Stephen P. Fera, senior vice president, Public Affairs, Independence Blue Cross, and Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, president, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.
Stephen P. Fera, senior vice president, Public Affairs, Independence Blue Cross, and Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, president, Independence Blue Cross Foundation.
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) is proud to be recognized as a national thought leader and for its impact as a health funder in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Since 2011, the Foundation has dedicated more than $55 million to improving community health — strengthening the health care safety net, advancing the education and leadership of nurses, and combating the opioid crisis by supporting community-based prevention, treatment, and recovery resources and destigmatizing addiction.
Improving the health and well-being of our communities is our mission. That’s why, in 2020, the Foundation increased its grant funding and accelerated funding to nonprofits that care for our neighbors in need and was first to support new initiatives to promote equitable access to COVID-19 education, testing, and, as of 2021, the vaccine for our communities. We also welcomed the largest cohort of student nurses to the Foundation Nursing Internship Program. These promising leaders aspire to join the nation’s most trusted health care profession and change the future of health care delivery.
As we reflect on our first decade and the past year, we want to recognize Daniel J. Hilferty, who retired at the end of 2020 after serving for ten years as president and CEO of Independence Health Group. The Foundation is attributed to Dan’s visionary leadership.
We invite you to join us in welcoming Gregory E. Deavens as Independence Health Group president and CEO. Under Greg’s leadership, the Foundation will lead bigger and bolder initiatives to improve access to care and reduce health disparities so that equitable whole-person health can be achieved for all.
On behalf of Greg and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation Board of Directors, we are pleased to present the 2020 Community Report.
In good health,
Stephen P. Fera
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
Independence Blue Cross
Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake
President
Independence Blue Cross Foundation
More than $55 million in funding
More than 1,200 grants awarded to more than 200 nonprofits
More than 350,000 people reached through Foundation supported nonprofits in Southeastern Pennsylvania
In 2020:Grants totaling more than $5.5 million