For Immediate Release: November 1, 2022
For more information contact:
Kelly Cannon
Kelly.Cannon@BlueKC.com
O: (816) 395-3711
KANSAS CITY, MO. (November 1, 2022)—The Kansas City Current’s historic run in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Championship has garnered the attention of the nation and the hearts of Kansas City. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC), a founding partner of the KC Current and the team’s official health insurance partner, is proud to celebrate an unprecedented season with congratulations offered to the entire team and a donation to support Goalkeeper Adrianna “AD” Franch’s community giving program.
The greatest season-to-season turnaround in NWSL history was one in which Franch contributed by tying the league record for the most career playoff shutouts. She was named to the 2022 Best XI Second Team, finishing third in the league with 66 saves and set club records for saves and shutouts. On Monday, Franch was called up to compete for the U.S. Women’s National Team in two home friendly matches against Germany in November.
During September’s Hunger Action Month, Blue KC announced a pledge of $100 each time Franch recorded a save in support of the goalkeeper’s Playing for Trees campaign, which partners with The Giving Grove to bring more orchards to neighborhoods in Kansas City.
Blue KC’s donations kicked off with the Current’s match on August 28 and continued through the postseason, with a grand total of $3,200 for 32 saves after Saturday’s championship match. As an added boost, the Current matched Blue KC’s donation, increasing the total to $6,400. The funds are going directly to The Giving Grove, a Kansas City-based nonprofit that supports neighborhood volunteers in planting and caring for fruit trees, nut trees and berry brambles that improve the urban environment, increase tree canopy and provide a sustainable source of free, organically grown food for neighborhoods facing high rates of food insecurity.
“This really has been a win-win effort and an exciting time to support the KC Current, AD and The Giving Grove,” said Christina Lively, vice president and chief marketing officer, Blue KC. “AD’s commitment to our city, both on and off the field, is admirable. We’re glad to partner with her through Blue KC’s Well Stocked Initiative with funding that will improve access to healthy food across KC.”
The Giving Grove is one of Blue KC’s Well Stocked partners. Founded in 2018, Blue KC’s Well Stocked initiative aims to increase food access and reduce food insecurity in Kansas City.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the largest not-for-profit health insurer in Missouri and the only not-for-profit commercial health insurer in Kansas City, has been part of the Kansas City community since 1938. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City provides health coverage services to more than one million residents in the greater Kansas City area, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and 30 counties in Northwest Missouri. Our mission: to provide affordable access to healthcare and to improve the health of our members. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information on the company, visit its website at BlueKC.com.
