Cambia Health Solutions contributes $50,000 to Work for Art

PORTLAND, ORE. — Work for Art, an annual campaign to raise money for arts and culture organizations in the Portland tri-county area, has received a $50,000 grant from Cambia Health Solutions. This is the largest corporate contribution in Work for Art’s eight-year history.
 
Angela Hult, the director of corporate philanthropy for Cambia Health Solutions, announced the contribution as a way to support the intersection between arts and health, including the documented effects that art and arts-related services have on wellness, therapy, grief and bereavement, cognitive function, and pain management.  

“Arts and culture play an important role in sustaining healthy individuals, families and communities,” said Hult. “Local arts organizations are doing exceptional work in this area, particularly through art therapy programs that help alleviate grief and bereavement. That is why Cambia Health Solutions is pleased to support Work for Art through employee giving and this corporate gift.” 

 

A full 100% of all donations to Work for Art, including the Cambia contribution, will be distributed to more than 100 local arts and culture organizations, including many who are actively involved in health and wellness programs. For example:

  • The Children’s Healing Art Project (CHAP) brings the healing power of art to children in crisis through a mobile team of teaching artists working in a partnership with hospitals, community organizations and schools. Nearly half of the nation’s health care centers provide arts programming for patients, families, and even staff. 78% of the directors of these centers report that arts programs provide healing benefits to patients: shorter hospital stays, better pain management, and reduced need for medication.  
  • Some say laughter is the best medicine – and the Stand Up for Mental Health Program in Clackamas County helps participants write and share their story of what it is like to live with a mental health challenge – using humor as a communication tool. For those with mental health challenges, these classes provide opportunities to gain confidence, speak in front of groups, and take risks – which in turn help them to lead more independent, productive lives. 
  • Oregon Repertory Singers share the power and inspiration of music through outreach to retirement homes in Multnomah and Washington Counties. Studies show that music can help boost mood, reduce stress and depression, and help with treatment for chronic health issues for seniors, including Alzheimer’s disease.

 “The arts add measurable value to our communities in so many ways, and this partnership with Cambia Health Solutions helps us draw special attention to important health and wellness benefits that some people might not be aware of,” said Eloise Damrosch, executive director of the Regional Arts & Culture Council. “We are tremendously grateful for the support, and we look forward to sharing Cambia’s generosity with arts organizations that are doing important work in this field.”
 
The 2013-14 Work for Art campaign began on July 1, 2013, and dozens of workplace giving campaigns have already taken place over the last several months – including a campaign at Cambia (although those figures are not yet available). This grant from Cambia Health Solutions will be applied to Work for Art’s matching challenge fund, and will be used to help encourage and match contributions from other donors at other companies over the next six months. With this gift, Work for Art is on track to raise a total of $775,000 by June 30, 2014.
 
For more information on Work for Art, including a complete list of participating companies and funded organizations, visit workforart.org.
 
Cambia Health Solutions is a nonprofit total health solutions company based in the Pacific Northwest/Intermountain region, serving consumers and communities for nearly 100 years.  Cambia companies provide a wide range of products and services, including healthcare information technology and software development, retail healthcare, health insurance plans that carry the Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand, life insurance, pharmacy benefit management, consumer engagement and wellness. For more information, please visit cambiahealthsolutions.com. 
 
Work for Art distributes 100% of all donations to more than 100 arts and culture organizations based in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties through a competitive grant application process. Now in its eighth year, the program has raised more than $4.7 million for services that arts and culture groups provide, including community outreach, arts education programs, and hundreds of performances and events. Donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by a Matching Challenge Fund, made possible by public and private partners, including Burgerville, Sunshine Dairy Foods, The Portland Timbers, The City of Portland, Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties, and now, Cambia Health Solutions. Donors who pledge $60 or more receive an Arts Card, which provides 2-for-1 tickets to performances for a full year. Read more at workforart.org.
 
The Regional Arts & Culture Council is the local arts agency for Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties. In addition to administering Work for Art and other advocacy programs, RACC provides grants for artists, schools and nonprofit organizations; presents workshops and other forms of technical assistance; provides printed and web-based resources for artists; and integrates art into public spaces. Read more at racc.org.