CAROLYN BELISLE

Carolyn E. Belisle
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility

At Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI), Carolyn spearheads the organization's social responsibility strategy. This encompasses philanthropy, volunteerism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), health equity, and numerous associated initiatives such as the RI Life Index, LGBTQ Safe Zones, employee business resource groups, and Project SEARCH.

Under Carolyn’s direction, BCBSRI has earned a reputation for exemplary corporate citizenship. Over her nearly 25-year tenure with the company, she has significantly developed and transformed its community partnership and philanthropic activities. Carolyn's efforts focus on leveraging the company's assets—philanthropy, employee volunteerism, commitment to equity, and strategic partnerships—to address critical issues impacting the health and well-being of all Rhode Islanders. Under her leadership, BCBSRI has been recognized for nine consecutive years with a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index, and for the last three, perfect scores on the Disability Equality Index.

Through the BlueAngel Community Health (BACH) Grant program initiated in 2002, BCBSRI collaborates with community-based agencies to dismantle barriers to good health caused by cost, inequities, systemic structures, and lack of education. Since its inception, BCBSRI has donated $5 million through the BACH program, benefiting over 322,000 Rhode Islanders.

About 15 years ago, Carolyn conceptualized a company-wide day of service, leading to the launch of Blue across Rhode Island after a year of planning. This initiative mobilizes employees statewide to support nonprofit organizations in completing various projects, helping them achieve their missions. This day of service, engaging nearly 60% of all employees, sets a benchmark for corporate volunteerism.

In 2015, in partnership with Playworks New England and the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition, Carolyn established #RecessRocksinRI to transform recess in elementary schools across the state, promoting safe, healthy, active, and inclusive play for young residents. The initiative has benefitted hundreds of educators at over 100 elementary schools, positively impacting more than 40,000 school-aged youth.

In 2018, Carolyn launched a collaboration with Brown University School of Public Health to create the RI Life Index, now in its sixth year. This tool drives BCBSRI’s commitment to comprehensive health and well-being for all Rhode Islanders. The Index aims to address the most pressing social determinants of health, summarizing residents' perceptions and offering qualitative data that complements other resources to paint a complete picture of the state's health landscape.

Carolyn is also an active community volunteer, serving on the board of directors for the United Way of Rhode Island, Grantmaker’s Council of Rhode Island, and as a member on Rhode Island Housing’s Continuum of Care. She chairs the United Way's Community Impact Committee and has served in leadership roles on several other nonprofit boards, including as Chair for both the American Heart Association and Grantmakers’ Council of Rhode Island. Recognized for her contributions, Carolyn has received numerous accolades, including the Partner of the Year award from United Way in 2013, Providence Business News’ “40 Under Forty” in 2014, YWCA of Rhode Island's Woman of Achievement in 2016, and the Cheryl W. Snead Servant Leadership Award from the American Heart Association in 2020. In recent years, Leadership Rhode Island honored her (LRI graduate, 2010) as a “Thread of Leadership” in 2022, and she received the inaugural Linda H. Newton Legacy Award from Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP) in 2023.