A record BCBS donation to Six String Heroes

EMPLOYEES AT Blue Cross/Blue Shield of IL in Quincy never cease to amaze us working with Six String Heroes.

Saturday at Second String Music, BCBS of IL Customer Advocate Supervisor Sara Heiden presented a check to Six String Heroes co-founders Steve Stoner and Derek Miles for $6,460.40. The money was raised through T-shirt sales, gift baskets and raffles, and a painting party at Twin Oaks.

This is the seventh straight annual donation by BCBS, and this is the most they've ever donated, up from last year's $4,901.36. To date, BCBS has donated $31,310.29 to Six String Heroes.

The program is based at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis and designed to help those in the military returning from service and healing from combat injuries. At Second String Music, Vancil Performing Arts and the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, we give free lessons and a guitar to anybody who has served in the military.

Six free guitar lessons is just the start, this program has saved lives and given veterans purpose. We have a lot of fun too.

Sheryl and I speak for Frank and Cindy from Vancil Performing Arts in saying we are honored to be part of the program. It's amazing what music can do for people needing therapy and something to do. Quincy is by far the most generous donor to this program and Steve and Derek both said they were overwhelmed at the donation, as they are every year.

To Sara and her rock star BCBS employees, thank you, thank you, thank you. You are one of a million reasons why Quincy rocks!