{"id":849,"date":"2023-01-10T06:00:11","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T06:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/bluekcblog\/blue_agent_articles\/jan-2023-sports\/"},"modified":"2023-05-03T22:39:31","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T22:39:31","slug":"jan-2023-sports","status":"publish","type":"blue_agent_articles","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blog\/blue_agent_articles\/jan-2023-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 Jan. Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since 1938, Blue KC has been a teammate of the Kansas City community, providing health coverage to more than one million residents. Uniting with our city\u2019s professional sports teams, we are now able to impact an even greater swath of our community by offering championship-caliber programs, many of which focus on normalizing behavioral health conversations. Take a look at the highlights from 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sports partnerships at Blue KC serve three purposes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Help normalize behavioral health conversations by creating mental health awareness programs.<\/li>
  2. Make Kansas City a better place to live, work and play by honoring and showing our support of key public service members.<\/li>
  3. Increase brand loyalty and generate new sales leads by engaging members at their moments of passion and pride \u2013 as a Kansas City sports fan \u2013 and aligning with our hometown sports teams.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Royals\u2019 partnership <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Shut Out the Stigma <\/strong>This program aims to eliminate the stigma around behavioral health and bring awareness and normalize this important conversation. Blue KC donated $30 each time a Royals pitcher recorded a shutout inning during the 2022 season. For those counting, that\u2019s 986 shutout innings. In total, Blue KC donated nearly $30,000 to six behavioral health organizations in our community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Representatives of local behavioral health organizations receiving a donation from the 2022 Shut Out the Stigma initiative.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Coaches with Character <\/strong>Blue KC teamed up with the \u201cC\u201d You In The Major Leagues Foundation to recognize six Blue KC Coaches with Character<\/a> during the 2022 Royals\u2019 season. The program spotlights high school coaches who are helping to grow youth sports. At a year-end celebration<\/a>, the coaches met Royals owner and CEO John Sherman and George Brett. As a tribute to each coach, their names and stories will be displayed on Kauffman Stadium pillars inside Gate D. Know a coach deserving of a nomination? Complete the nomination form<\/a> for the 2023 season.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Royals Owner and CEO John Sherman with 2022 Coaches with Character honorees. Top row: Stu Reece, Rob James, Donnell Fletcher. Bottom Row: Erin Nathan, John Sherman, Susan Mayberry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hometown Heroes <\/strong>Blue KC values and appreciates first responders. Hometown Heroes is a community program honoring those heroes who serve our Kansas City community. Ten first responders were recognized during the 2022 Royals season. One Hometown Hero, Sarah “Smiley” Nauser, served her community as a KCPD officer for eight years before her ALS diagnosis. As she fights the disease and advocates for others with ALS, Sarah radiates positivity in Kansas City and beyond. Watch Sarah\u2019s story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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