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CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND (July 2, 2010) - Most kids look forward to the last day of school as much as they do their own birthdays. Summer vacation can’t arrive soon enough. It’s the same mad dash to blow out the candles on your birthday cake so that you can get to your presents. On the last day of school this year, 30 Cumberland-area children received both an early start to summer vacation and free bicycles provided by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield’s sales and marketing team.

“When you think about it, 30 young people who otherwise might not own a bicycle, let alone receive a brand new one, were given a bike on the last day of school. It was absolutely phenomenal,” said Kenneth Barnes, CEO of the Cumberland YMCA.

Barnes and his team at the Y organized an effort with parents and Allegany County school administrators to have the children leave school early and take a field trip to Farmington, Pa., where 200 CareFirst employees had assembled the bikes by hand.

“Once all of the bikes had been assembled, everyone was asked to close their eyes,” said Gregory A. Devou, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for CareFirst. When everyone opened their eyes again, they were met by a room full kids looking back and looking in wonder at their new bikes. It was incredible, not a dry eye in the room from our team. Having the ability to positively influence the lives of these kids in the communities of Western Maryland is something that CareFirst is proud to be part of.”

In its 73rd year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health care company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to nearly 3.4 million individuals and groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. Through its CareFirst Commitment initiative and other public mission activities, CareFirst supports efforts to increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of health care throughout its market areas. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit our website.

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