Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana has donated $15,000 to Montana Red Cross to help families affected by wildfires.

“We can't thank Red Cross of Montana enough for all of the amazing work they've done serving those directly impacted by the wildfires in a time of need, and in many cases, desperation,” said Jesse Zentz, manager of community relations at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana. “We care deeply about the health and well-being of our fellow Montanans, and we embrace a culture of giving back to the communities we serve, especially in times of crisis. The work Red Cross of Montana does supporting our friends and neighbors is nothing short of heroic, and we're proud to support their efforts.

The American Red Cross of Montana opened 19 wildfire shelters across the state since July, including in communities such as Hays, Eureka, Plains, Roundup, Wolf Creek and Missoula. Red Cross provided 188 overnight shelter stays and served nearly 2,000 meals and snacks to Montana families. Sixteen primary homes were lost in the fires, and more than 1.2 million acres burned.

We are so grateful for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana’s support of our Montana wildfire relief operations,” said Diane Wright, executive director of the American Red Cross of Montana. “This very generous gift comes at a critical time for our chapter, and we simply couldn’t do this work without donors like Blue Cross and Blue Shield.