For Immediate Release: October 26, 2022
For more information contact:
Kelly Cannon
Kelly.Cannon@BlueKC.com
O: (816) 395-3711
KANSAS CITY, MO. (October 26, 2022)—Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC), in partnership with the Kansas City Royals, is proud to announce that Shut Out the Stigma – a program that promotes Behavioral Health as a part of overall health and well-being and focuses on removing the stigma around mental health – raised more than $30,000 in 2022 to support six community organizations.
Throughout the entire Royals 2022 season, Blue KC, the “Official Health Insurance Provider of the Kansas City Royals,” donated $30 each time a Royals pitcher recorded a shutout inning. Based on the total number of shutout innings by Royals pitchers each month, Blue KC made a donation to a different Kansas City area behavioral health organization that promotes mental health through participation in sports, including: KVC Health Systems, First Call, ReDiscover, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, Mattie Rhodes Center, and ShareWaves.
Shut Out the Stigma, now in its second year, launched this past April with a new Public Service Announcement featuring Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre. The program drives awareness of behavioral health by sharing real-life stories from Kansas City Royals players and leaders in the community while demonstrating to parents how their interactions with their children can have long lasting impacts. As Shut Out the Stigma moves forward in 2023, the Royals and Blue KC will continue to shine a light on specific mental health concerns, continue to normalize the conversation, and provide resources for those seeking help with their behavioral health.
For additional information, content, and resources, visit shutoutthestigma.com.
In addition to Shut Out the Stigma, throughout 2022, Blue KC provided support to three important and worthy behavioral health initiatives: 988 Lifeline, Carl’s Cause, and The Battle Within. On July 23, Blue KC coordinated the 988 Lifeline Awareness Day at Kauffman Stadium, in partnership with Carl’s Cause, as the Royals hosted the Detroit Tigers. Mental health and suicide prevention organizations attended the game to mark the launch of the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 200+ crisis centers that provides 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 9-8-8. A recap of the event can be viewed here. To further assist Carl’s Cause – a 501 (c)(3) with a mission to change the future of mental health by combating stigma, creating awareness, and connecting resources – Blue KC donated four premium 2023 Royals tickets and parking passes as an auction item for the organization’s 5th annual Carl’s Cause Golf Tournament.
And in April, Blue KC acted as co-presenting sponsor of The Battle Within Wiffle® Ball Fundraiser, a charity event to benefit The Battle Within. The organization was founded by over 100 veterans, first responders, community leaders, and supporters who believe that every warrior deserves the same opportunity to heal from the traumas they have endured in their service to others. Blue KC donated $10,000 to help fund the 5-day Revenant Journey class, which helps veterans, first responders, and frontline medical workers find their healing path from PTSD. A recap of the event can be viewed here.
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.
