Highmark, Buffalo Sabres team up to celebrate Buffalo Public School counselors

Recognition kicked off with special surprise by Highmark President Jessica Cox & Sabres Legend Marty Biron

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York Press Release & Photo

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Buffalo Sabres are teaming up to spotlight mental health awareness on Jan. 14, during the Sabres game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Mental Health Awareness Night will shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of Buffalo Public Schools’ counselors and engage the community in efforts to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues.

This recognition for the dedicated Buffalo Public School (BPS) counselors began in November, setting the stage for their in-game honor. Highmark President Jessica Cox, alongside BPS Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga, Buffalo Sabres legend Marty Biron, and Lawley partner John Berger, surprised the counselors at City Hall. What they anticipated as a routine benefits meeting transformed into a celebratory ceremony, complete with personalized Sabres jerseys, acknowledging their efforts caring for the mental health needs of the students in the City of Buffalo.

Being recognized during the game are Jaqueta Abraham, Orniece Hill, Laurence Jones, Jill Lobocchiaro, Jillian Miller, Aundrea Sanders and Monica Sardo.

"At Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, mental health is a paramount focus, and we are proud to recognize the vital work being done daily to support the students of Buffalo Public Schools," Cox said. "Student counselors serve as essential figures for our community’s youth, providing crucial guidance and support for their academic success and overall well-being."

As part of the game, students and counseling staff will attend pregame events, including mental health discussions featuring Eric Kussin, founder and CEO of #SameHere The Global Mental Health Movement, Sabres alumnus Clint Malarchuk, and participation and support from Mental Health Advocates of WNY. Fans will also be engaged in sharing how they keep their minds strong and healthy.

“Supporting mental health awareness aligns with our core values as an organization, and we are pleased to partner with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to support those who share that vision,” said Jake Vernon, Buffalo Sabres chief commercial officer. “Honoring educators involved in elevating these conversations with students is a meaningful way to give back to those who are truly making a difference in our community.”

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the sole health plan headquartered in the City of Buffalo, proudly insures more than 43,000 educators and education administrators throughout the region. Highmark provides unique benefits tailored for educators, including employee support program assistance, mental health counseling, and virtual mental health support in as little as three days through its mental well-being platform, powered by Spring Health.

"Ensuring our students have access to high-quality mental health support services is crucial to our students’ success both in the classroom and beyond,” Mubenga said. "Having strong community partners such as Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Buffalo Sabres truly raises awareness and helps end the stigma often surrounding mental health. On behalf of our school counselors, the Board of Education, and the whole BPS community, I want to express my gratitude to Highmark and the Sabres for their generosity and unwavering commitment to our students’ wellbeing and recognition of our school counselors."

As a separate but complementary initiative, Highmark and the Sabres provided more than 2,000 tickets for all Buffalo Public School teachers, administrators and staff members as well as educators across the region to attend a game this season.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has a long history of supporting mental and behavioral health, as the region’s first health plan to establish a value-based arrangement for behavioral health care with Value Network IPA LLC. The local health plan has partnered with Mental Health Advocates of WNY to support the signature youth peer advocates program, as well as on other initiatives, including the #weareHOPE initiative, a collaborative effort to address the mental health needs of the community following multiple traumatic events in Buffalo.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with the Buffalo Sabres and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield for Mental Health Awareness Night,” said Melina Dubois, executive director, Mental Health Advocates. “Because of their generosity, 300 students from our local schools will spend the day at the arena watching the Sabres practice, sharing a meal together, and participating in a powerful panel discussion on mental health featuring Josh Cuillo, one of our youth peer advocates. We are deeply grateful to the Sabres Foundation for their leadership and ongoing support of mental health awareness and education in our community,”.

Behavioral health is a key focus area for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s health-focused grant program, Blue Fund. Since 2018, major grants have been awarded to many of Value Network’s partner agencies, including Crisis Services, Spectrum Health and Human Services, Harmonia Collaborative Care, BestSelf Behavioral Health, Endeavor Health Services, Buffalo MATTERS, Save the Michaels’ court treatment program, Horizon’s Family Training Center at Horizon Village, Compeer Maryvale Leaders, and Directions: A Mobile Behavioral Health Project. The local health plan also made a $1 million investment in Erie County Medical Center’s (ECMC) trauma center/emergency department project to support behavioral health and detoxification services.