Jannette Diaz, president and CEO of Congreso de Latinos Unidos (left), and Lorena Plaza with the Corporate Champion award
Congreso de Latinos Unidos recognized Independence Blue Cross (IBX) as a “Corporate Champion.” Lorena Plaza, vice president of Financial Planning & Analysis at IBX, accepted the award on the company’s behalf during Congreso’s fourth annual ¡Congreso Celebra! event on October 3.
Congreso de Latinos Unidos enables individuals and families in predominantly Latino neighborhoods to achieve economic self-sufficiency and well-being. Congreso’s annual fundraiser, ¡Congreso Celebra!, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and the work of Congreso’s Corporate, Community, and Staff champions.
This year’s Community Champion was The Lighthouse. Congreso Staff Champions were Kira Bellolio, director of Family Wellness; Monica Martinez, Education & Workforce Services Operation coordinator; Jesus Quiñones, security officer; and Aida Rivera, administrative assistant.
As a leader in corporate social responsibility, IBX has invested in supporting innovative health and wellness initiatives that promote healthier lifestyles for all. For example:
- IBX is a leading voice in Accelerate Health Equity (AHE). The collaborative regional effort focuses on eliminating the systematic barriers that lead to racial health inequities.
- IBX is aligned with the Regional Coalition to Eliminate Race-Based Medicine, which is working to remove race “adjustments” from 15 commonly used clinical decision support tools that may adversely impact patients’ outcomes.
- With the American Heart Association, IBX is raising awareness of how to perform life-saving Hands-Only CPR.
- IBX is tackling pressing health issues through innovative public health campaigns such as Our Community. Our Health., partnership with The Philadelphia Tribune, which addresses chronic health conditions in the African American community, and Know Your Mind, a mental health public awareness campaign.
In addition, IBX’s Blue Crew — one of the oldest corporate volunteer programs in the region — embodies the power of corporate citizenship through its year-round impact in the region. For more than 20 years, the Blue Crew has worked with more than 100 diverse nonprofit organizations dedicating hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours to enhance the health and well-being of the community.
