Fifty Independence Blue Cross Blue Crew volunteers packed children’s books in recognition of National Read Across America Day on March 2. Independence collaborated with United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, Read by 4th, and People’s Emergency Center on this project. The books will be distributed through People’s Emergency Center’s Early Childhood Education programs to children and families currently in shelters or transitional housing, those receiving case management services, or living in the West Philadelphia Promise Zone.
The literacy programs support and provide access to early childhood education programs for young children who experience homelessness in Philadelphia. Early learning is a critical piece to avoid passing on the crippling legacy of poverty to a new generation.
Independence Blue Cross is an active supporter of literacy efforts in the Philadelphia community. In 2019, Independence employees donated over 3,300 hours in support of 45 volunteer projects focused on education and literacy. For more than 25 years, Blue Crew volunteers have supported Achieve Now (formerly Philadelphia Reads) providing weekly one to one literacy coaching to grade school students.
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