Blue Shield of California Foundation Appoints Two New Trustees
Both board members bring energy and expertise to advance the Foundation’s strategy for social impact
San Francisco, CA (Dec. 13, 2016) — Blue Shield of California Foundation announced today the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees to support its mission to improve health equity and end domestic violence in California. The new members include Raymond J. Baxter, Ph.D. - a former executive at Kaiser Permanente - and Michael Mathias, senior vice-president of Blue Shield of California. As part of the nine-person board, they will help to review, oversee, and ensure that the Foundation’s charitable investments go to their highest and best use on behalf of vulnerable populations across the state.
“Both Ray and Michael bring unique ideas and experience that will prove invaluable to our board as we navigate the changes and challenges ahead of us,” said Eliza Daniely-Woolfolk, chair of Blue Shield of California Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “I’m confident that their insights will strengthen our grantmaking and help us continue to produce meaningful, sustainable results for the Californians most in need.”
With more than 40 years in the fields of public health and healthcare, Raymond J. Baxter, Ph.D. recently retired from his position as Kaiser Permanente’s senior vice president for community benefit, research, and health policy. As part of Kaiser’s national executive team, Dr. Baxter led the organization’s work to fulfill its social mission, including coverage and care for low-income patients, support for community-based organizations and initiatives, and health equity and environmental stewardship. He is the former head of the San Francisco Department of Public Health and holds a doctorate from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
Michael Mathias is the chief information officer for Blue Shield of California, where he oversees the company’s technology strategy and operations. Mr. Mathias brings more than 25 years of industry experience, including 16 years at Aetna, where he was chief information officer. In addition to helping drive innovation for the 4-million-member health plan, he is also responsible for aligning and integrating Blue Shield’s technological vision with the company’s broader business strategy and processes. Previously, Mr. Mathias worked for U.S. HealthCare and is a graduate of Long Island University
Since 2002, Blue Shield of California Foundation has awarded more than $365 million in grants to support organizations and initiatives throughout the state. Its nine trustees help to monitor and enforce the responsible and effective use of the Foundation’s charitable funds each year. The Board is equally comprised of representatives from Blue Shield of California, as well as independent trustees who are unaffiliated with the corporation. To provide additional oversight, Blue Shield of California Foundation has also created an external advisory board made up of members with no vested interest in the company or Foundation to provide objective feedback on the Foundation’s strategy and grantmaking efforts.
Learn more about Blue Shield of California Foundation and its Board of Trustees here.
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About Blue Shield of California Foundation
Blue Shield of California Foundation is one of the state's largest and most trusted grantmaking organizations. Our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians, particularly the underserved, by making health care accessible, effective, and affordable, and by ending domestic violence. For more information, visit: www.blueshieldcafoundation.org.
Press contacts:
Blue Shield of California Foundation - Christine.Maulhardt [at] Blueshieldcafoundation.org (Christine Maulhardt) 415.229.6145
The Reis Group - lmusiol [at] thereisgroup.com (Lauren Musiol) 336.692.4238