Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) is proud to announce Doug “Bishop” Anaya as the 2017 BCBSNM Volunteer of the Year. Each year, the award is given to an employee volunteer who shows the spirit of giving back to the community.
Doug has worked for BCBSNM for four years and is a Medicaid member care coordinator. He logged almost 300 volunteer hours in 2017. Doug is the president of Hellfighters Soul Snatchers Unit, a motorcycle ministry that provides food, clothing and shelter for homeless in Albuquerque each week. Doug’s ministry has grown to 40-50 volunteers feeding more than 350 homeless people each weekend.
“Doug has worked tirelessly to help people experiencing homelessness,” said Janice Torrez, divisional vice president of external affairs and chief of staff, BCBSNM. “Doug’s team is providing dignity and hope to those most vulnerable in our community by providing food, clothing and assistance. Doug is the spirit of giving back.”
“I have seen so many people who are just one paycheck away from being homeless,” Doug stated. “Helping one person at a time has made us missionaries in our own backyard. I believe we have been able to offer many people hope and love and have been able to assist many individuals with a way off the street.”
BCBSNM encourages its employees to be active in the community through our Blue Corps℠ system, an online database that promotes volunteer activities and lets employees track their hours of service. BCBSNM has a matching dollars program that contributes to nonprofit community partners where employees volunteer their time.
In honor of Doug’s award, BCBSNM is donating $1,000 to his charity of choice, Hellfighters Soul Snatchers Unit.