(Newark, NJ, March 13, 2015) - Alison Banks-Moore, Chief Diversity Officer at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ), has been honored with the Distinguished Citizens Award by the Ramapo College Foundation. The award honors individuals for their personal and professional commitment to advancing the goals of higher education, and for their significant service to the community. Ms. Banks-Moore, of Sayreville, received the award at the foundation’s 33^rd Distinguished Citizens Dinner on March 7.

"Alison has distinguished herself with excellence in administering a broad range of award-winning diversity programs at Horizon,” said Margaret Coons, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Horizon BCBSNJ. “Thanks to Alison’s leadership, Horizon’s diversity programs have not only enhanced the company's work environment, but have created opportunities for employees to work collectively through affinity groups to serve and improve the greater Newark community,” Ms. Coons said.

“As an alumnus of Ramapo I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the Distinguished Citizens Award,” said Ms. Banks-Moore. “Horizon’s diversity programs represent an important outlet for corporate social responsibility, and I am proud of how so many employees in our diversity programs devote their time and talents for the good of the communities we serve.”

Ms. Banks-Moore serves as a Member of the Tri-State Diversity Council’s Board of Directors and Christ the King School Accreditation Planning Board. She is a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Diversity Alliance, the Northeast Regional Corporate Industry Liaison Group, Christ the King’s Board of Directors, the New Jersey Network to Network Women’s Consortium, as well as a former member of the New Jersey Law and Education Empowerment Project Advisory Board.

About Horizon BCBSNJ’s Diversity programs
Horizon BCBSNJ has instituted many programs aimed at promoting diversity within the company including: paid minority internships and manager development programs, as well as a Diversity Council and minority leadership programs. To learn more about Horizon BCBSNJ and its diversity efforts, visit: www.HorizonBlue.com/diversity

About Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state’s oldest and largest health insurer is a tax-paying, not-for-profit health service corporation, providing a wide array of medical, dental, and prescription insurance products and services. Horizon BCBSNJ is leading the transformation of health care in New Jersey by working with doctors and hospitals to deliver innovative, patient-centered programs that reward the quality, not quantity, of care patients receive. Learn more at www.HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving more than 3.8 million members.