Since 1995, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation has recognized more than 100 volunteers who perform extraordinary work for Louisiana’s at-risk children and awarded more than $1 million in grants to non-profits of the honorees’ choices.

This signature Foundation program is the annual Angel Award^®, which aims to increase awareness of children’s needs throughout the state and provide much-needed resources to help address them.

Every year, the Angel Award recognizes a maximum of eight outstanding volunteers with a $20,000 grant to each honoree’s non-profit charity. The grants are presented at special events in honorees’ local communities, and the honorees are celebrated at a special ceremony in the fall.

What makes an Angel?

Past winners of the Angel Award, ranging in age from 17 to 93, have been coaches, teachers, clergy, doctors, homemakers, entrepreneurs and many others. What they have in common is an unselfish contribution of time and energy to improve the welfare of Louisiana children.

Angel Award honorees are nominated throughout Louisiana, and a panel of past winners, called “Wings,” selects them. Angel Award honorees are chosen based on their efforts to enhance any part of a child’s life – physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Volunteer efforts may be through churches, civic organizations, schools or individual service work.

In 2011, a committee of past recipients of the Angel Award considered 142 nominations from throughout the state before selecting Janet Andrews of New Orleans, Lloyd Benson II of Baton Rouge, Carter Boyd of Shreveport, Deidra Decay of New Orleans, Derrick Tabb of New Orleans and Dana Taylor of Monroe. The winners were honored at a presentation ceremony Nov. 14 at the LSU Lod Cook Alumni Center in Baton Rouge.

Make a nomination here.

Learn more about the Angel Awards.

Get more information on the 2011 winners.

Watch a video about the 2011 Angels.

Download the 2011 Angel Award program..