BCBS Employee Made 2012 Count as Volunteer for CASA
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma Customer Advocate Sandra Hughes was honored as the company’s 2012 Volunteer of the Year. Hughes is pictured holding a bouquet of flowers with, from left, Community Affairs Director Paula Huck, Sr. Manager of Subscriber Services Lisa Wassom, Hughes and President Ted Haynes.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma Customer Advocate Sandra Hughes has no regrets about 2012. Throughout the year, Hughes devoted her spare time to serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate () for abused and neglected children.
She not only speaks for the best interest of abused and neglected children in court, she is also a dedicated volunteer who represents children in an effort to provide each child a safe, permanent and nurturing home. She prepares documents for court report and review and oversees family visitation, child visitation and foster child in-home visitation. Through her efforts, she has made a difference in the lives of countless children in the Department of Human Services custody.
“I am so proud to be an advocate for abused and neglected children,” says Hughes. “There is an old saying that goes, ‘A child should be seen and not heard.’ I completely disagree. Every child should be seen and heard loud and clear. Every child deserves to have a safe, permanent and nurturing home.”
In addition to her tireless efforts as a volunteer, Hughes uses her servant’s heart at work, where she serves within the Seasons of Life department at Blue Cross. The department provides support to people during a painful time by helping relatives of the deceased to handle health care claims and statements quickly and efficiently. She volunteers to lead presentations and acts as an ambassador for the program.
In honor of her selfless accomplishments, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma titled Hughes as the company’s 2012 Volunteer of the Year. She was awarded a crystal keepsake, a framed certificate and a $1,000 grant to , the nonprofit of her choice. A committee of eight employees from a variety of divisions separately scored and ranked all the anonymous award nominations. Out of the top five nominations in Oklahoma, Hughes was chosen as the winner.
Most recently, Hughes played an important volunteer role in Blue Cross’ efforts at the Williams Route 66 Marathon. In addition to coordinating the company’s water stop along the marathon course, Hughes made it a personal goal to help provide new shoes to the under-privileged elementary students that participated in the YMCA’s 5K training program leading up to the races.
“What motivates me is real simple,” said Hughes. “It takes a village to raise a child. We should all want to leave this world better than we found it.”
Updated 02-14-2013
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