Mr. Brad Wilson

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s (Blue Cross) mission is to improve the health and well-being of our customers and our communities. That means working to make our state better for all of us. A strong commitment to children’s education is vital to that work. 

Brad Wilson, CEO of Blue Cross and chair of the separate nonprofit Blue Cross Foundation’s board of directors, has been an advocate for education for many years, and his personal interest in nurturing students aligns with the company’s support of a number of education-related causes. Both Blue Cross and the Blue Cross Foundation fund a number of efforts to help children realize their learning potential as students. 

Our company has been a sponsor of the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children’s annual Champions for Children Gala since the very first event in 2013. We are proud to support the organization’s important work to provide students with the resources they need to succeed in school. 

We are also sponsors of Made in Durham, a community partnership of engaged educators, businesses, government, nonprofits and young people to help students get on – and stay on – track toward education, career and life success. We support the Emily Krzyzewski Center’s mission to help low-income K-12 students prepare for college studies and become engaged community leaders. 

Our work with the East Durham Children’s Initiative (EDCI) is another of our community collaborations. EDCI targets a 120-block area of East Durham where children are at risk for difficulties in school, providing the students with comprehensive services to prepare them for success in education and career. In addition to Blue Cross’ financial support, employees of the company – including Brad Wilson – donate their time serving meals to needy families in EDCI’s service area. 

As the lead sponsor of EdNC’s Reach NC Voices initiative – a statewide effort to survey students, parents, educators and communities about the obstacles to children’s learning – we hope to help build understanding and awareness of the urgent issues defining our shared future. Our involvement with BEST NC (Business for Educational Success and Transformation) aims to harness the power of the business community in evolving our education system to produce professionals with the skills our state needs most. 

Of course, health care is Blue Cross’ core business and we are proud to be the insurer for the State Health Plan, serving the insurance needs of thousands of educators across North Carolina. 

Both Brad Wilson and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina are honored to be named Champions for Children and to stand with the other award winners who share a common goal of making our state an even better place to live, work, play, worship – and learn.