Donor Spotlight January 2013

Each month we highlight both an individual and a corporation that continually supports the mission of Women 4 Women. This month’s issue focuses on Health and Safety, so it was only fitting that we profile Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky and its president, Deb Moessner.

Individual Donor Spotlight: Deb Moessner

President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky

Once in awhile you find an organization that you can identify with in such a way that it compels you to commit to that organization and its mission on both a professional and a personal level. For Deb Moessner, that organization was Women 4 Women.

“Women 4 Women and I go way back,” said Moessner. “Almost from the day the organization was created I was involved because I believe that W4W improves the health and economic status of women in our community.”

Since the organization was founded 20 years ago, we have been very fortunate to have committed individuals like her to stand with us and support our mission.

Moessner personally knows the state of Kentucky and the women and girls we serve as an organization. As the leader of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Kentucky’s largest health insurer, she sees the claims data that illustrates the poor health of Kentuckians and she wants to be part of an organization taking steps to make an impact.

“W4W recognizes the well-being of young girls and women isn’t determined by one factor, but by a variety of factors: education and socio-economics, as well as health,” said Moessner. “It’s that holistic approach that lifts women up and empowers them.”

It’s this recognition that contributed to the 2012 development of the Women 4 Women Economic Self-Sufficiency Model. This model specifies four primary focus areas that contribute to a woman’s whole self and self-sufficiency: Education and Leadership; Jobs and Earnings; Health and Safety; and Social Change and the Single-parent Economy.

When Moessner looks at her involvement with W4W, she sees the big picture – she sees how the organization can make an impact over a lifetime and she wants to be part of that impact.

“Being involved with W4W is my window to the community,” she said. “Without it, my understanding and view of the needs that exist would be limited. You can read stories about domestic violence, or children living in poverty, or the dropout rate. But W4W brings these issues to life, brings a new urgency and motivates me to act in ways to address the challenges facing women.”

Corporate Spotlight: Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield

Fortunately for Women 4 Women, Moessner’s commitment to the organization expanded outside her personal life and into her professional life as well. Thanks to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s 20 year commitment, we have been able to contribute to the community in a number of ways over the years.

When Moessner looked at her life, and her sphere of influence at Anthem, she realized W4W was the only organization in the community with the single focus of improving the lives of women and girls.

“At the time when I first got involved with W4W, I was the mother of two young girls and I realized that what my husband and I wanted for our girls, W4W wanted for the entire community of girls,” she says. “The mission of improving the whole person appealed not only to me personally, but also to the Anthem organization.”

It’s not surprise that the W4W focus of health is most important to Anthem. After all, women are the primary health care decision makers and caregivers in most families today.

“At Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we set our sights each day on helping people stay healthy and make informed health care decisions,” says Moessner.  “In this way, Anthem’s mission is similar to W4W’s mission. That’s why the partnership has been so productive over the years.”

Just like W4W works toward helping women find balance and success in life, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield also works toward that mission by allowing their employees to find a healthy work/life balance.

“The majority of our 1,100 associates in Kentucky are women. We believe in helping our associates balance work and home commitments,” she said.

A few of the ways Anthem is able to help employees balance is through telecommuting, job sharing and the New Parent Transition Week for full-time associates. This week allows both mothers and fathers to receive a full week of pay for half the time worked. 

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky also works to promote health and wellness among its employees, by providing 24-hour access to an on-site fitness facility, as well as blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, flu shots and mammograms offered periodically. 

Women 4 Women would like to thank Deb Moessner and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kentucky for their support and dedication to the mission of our organization. Your support makes an impact in our community!

For more information on how you can become and individual donor or corporate partner, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit w4w.org.