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Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas celebrates 25 years of impact with Innovation in Action awards

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (October 15, 2026) – In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas (opens in a new window) surprised five nonprofit organizations with special $25,000 gifts, honoring their commitment to improving the health and well-being of communities across the state. The organizations are also receiving the Foundation’s Innovation in Action awards, reflecting its mission to achieve better health for all Arkansans through the power of partnership.

The organizations honored include:

The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas was established in October 2001 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization through an initial gift from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The Foundation uses the earnings from this investment to fund grants, ensuring it can continue to support communities across the state for generations to come. Since its founding, the Blue & You Foundation has invested more than $70 million in health improvement initiatives serving all 75 counties in Arkansas.

“Twenty-five years ago, the Blue & You Foundation was established with a vision of building healthier communities across Arkansas,” said Rebecca Pittillo, president of the Blue & You Foundation. “As we celebrate this milestone, we want to recognize organizations that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of Arkansans every day. These awards are our way of saying ‘Thank you’ for their partnership, dedication and impact.”

As a board member at Arkansas Blue Cross in 2001, Mahlon Maris, M.D., helped spearhead efforts to establish Arkansas Blue Cross’ philanthropic arm.

"Forming the Foundation allowed us to do planned, purposeful, results-driven, measurable and scalable giving,” Dr. Maris said.

Patrick O’Sullivan was the Foundation’s first executive director. One of his first major efforts was to ensure that grants were used to fund programs in every county in the state.

Former Blue & You Foundation board member and Simmons First National Bank CEO Tommy May worked closely alongside Dr. Maris and O’Sullivan.

"One of my proudest things is to have served on a company (board) that has made investments like it has in Arkansas, and the return on those investments has been enormous," said May.

By providing funding and working together with community-based organizations, the Blue & You Foundation continues to establish and expand diverse healthcare projects that will provide generational impact for all Arkansans, addressing social determinants of health, maternal and infant health and behavioral health.

"People have lived better lives because of the Foundation and because of the work they’ve done,” added Arkansas Blue Cross President and CEO Curtis Barnett.

Preliminary findings from research currently underway reinforce the belief that bringing organizations together can drive the greatest change as the Foundation moves forward. The Landscape of Philanthropy report is set to be released next month.

“For a quarter century, the Blue & You Foundation has worked alongside nonprofit groups, schools, and municipal organizations to improve quality of life,” Pittillo added. “We can’t wait to see what the next 25 years hold. With the power of partnership, great things are possible.”