Pictured left to right: Joseph Cacchione, CEO of Jefferson Health; Mayor Cherelle Parker; Greg Deavens, President and CEO of Independence Blue Cross; Governor Josh Shapiro; Steve Fera, EVP of Public Affairs at Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross (IBX) joined Philadelphians and all Americans on January 20 in honoring the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by sponsoring and participating in community service activities. IBX was the lead sponsor for the Global Citizen 30th annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, which is the oldest and largest commemoration of this important day. This year’s event was especially significant because it recognizes the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Independence Blue Cross President and CEO Gregory E. Deavens joined city and state leaders, including Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, PA Governor Josh Shapiro, PA State Senator Vincent Hughes, and others at the opening ceremony at Girard College. This year’s signature volunteer project, presented by IBX, included volunteers sorting and packing toiletry kits, which will be distributed to people in need, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood and Community Engagement.
IBX Blue Crew volunteers have honored the legacy of Dr. King through service to our community. Each year, associates help to make the federal holiday a day of active citizenship in our region. In addition to supporting the Global Citizen signature volunteer project, the IBX Blue Crew supported a variety of activities taking place at Girard College including facilitating a Cards of Kindness project for attendees to create notes of positivity and well-wishes to share with friends, family, and neighbors.
Deavens, a co-chair of the Day of Service, also spoke at the annual National Bell Ringing Ceremony at the Liberty Bell Center, along with Independence Blue Cross Foundation President and VP Community Affairs Lorina Marshall-Blake. This annual event is hosted by the Philadelphia Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence, Inc. Deavens served as the honorary Liberty Bell ringer at this event in 2022.
IBX has a longstanding commitment of service to the community. In 2024, nearly 1,400 Blue Crew volunteers gave more than 6,700 hours to nonprofit organizations through 185 volunteer projects. In addition, IBX associates also logged nearly 3,000 volunteer hours independently with nonprofits throughout our region.
