Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Higher Achievement share a common purpose: to serve Pittsburgh’s most vulnerable population. Higher Achievement provides academic support and enrichment opportunities for middle school students from underserved communities. Highmark works to improve the health of communities, from helping to fight chronic disease to advocating healthy lifestyles to promoting access to education.
“We are specifically interested in supporting education in middle school. It’s a critical time to further education and learn to live a healthy lifestyle through high school and in life,” said Neil Parham, Director of Corporate Giving for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.
As a corporate sponsor of the Pittsburgh affiliate for over five years, Highmark believes that Higher Achievement is helping to close an achievement gap that has a significant impact on students from underserved areas.
“I would love to see every middle school student be able to participate in Higher Achievement. It’s such a valuable program. Middle school is often a time when youth check out. Those years set the stage for academic achievement in the future,” said Mr. Parham. “On behalf of Highmark, I want to thank Higher Achievement for their work to support our future leaders by enhancing opportunities outside of the classroom.”