Meet Our Board: Virginia Barnes, MPH
Virginia Barnes is the Director of Blue Health Initiatives for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.
Virginia joined the board in 2023. She brings valuable knowledge and dedication to several different areas of the Foundation, serving on the grants committee and the local impact investing committee. As a board member, Virginia is ready to get to work today while thinking strategically about how to achieve long-term goals for the community.
What is your “Why” for joining the board?
I chose to join the Topeka Community Foundations board because I have been so impressed with how TCF has taken a strategic approach to grant making and impact investing to really show the power of the connection between health and wealth for of our community. I am honored to serve through an organization that gives so much back to Topeka and the surrounding communities in such a thoughtful and impactful way.
What role does philanthropy play in strengthening our community?
While philanthropy cannot fix everything, it plays a powerful role in surfacing issues that impact the people who need it most and helping to bring together people who care about seeing our whole community succeed to help solve big challenges.
Learn more about BCBSKS Blue Health Initiatives: https://www.bcbsks.com/blue-health-initiatives