Anselmo Rodriguez manages Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana’s supply chain programs, helping make purchasing decisions for the 1.5 million-member company. He is known throughout the organization for his professional accomplishments, work ethic, enthusiasm, kindness and love of making others laugh.
His coworkers also know Anselmo for being a tireless advocate for many charitable causes within the workplace, but none more passionately than the Rotary Club’s CHOICES program, a volunteer-led school retention program designed to improve Louisiana’s 70% high school graduation rate.
CHOICES connects eighth graders with credible leaders from the working world, who mentor them and speak frankly about the impact of financial, health and educational decisions on the rest of their lives. Business and community volunteers like Anselmo take students through real-world exercises on time and money management and goal-setting. Controlled studies show CHOICES improves attendance and graduation rates and motivates students to put more time and effort into their grades.
Anselmo has recruited other Blue Cross employees to make presentations, has overseen their training and continues to motivate others to participate. Together, Anselmo and other volunteers have presented to more than 23,000 students in Louisiana middle schools. Nationwide, volunteers have delivered CHOICES programs to more than 5 million teens.