PRESS RELEASE

Independence Blue Cross top executives receive philanthropy awards

Executive Leaders Radio honors Daniel Hilferty and Lorina Marshall-Blake

Philadelphia, PA — June 26, 2012 — Independence Blue Cross president and CEO Daniel J. Hilferty and president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation Lorina Marshall-Blake, each received a CEO Philanthropy award today from Executive Leaders Radio. The two were honored at a breakfast ceremony this morning at the University City Science Center in Philadelphia.

Executive Leaders Radio launched the awards this year to recognize CEOs who are role models for their commitment to their communities. Executive Leaders Radio airs on six local stations and features informal interviews with top executives focusing on “what makes people tick.”

Jill Fink, executive director of Back on My Feet Philadelphia, nominated Hilferty for the award. Back on My Feet is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating independence and self-sufficiency within the homeless and other underserved populations by engaging them in running to build confidence, strength, and self-esteem.

“Back on My Feet was founded with the belief that sometimes solving old problems requires new thinking, and we could have no better partner in this philosophy than Dan Hilferty and Independence Blue Cross,” said Fink. “We admire and are grateful for Dan’s personal and long-time commitment to making our community a better place to live and work, and in particular, the support Independence Blue Cross has shown to our organization from the very start.”

Gloria Donnelly, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions of Drexel University, nominated Lorina Marshall-Blake, noting the foundation’s commitment to health clinics in the region, including Drexel’s 11th Street Family Health Services, a nurse-run health center in a historically underserved community.

“Lorina and the entire foundation are most deserving of this recognition,” said Dr. Donnelly. “The support the foundation provides to area clinics and health centers is critical. For many of our region’s residents, these centers are the only reliable source of health care, and they play a paramount role in the everyday lives and health of many families.”

Through the foundation’s Blue Safety Net program, 145,000 uninsured and underinsured residents are receiving much-needed care at 34 clinics in the Philadelphia five-county region. These clinics provide primary care and valuable preventative care, dental care, and medication, as well as a range of specialty services, screenings, and health education sessions. By providing more uninsured and underinsured residents in our region with access to preventive care, including health screenings, health education sessions, and disease management programs, and by encouraging these residents to enroll in medical assistance programs, Blue Safety Net decreases the number of uninsured and underinsured who use emergency rooms as a primary source of care, thus helping to slow rising health care costs that drive premiums higher.

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, Independence Blue Cross and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.1 million people. For 75 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. More information about Independence Blue Cross is available at www.ibx.com.

About the Independence Blue Cross Foundation
Launched in October 2011, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation is an independent, private foundation whose mission is to transform health care through innovation in the communities it serves. The IBC Foundation and Independence Blue Cross are both committed to improving the health and wellness of the people of southeastern Pennsylvania. The foundation targets the following areas of impact:

• Caring for our most vulnerable: Supporting nonprofit health clinics that deliver quality, cost-effective primary, medical, and dental care to uninsured and underinsured people;
• Enhancing health care delivery: Strengthening the nursing workforce through education, career development, and research;
• Leading innovative approaches to health care: Supporting new and creative solutions that reduce health care spending, improve quality, and expand access to care;
• Building healthy communities: Partnering with community leaders and programs to address community health and wellness needs.
  

 

© 2012 Independence Blue Cross Foundation
Independence Blue Cross and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, serving the needs of Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania.