by Laine Himmelmann
Blue Shield volunteers at Santa Monica beach cleanup
From August through early September, more than 250 Blue Shield of California volunteers hit the sand with local Surfrider Foundation chapters to remove hundreds of pounds of trash and debris from beaches across Southern and Northern California.
Large-scale beach cleanups are part of the nonprofit health plan’s commitment to supporting health through environmental action.
“The environment is an important driver of health,” said Dr. Ravi Kavasery, chief medical officer for Blue Shield of California, who joined dozens of colleagues at the beach cleanup event in Santa Monica. “We collected 97 pounds of trash that won’t end up in our ocean, and I felt a little lighter having given back to the West Los Angeles community and spending time with my colleagues.”
Across four beach cleanups — in Long Beach, San Francsico, Santa Monica and San Diego — Blue Shield volunteers contributed more than 500 hours and collected approximately 535 pounds of trash. Items ranged from cigarette butts — more than 1,500 in San Diego alone — to plastic food wrappers, straws, water bottles, glass fragments, a few tires and even shotgun wads, a particular problem in San Francisco.
“Pollution on the beach not only has devastating effects on marine health and life, but also impacts human physical and mental health,” shared Gabriel Racca, the San Diego Beach Cleanup Coordinator for the Surfrider Foundation. “We’re proud to team up with Blue Shield of California, a nonprofit health plan that not only rolls up its sleeves to give back but truly understands that climate care is health care.”
Dr. Ravi Kavasery and colleagues at Santa Monica beach cleanup
On top of the beach cleanups, Blue Shield also hosted more than one hundred employee volunteers at other environmentally focused, cleanup events in August and September. These included cleanups all around California: Lake Merritt in Oakland with Keep Oakland Beautiful, the American River in Sacramento with American Parkway River Foundation, Folsom Lake recreation area with California State Parks Foundation and Redding with Plantable. Blue Shield also has more environmental volunteer activities coming up this fall, with Conservation Corps of Long Beach and San Carlos Community Garden.
“These cleanups are just one way Blue Shield of California is advancing health through environmental action,” said Baylis Beard, director of sustainability, who worked alongside colleagues at the beach. “We’re investing in long-term sustainability, from community action to large-scale sustainability initiatives, to reduce our carbon footprint, promote environmental health and build climate-resilient communities. By teaming up with community organizations like the Surfrider Foundation, we’re building a healthier, more resilient California — together.”
To learn more about Blue Shield of California’s commitment to environmental sustainability and our California communities, visit citizenship.blueshieldca.com.
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