connect students with careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Geneia team members participated in various activities to show participants the different paths they could take in the STEM fields, including leading students through a series of competitions in mechanical and chemical engineering and physics as well teaching a biology session during which employees showed how diseases spread and how bodily fluids can be tested for disease. The following Geneia employees participated in the STEM Summits:
April 5, at Cedar Cliff High School:
- Pat Ingerick, senior director, transformation services
- Niki Lazarz, senior health education consultant
- Manju Lingegowda, IT QA data specialist
- Sebastian Maria Pragasam, senior project manager
- Anbalagan Mookkaiah, software engineer
- Kelly Weaver, executive assistant
April 23, at Central Dauphin High School:
- Bobbie Ayers, educational consultant
- Eric Crammer, principal software engineer
- Dimitri Fleuriot, software engineer
- Brooke Holland, senior HR business partner
- Kristy Houston, educational consultant
- Lori Richards, manager, disease management
- Pedro Rodrigues, corporate recruiter
FIRST Robotics
Along with GearShift, the FIRST Robotics team that Geneia continues to support, we sponsored the PowerKnights team this year. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is an international youth organization that operates the FIRST® Robotics Competition, FIRST® Lego® League, FIRST® Lego® League Jr., and FIRST® Tech Challenge competitions, all with an eye towards inspiring young people to become leaders and innovators in the STEM field.
The PowerKnights competed in two robotics competitions: the North Shore District Event and the University of New Hampshire District Event. Julie Perkins attended the UNH District event and watched the PowerKnights win the three competitions they entered. “I was amazed at their abilities, not only in the construction of the robot, but also in the way that they competed, worked with other teams and showed support and encouragement to each other during every match”.
Capital BlueCross Volunteering Award
In April, Geneia Senior Product Manager Latha Thomas was one of three employees in the Capital BlueCross (CBC) family of companies awarded the title 2019 Volunteer of the Year. Thomas has spent countless hours giving back to the community. She is a rape counselor for YWCA of Carlisle where she provides counseling services via the 24-hour hotline. She has two shifts a month, both 14.5 hours long. Along with being a rape counselor, Thomas also supports New Hope Ministries, a Christian social service agency that serves families in need, as well as St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Recipients of this award were given $1,000 to contribute to a nonprofit of their choice and Thomas chose to donate the money to YMCA of Carlisle.
Cathy Goeckel and Jaclyn Rogers also were recognized by CBC as community volunteers.
Liberty House Donations
In November, the NH Geneia team collected items to support the Liberty House. The Liberty House helps to support homeless and struggling veterans by connecting them to available resources and providing a safe, substance-free transitional house. The NH employees donated a total of $270 and collected stuffing mix, diapers and more.
Geneia is lucky to have employees that are so dedicated to helping their communities. Great job everyone!