PRESS RELEASE

IBC Foundation awards nearly $500,000 in grants in 2013

Grants help care for the most vulnerable, build healthy communities, and address child obesity and wellness

Philadelphia, PA — June 7, 2013 —The Independence Blue Cross Foundation announced that to date in 2013 it awarded 11 grants in southeastern Pennsylvania totaling $484,500. The grants target three primary areas: caring for the most vulnerable, building healthy communities, and helping to combat obesity and improve childhood wellness.

“We’re pleased to announce our support for organizations that are making a significant difference in the health of our community in a variety of ways, from providing much-needed preventive and acute care services to the uninsured to helping kids eat healthier and exercise more,” said Lorina Marshall-Blake, president of the IBC Foundation. “Through collaborating with local and national partners, we’re transforming health care one person and one community at a time. We’re excited about the momentum we’ve made since opening our doors nearly two years ago, and look forward to continuing to serve our community in the months and years ahead.”

Founded in October, 2011, the IBC Foundation has awarded nearly $8.5M for 175 grants and charitable support.

Caring for the Most Vulnerable

The IBC Foundation focuses on caring for the most vulnerable through the Blue Safety Net program, which provides grants to private, nonprofit community health center clinics or other entities that deliver quality, cost-effective care to primarily uninsured people in medically underserved areas. To date in 2013, the IBC Foundation provided $400,000 in funding to four health centers, including first-time grants to:

• Albert Einstein Healthcare, to support expanded operations, including a patient navigator to coordinate care.
• Salus University — The Eye Institute, to provide vision and ocular health services to uninsured adults.
• North Philadelphia Health System, to support a discharge program to help uninsured move from safety net hospitals back into the community.
• Spectrum Health Services, Inc., to support a new health center in west Philadelphia.

Building Healthy Communities

Through its Building Healthy Communities initiative, the IBC Foundation seeks to partner with community leaders and programs to improve the health and wellness of the people of southeastern Pennsylvania. To date in 2013, the IBC Foundation provided $35,000 in funding to 3 organizations, including new grants to the following:

• Daemion Counseling Center, to provide mental health services for the under and uninsured.
• Linda Creed Epstein Foundation, to provide women free breast screenings and diagnostic tests.

In addition to these grants, the IBC Foundation launched a groundbreaking new initiative in October 2012, called Healthy Futures. Healthy Futures is a three-year, nearly $2 million comprehensive, collaborative approach to combat obesity and improve childhood wellness. The Foundation provided $562,000 in funding in 2012 and added nearly $100,000 in 2013 to this initiative through grants to:

• Greener Partners, to support the Farm Explorer, a hands-on mobile farm to help children connect with food from seed to plate.
• Villanova University, MacDonald Center for Obesity Prevention and Education, to conduct focus groups and conduct research about the eating and fitness habits of fourth grade students, the targeted population of the Healthy Futures program.

About the Independence Blue Cross Foundation
In October 2011, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, launched a charitable, private foundation, whose mission is to transform health care through innovation in the communities it serves. The IBC Foundation and Independence Blue Cross, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, 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 community health center 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.
• Building healthy communities: Partnering with community leaders and programs to address community health and wellness needs.

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Media Contact:
Ruth Stoolman
Independence Blue Cross
Ruth.Stoolman@ibx.com
215.241.4807 (office)
215.280.3335 (cell)

© 2013 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.