Daniel J. HilfertyLorina Marshall-Blake

A Message from Our Leadership

Daniel J. Hilferty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Independence Health Group, and Lorina Marshall-Blake, president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation

As we navigate a public health challenge like no other in recent memory, it’s clear that building healthier communities requires leadership, collaboration, and innovation.

With grant funding totaling $4.8 million in 2019, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation supports community organizations that are dedicated to these principles. These organizations are working to make health care more accessible, preparing nurses for leadership, addressing public health issues like the opioid epidemic and COVID-19, and responding to community health challenges with innovative solutions.

Community health centers are increasingly important to our nation’s health care system, and the Foundation is committed to strengthening the Blue Safety Net to support their efforts to improve the physical and mental well-being of our neighbors.

Nurses play a vital role in community health and are uniquely positioned to lead change. In 2019 the Foundation awarded additional Nurses for Tomorrow grants totaling $60,000 to help graduate and doctoral-level nursing students at six schools to complete community-based research projects with the potential to transform health care delivery.

The Foundation’s Supporting Treatment and Overdose Prevention (STOP) initiative continues to build momentum and drive change in the opioid epidemic. The launch of the Someone You Know® podcast in 2019, which has reached listeners in 49 states and 28 countries, is just one way this initiative continues to impact lives.

We’re pleased to share more highlights in the following pages. As we look ahead to the Foundation’s 10th anniversary in 2021, we appreciate the support of our board of directors as we advance our mission of leading solutions for a healthier community.

Daniel J. Hilferty
President and Chief Executive Officer
Independence Health Group*

Lorina Marshall-Blake
President
Independence Blue Cross Foundation

2019 Foundation impact at a glance

$4.8 m

nearly $5 million in total grant funding

100

100 nonprofit grantees

375,000

375,000 residents in Southeastern Pennsylvania reached

*As of 2019